Moving to Fort Mill? A Guide to Finding the Right Church
As you probably know, Fort Mill has been a rapidly growing town the past several years. As a result, this town has changed a lot.
One problem that has come from the growth is that we haven't seen enough new churches start to meet that growing population. As a result, a number of churches have grown large. Being big isn't all bad. However, as a church grows, more people fall through the cracks and it's harder to connect.
That's one of the main reasons we planted One Hope Community Church. We wanted to be a church that met the growing demand and need for churches. We also didn't want to be a big church. We want to be a place where people feel seen, connected, and loved. We want to focus on health over size. We want to help people grow deep roots in Christ.
When churches get fairly large, it's hard for everyone to connect. People attend and enjoy but they aren't necessarily in community. We need more small and medium churches so that there are a diversity of churches in the area.
Otherwise, I fear a number of Christians will not find a church, or they won't connect and they won't thrive spiritually. I also fear that a number of people curious about faith won't find a place where they can connect and ask questions. We need churches and all kinds of churches.
So how do you find a good church?
Start with the right questions
As you get started, we want to give a quick plug for choosing a church. Most of us choose a church based on the vibe, the music, the sermon, or the programs it offers. That's not all bad. But, if you judge a church based only on the asthetics, you might not choose the church God has for you.
C.S. Lewis once addressed this and provided advice in looking for a church. He used to say, don't choose a church because of its aesthetics. Don't ask, "Did I like the music?" or "Was the service my style?" or "Do they offer the kinds of classes or activities that I want?"
Instead, he said, ask: Is there truth here? Is there godliness? Is the Holy Spirit drawing me toward this church? Or is there something in my own pride or preference keeping me from giving it a fair chance? There's something to be said about finding a good church with godly people and then helping shape that church as you participate in the life of the body. Do you wish they offered a women's Bible study? Perhaps God is calling you to either host or teach one. Sometimes what we want isn't actually what we need or what God is calling us to. So - be sure to weigh a church carefully and ask the right questions. Listen to the Holy Spirit as you pray and let the Lord guide you.
Good questions to consider
Sometimes we like a church because it feels good or has a good polished service. But, that's not the best way to judge a church. You can have a church that looks good or fits your preferences but preaches false doctrine. That's why it's important to ask the right questions.
1. Is the Bible central?
This is the most important one. Does the pastor preach from Scripture and explain what it actually means? Watch this one closely. I don't mean did they have a Bible on the stage. I mean did they actually teach what it means. Is the Bible treated with authority and is it applied in a way that challenges and encourages you? You want a local church where explaining and applying God's word is happening.
You want more than just holding the Bible or using it to make some practical tips about life. You want the Bible explained. Preaching is hard but it's important for any preacher to be sure they are rightly handling God's word. At One Hope, we prefer an expository preaching approach. This means we attempt to walk through books of the Bible and explain and apply them along the way. We believe it's the healthiest approach to teaching the Bible.
2. Is the gospel preached?
A healthy church keeps the gospel central. This is the good news about who Jesus is, what He did, and why it matters. When you proclaim the depth and the riches of the Gospel, it shapes how the people in the congregation live and interact with one another. The implications of the Gospel are far reaching. We are wired as people who try to measure up and earn salvation. The Gospel says we are hopelessly unable to earn it, but God has offered it to us through Christ. This gift completely reorients us to a life of gratitude and service to God. It's a life that overflows from the work of God. If the preaching is all life tips or moral improvement, it's not centralized in the Gospel.
Side note: the Gospel is not be a good person, practical tips, or anything works based. The Gospel says you are deeply loved by God and that by grace through faith in Jesus, you can receive life and be delivered from shame, guilt, and slavery to sin. Every church should preach some form of that message.
3. Are people growing in their faith?
A good church should have deeply rooted believers who are godly and growing in godliness. The church is the incubator of the Christian soul. It should help people thrive and grow in their faith. Sometimes, this one takes a little more time to observe, but you should see early indicators even in the first month or two in visiting a church.
A good church doesn't just fill seats. Look for a church that teaches, equips, and challenges you. If the teaching feels shallow or just practical tips, it's a warning sign that it might not be helping people grow deeply in their faith. That doesn't mean it needs to be negative all the time. The truths of the Bible encourage but also rub up against us. At times, we should hear it's encouraging reminders. At other times, we should hear its correction. It can still come with a spirit of love - even if it's a little uncomfortable.
I have good friends who have attended churches for years that just focused on practical tips or simplistic teachings from the Bible. If a church only gives people the milks of the word, but not the meat (I'm referencing Paul), the people won't grow much. I've seen people I love suffer spiritually and miss out on so much because they are in a church that looks good at a high level but is shallow underneath.
At the end of the day, are the people there becoming more like Christ? Is there accountability, depth, and spiritual growth happening? This should happen at any church but you should find that some of the people who have attended for years are deeply spiritual. If everyone seems to have a fairly shallow faith, this is is a warning sign.
4. Is there community?
Community is not the main point of the church, but it is one of the blessings God designed for the church. It's an outworking of a group of people who are connected as a body - just as Paul describes. I've written elsewhere that the New Testament doesn't understand the Christian faith outside the context of a local church community.
The New Testament is full of "one another" commands. It reminds us to encourage one another, bear one another's burdens, and serve one another. You can't fulfill some of these commands unless you are part of a local congregation. When we live out the charges of scripture toward other believers in a local church setting, it becomes a beautiful image of God's kingdom. Look for a church where community is forming. It starts with friendly people greeting you (not just the door greeters) but it continues to grow deeper over time.
We hear that some churches aren't good at greeting or speaking to visitors. Being greeted is important as a first step and hopefully you find churches like One Hope Community Church that love to greet and welcome people. But, over time, you'll want to ask leadership how people get plugged in. You want to ensure there are ways to connect, or they are making efforts in that direction.
5. Is it a place where your family can grow?
If you have kids, you'll want to know how the church handles children and students. Is there real discipleship for the next generation, or just childcare? More broadly, is this a church that equips your family for the Christian life, not just entertains them on Sunday mornings?
A word of grace. Some smaller churches don't have enough kids or volunteers to build out a lot of programs. That can be okay. It might just take time. You might be the first people whose kids are the beginning of that kids ministry. Don't give up on a church just because they are small or haven't built something out. If the church is healthy consider committing to being there and helping build something beautiful for other families.
Practical tips for finding churches in the Fort Mill area:
Here are some times beyond a general Google search to locate churches:
Search trusted websites for church listings in Fort Mill SC
Google Maps will show you what's nearby but there are likely a lot of choices. I would recommend using sites like the Gospel Coalition's church finder or 9Marks church search. Find an organization that is known for being doctrinally sound and pointing you toward churches that align with those beliefs.
Check out church websites and listen to a sermon before you visit
Most churches in Fort Mill post sermons online. Before you give up a Sunday morning, spend 20 minutes listening to a recent message. If they have a few pastors, listen some to the ones who have recently taught. You'll quickly get a sense of what a church values, how they handle Scripture, and whether it's worth visiting in person.
If you want to go deeper, look at the church's beliefs page. You want to find a church that believes that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, and through Christ alone. Note what churches say about the doctrine of humanity. If they say, 'people are basically good,' this goes against the teaching of scripture. If people are basically good, then we only need self help practical tips to live successful lives. If we are broken and enslaved by sin, then we need a salvation beyond our own ability.
Don't ask social media, find trust sources
Fort Mill is a fairly churched community. You'll find that people will make recommendations. If you've gotten to know any neighbors or coworkers, and you believe they share a similar outlook on the Gospel and scripture, ask where they go to church and why they go there. Personal referrals from people you trust are often more useful than any online search.
One word of caution: don't ask social media groups. These are not trusted referrals. You don't know these people and having folks plug their church doesn't mean it's a healthy or doctrinally sound church. You can also call or email a church to ask questions.
Plan to visit more than once before deciding
First impressions can mislead in both directions. A church might feel warm and comfortable on a first visit but lack depth. Another church might feel different at first with different worship style, different format, but reveal substance over time. Give a church at least two or three visits before forming an opinion. Keep in mind those questions we mentioned above that you need to consider.
Don't give up
One of the saddest things we see among people who move to a new city is when they intend to find a church, visit a few, but don't find anything. Then, they give up and stop looking. Life gets busy. The months turn into a year, and they end up with no church home at all. I believe, this is one of the things that has led to a loneliness gap that many sociologists have identified. Much of it has appeared when over 40 million people drifted away from church in the last 25 years.
We know how hard it can be to find a good church. Been there - done that. But, you can find a good healthy church. Give the relationships time. Sometimes you can fit somewhere so quickly. Other times, it takes time. But, both can lead to deep relationships that enrich you and your family. So don't give up. God will guide you.
Studies show that one of the most common reasons people drift from church is not a crisis of faith, but just giving up on searching. Don't let that happen to you. No church will be perfect because churches are made of imperfect people. But a good church is what you and your family need. There are a number of good reasons to find a church. You can read this post to see a number of reasons why.
Come visit us
There are several great churches in town. While we like to think we're one of them, our goal is to help you find the right place for you and your family. If our church doesn't feel like the right fit, we'd be happy to bless you and point you to other good churches. Feel free to chat with one of our leaders for help.
That said, if you're looking for a church to visit, come and worship with us at One Hope! We're a church committed to biblical teaching, authentic community, and helping people discover and grow in the grace of God found in Jesus.
We know visiting a new church can feel intimidating, especially when you're new to town. We've tried to make it as easy as possible. You don't need to dress a certain way, know the right things, or have it all together. You just need to show up.
If you want to know more before you come, read about who we are, listen to a recent sermon, or reach out to us directly. We'd love to connect with you.
Related reading
Thinking about visiting?
We strive to be a community where people are known and follow Jesus together.
