Church hopping observations

[nazpaz]

As a retired pastor I've had a lot of fun visiting various congregations in our travels. I've just done a blog entry of my observations. Even if you haven't been in the habit of attending churches in the past, you may find that attending as a traveling RVer adds an enjoyable and important dimension to your life. You'll find my thoughts here: http://pastorscott.com/travel/church-hopping-observations/

[dalenoel]

As a lay minister I do the visits while on the road and our group, 6 rigs, usually discuss the differences and how we can get it improved at home to not make what we see as lacking in others.

Coming back in a couple of years we can then compare and usually things have changed but the overall impression is usually the same.

[fla-gypsy]

As a regular worshipper in a local church I found your observations very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[jmtandem]

Interesting observations from an insider now looking in from the outside. Thanks for sharing. Maybe other pastors should visit churches unannounced and learn how it is to be a visitor in a new to them church. They might go home and change some of the ways they do things.

[campigloo]

Couldn't agree with you more. When we are on the road, we try to time Sunday am to be near a decent size town to find a church. We have a great time meeting new brothers and getting new styles of preaching. We also have found, the hard way, how helpful fellow Christians are when something goes wrong. When they find out you are Christian,(pretty easy), the assistance comes pouring in. We had a particularly good response in Steamboat Springs a couple of years ago. Truck developed minor problem on Friday, of course, and we were stuck until Monday. The campground had no water, shut off for the winter. We were running out. Asked if we could fill a few jugs from the church spigot. People came with all kinds of containers, even helped us fill them. Asked what else we needed. Also had a dinner on the grounds meal that couldn't be beat. Life is good!!!

[rv2go]

As fulltimers and moving every 2 or 3 weeks, we find it enjoyable and full feeling to visit all the different churches. We make about the same circuit each year and it may be a year between church visits. We find it amazing the Pastors and members that recognize us and welcome us back.