We know better than to assume that there are decent churches in most places, and we’re working on rectifying the problem. We would use the word “true” churches, distinguished by three marks, which you hear us talking about all the time: the pure preaching of the gospel, the legitimate administration of the sacraments, and the proper exercise of church discipline. Churches either hit these marks or they don’t, it’s not a sliding scale. All churches are very weak and have their share of problems, but some are “true” and some aren’t – that’s the important difference – you know Christ meets you at a “true” church’s worship service.

But you got all that, and you are asking: what is one supposed to do when there is simply no “true” church around?

a) Contact us and we’ll see if we can help you find one. If we can’t, we’ll put you in our database which we are developing as a strategic church-planting planning tool.

b) In the meantime, some places that don’t meet the criteria will be better for you than others, but only temporarily. Maybe a confessional Lutheran congregation, or a confessional Presbyterian congregation would work for a time (and although they have important differences from our confessional continental Reformed churches, some of these may bear the three marks). Get in touch with us and we’ll help you look and discern.

c) If any of you know of people with you and around you who want to learn more, and who may be interested in forming a group for further study, discussion, or church-planting, let us know. Maybe the Lord will call you to be the one who will get pastoral training and lead the group. Maybe one among you can be identified as a good candidate for pastoral ministry. Let us be introduced to your group, it’s very possible we will come out to see you and see what can be done. Maybe we’ll send a church planter to you. No group yet? Get whatever people you can (professing Christians or not) to the website to start learning more together, to see if a group develops.