The Importance of Finding a Church
At Hope, it was easy to find a church. There are several churches in proximity to campus, and within my first six weeks of my time at Hope, I remember visiting six different churches. I have gone to church my whole life, and the churches I attended always had a similar structure and pattern. Well, in Santiago, I was exposed to a new structure. In this new country, I learned how to search for churches and discovered how to discern denomination affiliation. I learned that Chile has a different religious history and context, and I was unsure whether I would find the same “homey feeling” that I have in the States.
At the beginning of my time abroad, I often watched my home church online. It gave me a sense of connection to home, even though I was thousands of miles away. I continued my Bible studies in Chile after becoming friends with Karina, the custodian at the IES Center. She befriended me after noticing my cross necklace, and we started having lunch together, where she loved asking big theological questions. After months of her persistence, I finally decided to visit her home church, and the church congregation warmly welcomed me.
As it turned out, the first time I attended was the final week of their recognition of the persecuted church. This service was a demonstration of what churches in other parts of the world are going through. Instead of their usual setup, all of the main lights were off, the pastor spoke quietly, and the worship was acoustic. During one of the prayers, someone banged on the door and threatened to call the cops if we didn’t keep it down. In that moment, I remember thinking, “Man, we think we have it bad in the States. These people are praying for the persecuted church even when they don’t have it too easy.” This service was a new experience for me. Afterwards, when I talked with Karina, she explained that it was all a staged, and the guy banging on the door was actually an elder in the church.
I decided to continue attending the church and joining Karina’s family for lunch, which often turned into full-day gatherings! We would share a devotional and discuss life, faith, the church, and culture. On my final Sunday, the congregation prayed for me as I prepared to return to life in the United States.
If you are planning to go abroad, I highly recommend finding a church. The process can require patience, but it is worth it. For me, finding a church became one of the most significant highlights of my time abroad. I made amazing friends and was challenged to grow spiritually.
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