PHOTO BY THE CROSSING.
LIFESTYLE & LEISURE
Faith Walk
New city New home New job New school New church
If your relocation checklist includes a new home for worship, Columbia offers several avenues for your faith journey. With more than 150 congregations in the area, opportunities abound to meet your spiritual needs. From intimate gatherings of a few believers to dynamic assemblies of a few thousand, ministries here run the gamut of doctrine, mission and worship styles. Take your time to select the best fit for you and your family, advises the Rev. Keith Simon, co-lead pastor at The 82
R E LO C AT I N G I N C O LU M B I A
nn BY KATHY CASTEEL
Crossing, one of Columbia’s largest churches. “Finding a new church in a new city can be difficult,” Simon says. “It usually takes about six weeks before you can start to get a sense of whether a church is a good fit for you. Of course, a church’s beliefs are foundational. But it’s also important to assess whether a particular church will provide opportunities for you to learn and grow in your faith, whether the church community is friendly and whether you can support the church’s mission in the community.” A good fit can take many forms. Columbia’s spiritual landscape includes small neighborhood enclaves, suburban settings, sprawling urban centers and even a few megachurches. Services can be on-site or online. Although Christianity dominates, there are also worship options for various Eastern and Western faiths.
High-energy, contemporary services with theater-like seating and crystalclear acoustics attract thousands to The Crossing and Woodcrest Chapel, churches lauded by local musicians as the best gigs in town. In small family settings such as Rock Bridge Christian Church or Little Bonne Femme Baptist Church, you’ll quickly get to know everyone’s name. Worship in the country, perhaps at Olivet Christian Church, on the east side of town since 1874, or Midway Locust Grove United Methodist Church, established in 1817 and the oldest church west of the Mississippi. Savor the history at Second Missionary Baptist Church, St. Paul AME and Log Providence Missionary Baptist, all built by former slaves freed to form their own congregations in the 1860s.
