new here and need advice, thank you

[shandy]

I am new here and would like to become Christian but don't really know how. I have always been an atheist. I am aware what Christians believe and feel a strong urge to start practicing the Christian faith. I want God in my life and feel he has touched my life in many ways. I want so badly to join a church. I don't really know how that part works. Do I walk in one day? I would also like to talk to the head person from the church like the minister or whatever he is called. I have have so many questions. Is it ok to just go into a church like this? I really don't have a clue. Any advice or answers would be great thank you.

 

[evenifigoalone]

As far as I am aware, and from what I've always seen from the church I attend and churches in my area, anyone is allowed to attend a church. Part of the churchs' mission is to minister, after all, and to do that people who aren't Christians have to be able to attend. (Though, to be a member, it's required that you be a Christian.)
The pastor should be happy to talk to you and answer any questions.

 

[Carolyn]

Welcome, Shandy.
Do you have a Bible? Many churches will give you a free one if you don't have one.
Becoming a Christian is not like joining a club. It is joining yourself to God your Creator. You do this by just talking to Him in prayer.

1. Start by asking Him to forgive you for all the bad choices you have made. The Bible calls all your imperfections sin. Since you are not perfect, ask Him to forgive you for being a sinner.
2. Thank Jesus for dying on the cross to pay the death penelty for your sinfulness. Ask Him to cleanse you of all your filth; then give Him your life to make you a whole new person. (He will change your desires so you will want to become more and more like Jesus.)
3. Ask the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, to come into you to live in you. Ask Him to teach you from the Bible and help you to understand more about Who God is and what it means to be a Christian. Ask Him to guide you to a good church

There are a lot of differences in churches. Some are very formal, some very informal. But the best ones teach straight from the Bible every Sunday. They may teach on a whole chapter of the Bible and go through it explaining it or helping us see how it applies to our lives, today.
You need to find one that is loving, that welcomes and accepts you.
Usually you have to make an appointment to speak to the pastor, but often the pastor and assistant pastors are available after church to talk to. I would urge you to just walk into a church on a Sunday morning and visit it. They usually post a sign outside telling when their services are. Usually they are around 10 to 11 AM. But you may have to call the church office to find out.

Most churches have different ways of joining the church. Some invite you to take classes first and some urge you to do so afterwards. These classes aide in getting acquainted with the Bible and with Christianity. But it is easiest to understand everything if you have already asked the Spirit of Jesus to live in you. Most churches will ask you to stand up and confess your faith in Christ in one way or another as part of joining the church. It is not necessary to join a church to become a Christian. It is necessary to confess your faith in Christ to others. "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 New King James Version. And I do urge you to attend a church regularly.

You are also free to post questions on this board. Just take from it what you need and is meaningful to you if it is posted by another Christian. We are still learning, too, and will be till we get to heaven. A few of us have some weird ideas, so pray about the answers and compare them to the Bible. This is true even if it is a pastor or minister who talks to you.

 

[eduardo]

Thats a good question because some churches aren't trustworthy, unfortunately, but its a start. Attend any church that doesn't proclaim a denomination. But before you do, ask God to help after a confession of your sins. Talk to Him like Hes right in the room with you and do it privately. It doesn't work magically, like, you'll be instantly reformed. Thats where faith comes in. If you are sincere to want to make the change then you must first put aside what He says you should. Or whatever you KNOW you should. Atheisum is difficult to rehab when sooo much rejection of God was instilled in your head. All thats got to go as you probably well know. I'm very excited that you have made the best choice in your entire life. One more thing, the current friends of atheisum must go. So if you have a posse then separate yourself completely or this will be way more difficult then nessassary. I was not an atheist but my negative associates had to go. They were very annoying. Welcome to the beginning of a new life. I will not lie to you, it won't be easy but the rewards are saweeeet!!