Looking for a church in Big Rapids? An honest guide.

Big Rapids has a lot of churches for a town its size, and if you're new here, back after a while away, or a Ferris student deciding for the first time where you'll go, the list can feel like a wall.

So here's a guide written from here — for people in Big Rapids, Mecosta County, and the Ferris State campus — about how to find a church, what to look for, and why we're starting another one.

What to actually look for

Most church websites tell you about service times and parking. Those matter, but they're not what you're really asking. What you're asking is: Will I be judged? Is it weird? Do I have to believe everything to walk in? Is this going to be political? A few things worth paying attention to:

• What's preached. Is it the Bible, worked through carefully, or a motivational talk with a verse stapled on? Both exist. You'll know within a couple of Sundays.
• Who's in the room. A healthy church has toddlers and retirees and college students and people in the middle. If everyone is the same age, something is missing.
• What happens when you're not useful. Every church wants volunteers. The question is whether they're glad you came when you can't give them anything yet.
• Whether doubt is welcome. Ask a hard question and watch what happens. Are you handled, or are you heard?
• Whether Jesus is the point. Not the music, not the pastor's personality, not a program. Jesus.

Questions to ask a pastor

You're allowed to interview a church. Some good ones: What do you preach through? How does the church handle it when a leader is wrong? What do you believe about the Bible? What's your relationship to politics? What happens if I visit and never come back?

The answers matter less than the tone. Defensiveness tells you a lot.

So why start another one?

Fair question. Big Rapids isn't short on churches. But we believe it has room for one built from the start on what the Bible says a church is for: believers exhorting one another through singing, the Spirit's gifts, and fellowship; being equipped to live out the gospel; and exalting Christ in worship. For the Ferris student deciding what they actually believe now that nobody's making them go. For the family that wants their kids in the same room as the grandparents. For anyone who wants Scripture preached through, not around.

TheWay is a church forming in Big Rapids around seven commitments — encouraging, engaging, everyone, enjoyable, evangelistic, expositional, exaltation — which you can read in full on our What We Believe page. Self-governing — no denomination or convention over us. Foundational Christian doctrine; beliefs built on Scripture. Multi-generational on purpose. Bible preached through, not around.

What makes TheWay different

Not better — different. Big Rapids has good churches, and we'd rather send you to one of them than have you nowhere. But here's what you'll find with us that you may not find everywhere. We preach through books of the Bible in order, so the text sets the agenda instead of the calendar. We're a church of Spirit and truth — we believe all the gifts of the Holy Spirit continue, and that the mature believer is a Spirit-filled believer, without turning the gathering into a show. Everyone sings; there's no band, no stage, no spectators. One body, every age — kids, teens, college students, young families, middle age, and seniors worshiping together, because the church is the whole body, not sections of it (with teaching prepared for children as we grow). We're self-governing, led by elders, with no denomination or convention over us. And we're starting with people, not a building: living rooms and coffee shops first, a room and a service time when the people are there.

Questions people ask us

Is TheWay a non-denominational church?

We're independent and self-governing — no denomination or convention has authority over us. We're Baptist in practice (we baptize believers, not infants, and hold to the historic Baptist distinctives) and Foundational in doctrine. You can read every position on our What We Believe page.

Where does TheWay meet, and when?

Right now we gather in small groups around Big Rapids — homes, coffee shops, kitchen tables — while we build toward a first public gathering. The interest list is how you'll hear the location and time first.

Do I need to dress up or bring anything?

No. Come as you are. Bring a Bible if you have one; if not, TheWay Bible app is free.

Is there a church near Ferris State?

There will be — that's the plan. TheWay is a church forming in Big Rapids, and Ferris students are a big part of who we hope to see. We don't have a building yet, so right now that looks like small Bible studies around town rather than a Sunday service near campus. There's a page just for you: a church near Ferris State. Join the list and you'll hear first when there's a room and a time.

Is TheWay political?

We don't favor a party; we favor truth and righteousness. We'll speak plainly about what Scripture says — the sanctity of marriage, life from conception, freedom and liberty — and we'll leave the campaigning to others. Faith is active in all of life, but the pulpit is for the Bible.

Where we are right now

Honestly: we're early. We don't have a building or a service time yet, and we're not going to invent either one for a website. We're gathering the people first, which is backwards from the usual playbook and, we think, the right way round.

If you want to be part of that — or just want to hear when there's a room and a time — the interest list is where to start. And if you land at another church in town instead, good. We're not competing. We're neighbors.

One last thing, because it matters more than which building you pick. If you've never trusted Jesus, no church can do for you what He already did — He died for your sin, He rose, and He saves everyone who calls on Him. Call on Him, and then go find a church. In that order.

And if you already know Him and you've been church-shopping for a while now: at some point the search becomes the hobby. Pick one. Join it. Serve in it. You'll be more use there than you are in the parking lot.