non-denominational non-mega Christian church (Lafayette, Jefferson: chapel, house, college)

[ROCtoBTR]

We are moving to BR in October, and would like to find a church with small groups that doesn't have a 2,000 + congregation, and has lots of kids (we have a 1-year-old). Thoughts?

[WhoDat2011]

Check out Parkview Baptist church. I realize it's not a non-demoninational church, but I would suggest you to at least just give it a try. The pastor gives excellent messages, and he even greets you at the door. The pastor at my church would never do such a thing! She size is very comforting and they have very friendly people in there.

[annie_himself]

I believe most non-denominational churches are these huge business churches.
Healing Place Church (Highland Rd) is pretty big, but I enjoyed the service more than Bethany South, which is larger.

[The Analog Man]

I believe most non-denominational churches are these huge business churches.

I agree. I had the same impression with some of the churches I attended here in Lafayette. I, like the op would like to know of a Small church to go to.

[WhoDat2011]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

I believe most non-denominational churches are these huge business churches.
Healing Place Church (Highland Rd) is pretty big, but I enjoyed the service more than Bethany South, which is larger.

While that may be true for some places, you shouldn't make a blanket statement. Big churches were once small churches and they grew for possibly a number of different reasons. My church is a large church, but what gives it a small-church feeling is the Bible fellowship classes that come about. Without those classes, you would get lost in the shuffle.

The benefit of the Bible fellowship classes is that people in your group are in the same life situation as you. If you are young and single, that's your group. If you are married with kids, that's your group. So big churches do have some drawbacks, but have benefits as well.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by WhoDat2011

While that may be true for some places, you shouldn't make a blanket statement. Big churches were once small churches and they grew for possibly a number of different reasons. My church is a large church, but what gives it a small-church feeling is the Bible fellowship classes that come about. Without those classes, you would get lost in the shuffle.

The benefit of the Bible fellowship classes is that people in your group are in the same life situation as you. If you are young and single, that's your group. If you are married with kids, that's your group. So big churches do have some drawbacks, but have benefits as well.

I said most, which is feel is a pretty accurate statement. The only small churches I can think of are Catholic or Baptist.

[LookingHome]

I can think of a couple. Chapel on the campus. It's right by LSU, but I have friends with kids who attend there, as it's not at all just college students. Even elderly people attend.

I believe there's one on Highland called The Vineyard.

One on Jefferson at Essen, pretty small, called Community Bible Church. We went to a Halloween/fall fest event there and seemed to be pretty small, but a lot of kids!

Hubby just said Church of the Highlands. I don't know anything about it, I've lived here 7 years, he all his life. So, he just mentioned it.

We have some friends church shopping and have visited a few others that I can't think of...maybe one called Grace? I know there's a few! Sorry I can't think of more right now, but they are out there!

[ROCtoBTR]

Thank you all for the info. We are flying down this weekend to do our house hunting, and were planning on checking out a couple of churches. We were thinking the Chapel in the Oaks, since that is closer to the area where we will be looking than the one near LSU.
@WhoDat2011, thank you, we went to a Baptist church for a while that had Bible fellowship classes, and like the concept of it, but found that the congregation didn't seem very interested in having relationships with new comers, which was disappointing. But, maybe at a bigger church, this wouldn't be the case.

[HeyDill]

Originally Posted by ROCtoBTR

Thank you all for the info. We are flying down this weekend to do our house hunting, and were planning on checking out a couple of churches. We were thinking the Chapel in the Oaks, since that is closer to the area where we will be looking than the one near LSU.
@WhoDat2011, thank you, we went to a Baptist church for a while that had Bible fellowship classes, and like the concept of it, but found that the congregation didn't seem very interested in having relationships with new comers, which was disappointing. But, maybe at a bigger church, this wouldn't be the case.

Hi Roc. I would solicit opinions from people actually plugged into a church. There are some responders here that actually don't attend church, so those people opinions are worthless. I would also suggest Parkview Baptist as it was a very friendly pastor who also doubles as the door greeter.

[annie_himself]

Great observation.