LYH Series: Church
October 24, 2022
Sunday, best day! To freshmen, transfers, and church hoppers alike, let’s talk Lynchburg’s local body!
With the hundreds of churches that Lynchburg has to offer, it can be overwhelming to find the right fit. For many of us, college is the first time that we actually have a say in what church we want to attend. We’re not even really sure what we should be looking for in a church.
The abundance of options can often lead to giving up in exasperation. Attending a different church every week becomes your norm– if you’re even going to church at all.
Please know, church is worth the hassle and the early wake-up! Being an active member of a local body is one of the greatest blessings of the Christian life. God created it to be a refuge, a place to refuel, to be encouraged and held accountable, to serve and to grow. There is great gain to be had by showing up consistently and getting plugged into a church.
So, what church do you choose? Allow me to ease your mind; you can’t really choose wrong. As so long as the church is theologically-sound, Bible-affirming, and gospel-focused, you’re at a good place!
Yes, there are still many other factors to consider. But I would encourage you to separate the primary theological issues from the secondary. What are the absolute non-negotiables for a church as outlined in Scripture? Start there. Worship style and teaching methods come later. Don’t put too much weight on the preferential and not enough on the foundational.
Here are a few great options of biblically-sound, healthy churches to get involved in!
“We are a church of broken people, blessed in Christ, to be a blessing to the world, all for the glory of Christ.”
Denomination: Baptist | Services: 9 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Heritage is a fairly large church with a wide range of ages and demographics represented. They are known for their expositional teaching style and a huge emphasis on discipleship and global missions. It is a great place to get plugged into if you are at all interested in going overseas or getting involved in fulfilling the Great Commission right here in Virginia. Their worship style and overall atmosphere is a blend between traditional and contemporary. They offer dozens of discipleship communities and ministries to both attend and serve at.
“Creating a culture that is rooted in the truths found in the Word of God and continuing a legacy of lives changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Denomination: Baptist | Services: 8:30 a.m. & 10:15 a.m.
Bedrock is unique in that it does not have one head pastor, but rather a team of four leading elders and three guiding elders. The elders rotate the preaching role week-to-week as well as share the responsibility of leading the church. They also have an expositional teaching style and a blend of traditional and contemporary worship. They have a big focus on church planting in cities across America as well as overseas. The Lynchburg congregation includes a lot of college students, but also many young families and older couples. They offer various Bible studies and ministries to participate in. Older members often take in college students and develop mentorship relationships.
Gospel Community Church College Hill:
“Our mission is to glorify God by making disciples who love God, grow in community, and reach out with the love of Christ.”
Denomination: Non-denominational | Services: 9 a.m. & 11 a.m.
Gospel College Hill is a multi-generational and diverse church body. It is a place that truly welcomes all newcomers into the family, with a strong push to get involved in one of their small groups. Their College Hill location was chosen specifically for the surrounding community and neighborhood, as they place a high value on being a light and having an active role in the area. The preaching is currently rotated between an interim pastor and church elders, with their preaching style varying between topical and expositional. The worship leans more toward contemporary.
No matter what church you decide to settle into, I encourage—beg—you to go all in! Don’t just show up on Sunday mornings and leave the second the service is over. Get to know the people around you, invest into the community! There is no telling what God will do in you and through you within that local body.
If you don’t want to get out there on your own, text your CGL and ask if you can join them this weekend. Ask some people on your hall or in your classes if they want to come along. If all else fails, there’s always a seat next to me!
Written by Leah Ginion
Leah is a senior studying Digital Media and Graphic Design. She enjoys drinking honey lavender lattes while discussing Scripture and is always down for a game night.