I grew up in this area and was never really aware of how limited it was in church services until I joined the military, moved away, and lived in other areas of the country.
After my wife left me, I moved back here to rebuild my life and my faith about five years ago. It has been a challenge with my profession.
I work in corporate security and work a 12hr shift either starting at 0600 on Sunday and ending at 0600 on Wednesday, or my current schedule which starts at 6pm on Wednesday and ends at 0600 on Sunday.
Churches around here only offer Sunday morning services. And there aren't many decent churches in the first place. The one I currently like to attend is an Evangelical Free church. They have one service on Sunday mornings at 10:10. It's a decent-sized church with around 500 members.
My last church in Arizona was around 900 members and had two services on Sunday morning, a Sunday evening service, and a Wednesday night service. The three different churches I attended while living in Arizona and the others in Iowa all had the same service choices with membership from 100 folks to over 2000.
I don't understand the complete lack of service options around here.
The nearest town to me has more pot shops than large churches...
I tried going to a home group type Bible study the Evangelical Free church sponsored, but most groups are Wednesday/Thursday. I finally found one that worked with my old schedule and attended it for a few months, but the members were either young married couples or single college girls. I'm a 50yr old divorced guy and grandpa...
Plus, the group was highly educated and really into deep theological discussions. I felt out of place on all levels.
But at least it was fellowship.
Now I have none. I even joined an online Christian forum but that was a huge blow to my faith due to the large number of "liberal Christians" on there who saw no problem with supporting a political ideology and party that promoted homosexuality, abortion, and Islam. I couldn't wrap my head around how someone who professed to follow Christ could embrace such evil. So I turned away from fellowship.
Last week I visited my sister for a week in Southern Idaho and was able to attend church with her on Sunday morning. It was awesome! I didn't realize how much I was craving fellowship until I got a taste of it.
Now I'm just really frustrated and saddened by the lack of ability to fellowship or attend church around here. I grew up here and love the area, but the lack of good jobs, single women over 40, high housing costs, and limited church opportunities has me considering moving.
I just think it's weird that not one single church that I've been to out here has mid-week services.
Is it like that in your area?