Why We Moved to a New City During a Pandemic (After Having Our 4th Child) - Believing in the Role of Proximity to the Local Church

It wasn’t a haphazard or emotional decision.

My wife and I had known it was a possibility for over a year, had multiple key discussions along the way, and had prayed through it for months. 

But in September of 2020, less than 4 months after having our 4th child, we packed our bags and moved to a new city. 

Ok, we moved 20 miles, so it wasn’t like we uprooted everything, but our friends (and a number of others) thought we were crazy. And I don’t want to downplay the stressors of the move. It was stressful and a bit of a rocket ride for a few weeks.

So why did we move? 

The motivation came from a growing conviction that where one ministers and where one lives should have geographical constraint. More directly said, there was a growing belief that one should live where one serves. 

In an article called, “Why You Should Consider Living Near Your Church” the author (Nathan Finn) says that it is “ideal to live near your church’s gathering place for the kingdom’s sake.” 

There are two things worth highlighting in Finn’s statement:

First, he says this is an ideal, which means it’s not a requirement. I appreciate him not laying an unnecessary burden for those sincerely trying to follow Jesus. I don’t think living close to one’s church should be law, but I do agree it is ideal.

Secondly, he anchors his reasoning in the Kingdom of God. In other words, he’s saying there’s something about living close to one’s church that uniquely leverages one’s life in the experience and expansion of the reign of Jesus.

I agree with his rationale and believe it’s true of Christians. I also believe this ideal is amplified and intensified for a pastor of a local church. 

I believe this because of one keyword: integration.

Here are 3 ways I believe greater integration shows up for a pastor when he lives where he serves:

1) Integrated Community Building

Due to technological advancements, community can be experienced in many different ways. We can commute 25 miles in 30 minutes or participate in a global small group through Zoom. These are incredible gifts. But there may be an overlooked downside: the proclivity to compartmentalize. 

Maybe this is just me, but there’s something about commuting to my church community that allows me to keep it at arm’s distance until I'm ready for it. I can be “out of sight, out of mind” until I’m ready for my dose of Christian community. In other words, the lack of geographical constraint edges me towards consumeristic tendencies. I can’t help it.

The benefit of geographical constraint between my home and my church is that I have a much harder time compartmentalizing my community. As I drive on certain streets and turn on particular street corners, I am confronted with the faces and names of those I go to church with. A few weeks ago, I ran into one of our church members at the grocery store and found myself praying for him and his family as I drove off the parking lot. Geographical constraint has a ripple effect in terms of how I love and serve those in my church community.  

2) Integrated Missional Living 

Before I moved, I made attempts to invite my neighbors to come to church. But I did so with hesitancy because I knew I was asking them to commute 20 miles in which they would have to drive past church buildings that stood down the street. Since the move, I feel free to pass out invites, build relationships, and “make the ask” knowing I’m asking them to drive fifteen minutes tops. Even more so, I feel like I can play the long game. I’ve started organizing outdoor playdates for my son to hang with his school classmates with the hopes of meeting their parents and building relationships. 

But more than mere practicality, living close to my church has done something to my heart. It’s placed a burden for my city because I see the city differently. My surrounding isn’t a place that only serves to benefit me. It’s a place I want to make a gospel contribution to. Therefore, when I stand on stage on Sunday and cast vision about being “salt and light” it’s not a disembodied, ethereal invitation, but one that’s concrete and earthy. Local restaurants, schools, and the very neighbors I pray for every day come to mind as I share.

I’m not saying this can’t happen in a commuter context. Of course it can. But even if it does, notice how we run back into the problem of practicality: Even if your entire street said “Yes” to Jesus, you’d have to invite them to your church right? Would they be willing to make the drive?

3) Integrated Family Life and Church Life 

Prior to our move, I knew my children would have two sets of friends: Friends from school and friends from church. There’s nothing wrong with this. This was largely my church experience growing up. But I felt a burden for a more integrated experience for my children. 

From a social standpoint, I want my children to be able to see some faces at church that they also see at school. But there’s a discipleship angle too. As my children get older, I don’t want them to only see their dad doing the work of ministry. I want to come alongside them and partner with them as they do the work of ministry. 

I want to get to know their school friends and invite them to VBS. I want my kids to feel like they can invite their entire school to church. I want to get to know their friends and partner with my kids in praying for the salvation of their friends. I want them to form ideas with their youth group for how to reach their school campuses. I also want them to see church members and church elders coming over to our house for dinner and know that church and life exist as an integrated whole. 

Conclusion 

Think about the role of geography in the Bible. Isn’t God deeply interested in location? Places matter greatly to God.

This is probably because places are populated by people and He is lovingly chasing sinful people like you and me. Even the New Testament churches were called by the city they resided. Elders of a local congregation were assumed to reside in the said locality.

This post isn’t meant to guilt-trip you if you commute to your church. You can be faithful where you are. Proximity to one’s church isn’t a requirement.

But I do think it is the ideal way to go.

Wasn’t this the same ideal our Savior pursued?

Jesus didn’t fulfill the Law on Mars. He didn’t die for our sins far away from us. He lived, died, and ascended in proximity to the very people He was serving. He was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, and ministered in Galilee and beyond. He did this for the sake of the Kingdom.

And one day, He will again see geographical constraint when He returns to earth. 

I can’t help but wonder if proximity to one’s church is something more Christians should consider, even if it’s not a requirement.