DaytonDailyNews.com

The term alone is enough to make any person of faith wince. "Church shopping" — finding a new place of worship — can be a daunting task. Whether it's due to a job change, making a fresh start or leaving something dysfunctional, changing churches is, at times, a necessary evil.

But with the right perspective and a little elbow-grease, finding a new place of worship may just be one Sunday away. Here are a few tips to take you through the process from beginning to end.

Pre-visit your new church on the Web. In today's hi-tech world you can begin your research before stepping foot into a church by visiting their Web site. Read the staff bios, check out service times and, if available, listen to a message online.

Look for a friendly atmosphere on your first visit. Once you take that leap to attend a new church, make sure that you ask yourself if the people are kind and accepting to outsiders.

Find the information center. Most churches provide informative brochures that describe their mission, vision and beliefs along with detailed descriptions of key ministry opportunities. Make sure you leave with as much information as possible.

Visit their children's ministry. You can tell a great deal about a church by the way they treat their kids. Make sure and stop by their children's program and check out what they have going on. Don't be afraid to ask if you can sit in so you'll know exactly what your kids will experience.

Conduct short interviews with church members. Make the most of your time by asking members some important questions like, "What made you choose this church?" or "What's this church all about?"

Meet the pastor. If possible, stay until the service is over and speak with a pastor. This will give you a chance to find out what the leadership is like on a personal level.

Post-visit evaluation. Take time to look over all the information you've gathered and evaluate the experience. But remember, there is no perfect church. There are good ones, but every church has flaws, so don't be unrealistic in your expectations.

Even though it's called "church shopping," it shouldn't be a purely consumer experience. In the end, finding a good church fit is more about giving then receiving, it's about finding an enriching community where you can give yourself fully to serving God and others.

The Rev. Brian Orme is an associate pastor at Community Church in West Milton and a freelance religion writer. Send e-mail to mjorme@gmail.com or read more at www.brianorme.com.