How to Find a Like-Minded Church Through ReKnew

Updated

ReKnew offers a "Find a like-minded church near you" link on its site, which is the starting point for locating a congregation aligned with its theological perspective. The tool is a directory-style entry point rather than a matching service, so you will still need to verify a church's actual beliefs and community culture yourself. This guide covers what the feature is, how to use it, and what to check before committing to a visit.

What ReKnew Is

ReKnew (reknew.org) is the ministry site of Greg Boyd. It describes itself as "Resourcing the Revolution," seeking to "inspire, educate and expand the Kingdom Revolution centered around the beautiful God we find in Jesus." The site publishes original articles, podcast episodes, and books, and organizes content around topics such as Open Theism, Cruciform Theology, Spiritual Warfare, and the Problem of Evil.

The site states it runs without ads and is funded solely by direct support from readers. That matters for how you use the church finder: it is a ministry resource, not a commercial directory, so listings reflect the network's own theological filter rather than paid placement.

How to Use the Church Finder

  1. Go to reknew.org. The church finder link appears in the site's footer area, near the "Find a like-minded church near you" text.
  2. Follow the link. You will be taken to the church-finding resource ReKnew points to.
  3. Search by location. Enter your city, region, or postal area to see what comes up nearby.
  4. Review each result. Note the church name, location, and any description provided.
  5. Cross-check before visiting. Use the church's own website or contact information to confirm current service times, leadership, and stated beliefs.

The expected result is a shortlist of candidate churches in your area. If your search returns nothing nearby, that is a common outcome for a niche theological network — see the fallback options below.

What "Like-Minded" Means Here

ReKnew's content centers on a specific set of convictions. When evaluating a church listing, these are the themes worth checking against:

ReKnew theme What to look for in a church
Cruciform Theology Teaching that God's character is revealed definitively in Jesus on the cross
Open Theism A view of God's knowledge and the future that allows for genuine human freedom
Spiritual Warfare Engagement with the cosmic conflict theme rather than dismissing it
The Problem of Evil A pastoral approach to suffering consistent with a non-controlling view of God
Christ as ultimate foundation Jesus treated as the interpretive center, not a secondary layer on top of other authorities

A church may share some of these and not others. Decide in advance which convictions are non-negotiable for you and which are preferences.

What to Verify Before You Commit

The directory gives you a starting point, not a guarantee. Before settling in:

  • Check the statement of faith. Look specifically for how the church describes God's sovereignty, the atonement, and Scripture's role.
  • Listen to a sermon or two. Many churches post audio or video. This tells you more about actual teaching than a statement of faith does.
  • Ask about community life. Small groups, service opportunities, and how newcomers are received matter as much as doctrine.
  • Visit more than once. A single service rarely reveals a congregation's culture.
  • Talk to the pastor. A direct question about theological emphases is usually welcome and often clarifying.

If Nothing Comes Up Nearby

ReKnew's network is concentrated around a particular theological tradition, so local results may be sparse depending on where you live. Options:

  • Widen your radius. Search surrounding towns or the nearest metro area.
  • Use ReKnew's other resources first. The site's articles, podcasts, and book listings can help you articulate what you are looking for, which makes conversations with local pastors more productive.
  • Consider online community. If no local church fits, ReKnew's own content and podcast episodes function as a teaching community, though they do not replace in-person fellowship.
  • Start conversations locally. Some readers use ReKnew material as a basis for discussion groups within existing churches.

A Practical Sequence

If you want a clear path: search the finder for your area, shortlist two or three churches, check each one's website and a recent sermon, then visit the most promising one twice before deciding. Keep the theological checklist above in hand so your evaluation stays consistent across visits.