Looking for a Church Near Me? A Pastor's Honest Guide for Matthews, Stallings, and Charlotte

Typing "church near me" into Google is a strange experience. You get a map full of pins, a list of service times, and a bunch of websites that all promise you'll feel welcome. None of that tells you what it's like to walk in the door for the first time.

I'm the Lead Pastor at Next Level Church, so I'm obviously biased about where I hope you end up. I've also spent a lot of years talking with people who put off visiting a church for months (sometimes decades) because they had no idea what they were walking into. So this is my attempt to give you the stuff the search results leave out, whether you visit us or a church down the road.

Start With Culture, Then Worry About Denomination

If you didn't grow up in church, the labels can sound like a foreign language. Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, non-denominational, charismatic. Most people trying to pick a church don't care much about the org chart. They want to know whether they'll get side-eyed for showing up with questions.

That's the first thing to look for. Is the church comfortable with people who aren't sure what they believe yet, or does it expect you to already know the songs, the vocabulary, and when to stand up?

What a church website tells you before you visit

A church's website is the closest thing you'll get to a sneak peek, so read it like a visitor. Is it written for people who already attend, full of ministry acronyms and inside jokes? Or does it explain what happens on a Sunday in plain English?

Look for a page that walks you through a first visit. Churches that have one usually spent some time thinking about what it feels like to be new, and that tends to show up in the building too.

Traditional vs. Contemporary Worship Styles

Visit a traditional church and a contemporary one on the same Sunday and you'll feel like you went to two different events. A traditional service usually has hymns, an organ or piano, a printed bulletin, and a set order of readings and prayers. A lot of people find that structure deeply meaningful.

A contemporary service tends to have a live band, lyrics on a screen, a casual dress code, and a sermon that sounds more like a conversation. Many non-denominational churches, including ours, go this direction because it's easier on people who didn't grow up in church. If formal services have ever left you feeling like everybody knew a secret you didn't, a contemporary church is probably an easier place to start.

What "come as you are" should actually mean

Plenty of churches say "come as you are." The real test is whether the person who shows up in jeans with a pile of doubts gets treated like a guest or like a project.

At NLC we mean it pretty literally. Wear whatever you'd wear to Target, and bring your questions along with whatever else you're carrying that week. Nobody's checking.

Preview the preaching first

You can learn a lot from one sermon. Most churches post theirs online now, so watch one from your couch before you give up a Sunday morning. You'll find out fast whether the pastor talks to you or at you.

My own preaching leans hard on stories and tries to connect the Bible to the actual stuff of your week, like your job or the argument you had in the car on the way over. You can find past series on our website and decide for yourself.

Kids Ministry: What to Look For in a Church Near You

For a lot of parents, the kids ministry is the whole decision. If you spend the service worrying about your toddler, you won't hear much of the sermon anyway.

Any children's ministry worth trusting should have:

• Background-checked volunteers in every room
• A secure check-in and pickup process, so only you or someone you authorize can pick up your child
• Separate spaces and lessons for different ages
• Leaders who communicate with parents and answer questions without making you feel like a bother

Past the basics, pay attention to how your kids act on the drive home. If they're asking when they get to go back, that tells you more than any website can.

NLC Kids on Sunday mornings

NLC Kids runs during our 10:00 AM service for infants through fifth grade, and each age group has its own space and lesson. On your first visit, head to the kids check-in area when you arrive and someone from our team will walk you through it. It takes a few extra minutes the first week and goes a lot faster after that.

Our goal is for your kids to have so much fun that they start bugging you about church on Saturday night.

What to Expect at Next Level Church on a Sunday

Service time and location

We meet Sundays at 10:00 AM at 4317 Stevens Mill Road in Stallings, NC 28104, right next door to Matthews. There's parking on site. Give yourself 10 or 15 minutes so you're not sneaking in during the first song (although if you do, you won't be the first).

You don't have to register ahead of time. If you'd like us to know you're coming, you can plan your visit at nextlevelchurch.org/plan-a-visit and we'll keep an eye out for you.

Plan Your Visit

What happens during the service

See the full what to expect on a Sunday guide.

Nobody will single you out or ask you to stand up and introduce yourself. We don't pass an offering plate down your row, either. We do talk about giving sometimes because it's part of following Jesus, but people who give do it online or on their way out.

If you want to let us know you were there, there's a digital connection card. It's optional, and nobody's going to chase you down if you skip it.

The culture here is relaxed. You can sit in the back and just listen if that's where you are right now. A lot of the people in the room on any given Sunday had very little church background before NLC, so most of them remember exactly what it felt like to be new.

Tips for Your First Visit to Any Church

Wherever you end up, a few things make that first Sunday easier.

Wear what's comfortable. At most contemporary churches, jeans are completely normal. You don't need to bring a Bible or know where anything is in it, since the verses are usually up on the screen.

When you walk in, look for a welcome table or someone wearing a name tag. Those folks are there specifically for first-timers, and they'd much rather help you than watch you wander the hallway looking for the bathroom.

If you want a feel for a church before Sunday, scroll its Instagram or Facebook, or send a message through its website. How quickly and warmly a church responds to a stranger is a pretty good preview of how you'll be treated in person.

After Sunday: Small Groups and Getting Connected

Sunday services are a good start, but most people don't feel at home in a church until they know a few names. That usually happens in a smaller setting.

Our small groups at NLC run for a set number of weeks instead of indefinitely, so you can try one without signing up for the rest of your life. You'll spend time with a teaching, talk honestly about it, pray a little, and get to know the people sitting around the table.

If you're more of a skeptic, or you just think better with a drink in your hand, check out Faith on Tap. Once a month we get together in a public spot to talk honestly about faith, doubt, the Bible, and the big questions. You don't have to agree with anybody to come, and there are plenty of non-alcoholic options if beer isn't your thing. You can find the next date on our events page.

We also host events through the year, from community serve days to family nights, and they're open to anyone. If a Sunday morning feels like too big a first step, an event is a low-pressure way to meet some of us.

Want the short version? Read our guide to visiting Next Level Church in Matthews, NC.

Ready to Find a Church Near You?

The right church is a place where you can show up honest and want to come back. Service times and addresses help you find a building, and the rest of this guide is about finding people.

If you live in Matthews, Stallings, Indian Trail, Mint Hill or anywhere around Charlotte, we'd love to see you at Next Level Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM. Watch a sermon first if you'd like, or just show up. You don't need to have anything figured out before you walk in.

Clay Monkus, Lead Pastor, Next Level Church

Plan Your Visit