How did you handle the dreaded question "What is the name of your church?

First I would get nervous and barely be able to speak. Then I would say we go to a non-denominational church. It has no name. I would then change the subject. It was a very scary thing!

When asked THE dreaded question, I said I didn't know! ...and went home and asked mum and dad. They said to tell people that my church was "Non-Sectarian" or "Non-denominational". Try remembering that in the 3rd grade! I simply couldn't remember these words! And for a while I thought these terms were actually the name of our group, but was also very confused because this contradicted the workers... who said there was definitely NO NAME!!!

As I got older, I would simply say "Well, I know it sounds strange, but it doesn't actually have a name..."

Bet some of my old schoolteachers and friends are still scratching their heads! :-) 3/97

What's the name of your church? I would simply tell them non-denominational and move onto the next topic. I was always embarrassed but that was self imposed.

That one is easy...

NEVER EVER bring up the subject of religion!

If it does come up feign deafness or change subject.

It was fairly traumatic moving into a small community where they knew a little about 2x2's but after taking on the class bully (see my earlier post) I was left alone. I was already sort of different because I'd moved from the big city to rural South Dakota, but actually the kids were quite accepting! It never really came up, partially because of my extremely low profile and the fact that there was another student who was extremely fundamentalist who created a lot more waves than I did.

I had to chuckle at your answer to NEVER EVER bring up the subject of religion.

This certainly would be one easy way to handle not being asked in the first place! (Women can't get off that easy due to appearance.)

But my chuckle was this. The workers are wanting the friends to bring "outsiders" to meeting but the friends are being careful NOT to bring up religion! (I did it too--much safer and easier.) One wonders, how is this group supposed to grow? And more to the point, how are the workers supposed to evangelize? Can just a few workers, living in "saints" homes, with little or no contact with the "world" spread their gospel?

The Bible gives me to understand that all Christians are commanded to bring others to Christ. Matthew 28:19, 20 -

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

My Life Application Bible says: "We are to go--whether it is next door or to another country--and make disciples. It is not an option, but a command to all who call Jesus "Lord." We are not all evangelists in the formal sense, but we have all received gifts that we can use to help fulfill the Great Commission. As we obey, we have comfort in the knowledge that Jesus is always with us."

Each one, having accepted Christ, is obligated to tell others the wonderful news of salvation.

>What is the name of your church?

I said, "It doesn't have a name. Jesus' church didn't have a name, so mine doesn't either. It is non-denominational."

>How did you feel when someone asked you that question?

I always felt kind of 'neat'. Like I had something that no one else had. It got on my nerves when they didn't believe me, though. Like, every church has a name...you just don't know it.

>What did you answer/do?

The subject usually dropped shortly after it was started. Sometimes we would discuss the Christmas issue, or that I believed Jesus didn't have long hair, or meeting in the home. 3/97

_____.how familiar this all sounds!! Like these things are so important for salvation!!

I must say, though, NOW when people ask me about my old fellowship, or what my mother belongs to.....it is EMBARRASSING!!! I can't figure out how to explain to another Christian about a group so strange as the 2x2's!! It isfunny...when a person comes to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and His saving work of the cross, they cannot relate at ALL to a legalistic group such as the 2x2's. It's no wonder..they know all the rules just aren't needed for salvation!!

Praise God for the work He FINISHED!! 3/97

NOW, when someone asks me the name of the church I was formerly associated with, I tell them "The Truth" or "Christian Conventions." Why should I have to go through all that rigmarole about it not having a name--when it isn't true? I refuse to continue spouting their party-line of untruths.

As a 5th grader, I remember answering the question of "What church do you go to?" with, "Guess?!" I came out the winner, because they never guessed right. Got me off the hook--on top! 3/97

How did I handle people asking what is the name of my church? Well, let me tell you, after I learned the word Protestant I really gave it a workout, and then used evasive action. When you are just a kid most people just kind of pass it off when you give odd answers. As a teenager that tactic didn't work so well. I HATED the dreaded question. I just couldn't figure out why people were so curious about my 'church'. (So much for thinking someone wanted to know more about the 'true' way.) Frankly I was never given any kind of preparation to answer questions about the 'way' so I just stumbled around trying to answer their questions. I always felt so trapped because I didn't know what to say. How could I tell them what I didn't know myself? Even after I quit going to meeting, it was hard explaining to anybody the church my mom went to! I hasn't been until recently that I have been able to give any kind of intelligent answer. (When you just 'parrot' stuff you hear, you don't sound like you know what you are talking about.) 3/97

When asked what the name of my church was I used to say that it didn't have a name. Of course this would be met with skepticism and confusion. If pressed further I'd say something like: "In the Bible there are no names given for churches. We simply follow Jesus."

Some would press on further and say "Oh, you must be Minnonite." Or "Well, maybe you are the such-and-such church."

One person just couldn't handle the "No-name" answer and finally asked me: "Well, did YOU start this church yourself?" I was floored!

One "outsider" friend I'd know for ages called me up one day and said: "I finally know the name of your church--it's the Two-By-Twos!" I kept my cool and advised her that was not correct and "2x2s" was only a nick name placed on my church by outsiders!

I know for a fact that I wouldn't have told that person that it was started in the heart of God, or since 2+2 was four, or that the history doesn't matter! Too bad I didn't know that it was started by William Irvine--I could have told her the truth! (Hmmmmm… there’s a novel idea!)

Years later, and after I had quit the sect, my non-professing aunt told me she knew I was in a cult when I wouldn't tell her the name of it! 3/97