What’s In A Name?

In conversation recently with a fellow church planter, I took a few seconds to riff on the faddish naming of new churches these days—you know, the usually one-word “cool-sounding” things we call our churches now: Activate Church, Elevation Church, Journey Church, Soul Church, and so on.

As a writer, of course, I think words and names are important. I’m not knocking sharp branding (okay, maybe just a little bit…the “trendiness” of our efforts, maybe). But it got me to thinking, which is always dangerous.

What church name might appeal to me (not that I am—or should be—anybody’s demographic)? But as someone who has been a Christ-follower for decades, and been a part of numerous churches and even helped to plant one, would any name make me sit up and take notice and actually think, “I’d like to try that” or “I want to go to that church?”

I came up with a few:

Serve Church
Unchurch
Church Around the Table
Church Outdoors
Messy Church
Blues Church (I like the Blues, okay?)
House for All Sinners and Saints (that one actually exists)
Donut Church (okay, that may not be totally serious. Then again…)

I’m not saying any of these would be appealing to anyone else, I’m just saying they would intrigue me.

What about you? In an age of “This Church” and “That Church,” what would actually capture your notice and imagination?

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Photo by Francis Storr via Flickr

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Bob Hostetler

Bob Hostetler is a literary agent, an award-winning writer, editor, pastor, and speaker from southwestern Ohio. His thirty books, which include The Bone Box and American Idols (The Worship of the American Dream), have sold millions of copies. He has co-authored eleven books with Josh McDowell, including the best-selling Right from Wrong (What You Need to Know to Help Youth Make Right Choices), and the award-winning Don't Check Your Brains at the Door. He has won two Gold Medallion Awards, four Ohio Associated Press awards, and an Amy Foundation Award, among others. Bob is a frequent speaker at churches, conferences, and retreats. Bob was ordained to the ministry in 1980 by the Salvation Army and earned degrees in English Bible from Cincinnati Christian University and English Communications from Bloomfield College. In 2000, Bob (with his wife, Robin) helped to co-found Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford, Ohio. They have two children and four grandchildren. He has been a disc jockey, pastor, magazine editor, freelance book editor, and (with Robin) a foster parent to ten boys (though not all at once). They live in Hamilton, Ohio. You can follow Bob at @bobhoss.

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