Sleepless in Huntsville... Need good church and friends (Birmingham: elementary school, community college)

[sinfree]

Greetings!

I am pretty much making a fresh start in Huntsville (I've actually lived just south of Huntsville for quite some time, but have pretty much been forced to leave my old friends, etc, behind). As such, I'm pretty much on my own here, which is ok, I guess... but I would like to actually have people to do stuff with .

I'm 24, male, work as a computer programmer (like half of Huntsville), and generally try to be a decent young man. As such, I'm not really into bars/clubs (though I would be interested in recommendations on upscale establishments where one actually went for something other than drinking themselves silly and getting laid).

However, I'm mostly interested in trying to find friends in non-bar/club environments. I've tried a number of churches.... Whitesburg Baptist, The Rock, Fellowship of Faith, Impact, Sojourn, Farley Community, and various other random churches and groups. I've actually enjoyed each in it's own rite, but so far I haven't really found what I'm searching for. Denomination isn't terribly important to me, so long as it isn't legalistic and no one is pulling out snakes or rolling down the aisles .

I will give props to Renown (an inter-church group of young adults that meet in Shea's Express coffee on Thursday nights at 8 PM). It is definitely in the vein of what I am searching for. I also know about the Christian lounge called Upper Room (on Jordan), though I don't think it's attracted much attention yet (at least when I went).

I'm planning to try the new church that meets in the Rave (Building Church, I think it is called), as I am particularly interested in churches that are geared toward this generation (no offense intended if you prefer the very traditional churches, as they certainly have their place).

Are there any other fresh, generational type churches in Huntsville? I was hoping there were some I hadn't heard about yet. In addition, I'm open to your recommendations on other churches you like or prefer (for example, I know a lot of the more traditional churches have special services, or two services, one with more diverse music, etc).

The racial make of the church isn't horribly important to me. I'm white, but diversity is good... that is one thing I really like about The Rock, it was just really hard for me to get connected in such a huge church .

Thanks in advance for your recommendations on churches or other (mostly wholesome) things you could recommend for young adults in Huntsville.

Regards,
Jonathan

[Charles]

You don't necessarily find wholesome, decent, moral, upstanding people in church. I think a lot of people think that, but it isn't necessarily true. A lot of them are phoney balonies.

I'm assuming you want to meet women (no straight male computer programmer or engineer is interested in meeting more men....)

Have you tried sports leagues?
Community college classes?
How about female friends hooking you up with some of their friends? Do you have a sister?, same thing.
Hang out at women's discount shoe stores - It's like fishing in a barrel.
I have two elementary school kids and I can tell you there are lots of hot school teachers - you just need to find a way to meet them.
Most of these methods worked for me.

There's also speed dating - I'd love to try this if I was single.

Speed dating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

GE isn't bad (it weeds out a lot of riff-raff), there's one but it is in Birmingham

Great Expectations - The nation's premier dating service for singles.

[Keeper]

Check out this.. while they do meet in restaurants and bars they are a group of singles, of all ages and backgrounds

WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs |Two groups offer fun events for singles looking to network with others

[AnotherBravesFan]

Have you looked into joining the Huntsville Newcomers' Club or Huntsville Young Professionals? You might get some recommendations from people there.

[Huntsville_secede]

Originally Posted by AnotherBravesFan

Have you looked into joining the Huntsville Newcomers' Club or Huntsville Young Professionals? You might get some recommendations from people there.

Yes I'd suggest going to HYP (Huntsville Young Professional) meetings. Thats really the only way here to meet a lot of non-college and professional type young people here other than church. And everyone in the club doesn't go to just get drunk and laid, and theres nothing wrong with meeting guys to you have to have somebody to hang out with but I would never recommend meeting decent females at a nightclub there are some but its really hard to find them through all the crap. Besides its like five guys to every one female in the clubs here anyway. I really wish Huntsville was more diverse I hate the fact that practically everyone here is an Engineer. It really makes it boring, I like meeting diverse people in different career fields, I think its one of the reasons Huntsville is perceived. Do you not have any friends from college that may live here?

[sinfree]

Thanks for all the great tips so far.

Charles,

I totally agree that Church is not required to make one decent . I like it from a cultural standpoint, and would like to find a good one. I also agree that there are some very phony folks in churches, which is a sad reality, but reflects our society in general.

Others,

Thanks for the tips on the singles, newcomers, and young professional meet ups. I'll definitely look into those.

Any other suggestions welcome.

Thanks,
Jonathan

[kchiny]

Please come and fellowship we do not discriminate. We love people. Come as you are.
For directions ,please call 678-245-4988.

Pastor Marvey

Address: 7173e covington hwy
lithonia ga 30058

Exit 74 on I-20.

[sinfree]

Lithonia, GA? That's just a tad far of a drive from Huntsville . It's on the other side of Atlanta. I was thinking more Huntsville city .

[FlourChild]

Originally Posted by sinfree

Lithonia, GA? That's just a tad far of a drive from Huntsville . It's on the other side of Atlanta. I was thinking more Huntsville city .

We were part of the Central Church on Clinton Ave (East), downtown (about 2 or 3 blocks NE of the courthouse). It is diverse but not in the sense of "we need more Asians, let's get more blacks and Indians in here too"; it's diverse because it is more like a family, not a club. There are no quotas, in other words. There is usually a sizable college/singles ministry, although there are people from literally every walk of life there. Alas, many, MANY engineers go there, but that's just Huntsville. It is a church of Christ, but unlike any other church of Christ I've ever seen, and I grew up in the church of Christ (and detest the traditional cofC stuff). People in this church took care of me after neurosurgery, welcomed my kids into the world, supported me through various and sundry crises. I know they would welcome you too.