Of course. But I think most people don't take this into consideration. Elimilech didn't when he went to Moab, look what happened to his family...thank God for Boaz ;)

I think the fact is that most people do not just move because they want a new place to live. Likely it is a job transfer, and because, as Madonna said, "we live in a material world," then we must work to support our families. Therefore, you will not usually find a family moving all the way across the metroplex for church when that translates into Daddy being gone an extra 5-10 hours per week simply for the commute. That is not good stewardship.

However, the decision of the church should play a role in the neighborhood choice, however limited it may be (for the reason above). I am just not convinced that people, as you intimate, do not take it into consideration.

It must be to more and more. We've had folks from more than 20 states move to the Shoals area to be a part of Grace Life Church, where Jeff Noblit is our pastor.

I just talked with a brother today who moved he and his daughter from CA just for our church. There is certainly an awakening (at least in some measure) going on!

I would agree that material considerations ought not usurp spiritual considerations, but might one not make a decision based on whether the area could use an influx of believers, rather than on whether there already are believers there?

If Christians only moved to areas where there was already a good church, evangelism would be dead.

That's an interesting observation, and I think you both are right. I've only recently understood myself that good preaching can be hard to find.

My first reaction is to think it is somewhat arrogant to assume that there is an absence of good, Biblical preaching in just about any area. However, I have lived in several places where there was absolutely none. It becomes a challenge for those who recognize the absence to help fill the void by their influence. Kind of a missionary mindset.

I do find today, that people are quite willing to drive 20, 40, or even 60 miles to church....but it isn't for Biblical preaching. It's usually for religio-tainment like cool music and :Christian coffee".

We were actually recently in this position. We considered moving from the very expensive area of Washington, DC, to North Carolina -- essentially a cost-of-living and quality-of-life decision. By no means were we "forced" (e.g. a job transfer), but if we wanted to keep my wife at home and have room for our growing family, a decision had to be made.

That being said, finding a good church was priority #1. We looked in 3 different metro areas and I listened to scores of sermons online, and took scouting trips to various churches. Praise God, we wound up having options, but my point is this: if it's in your control where you live, you don't want to assume there's going to be a good church there. Better to know there's a good one, and then move; then to move and find out you have to drive an hour or two to hear the Word.

We had made up our mind: no church, no moving -- but we found one and we love it. We found the church, settled on a city, and then I started job-hunting (usually it's the other way around).

Blessings
Tom