Results not typical.

Perhaps that warning should accompany a certain story about Paul in Scripture, considers Nadya Williams in a recent CT article. The account is found in Acts 16 when the apostle visits Philippi and makes a host of new friends at a religious service almost immediately.

Williams explores the ways that Paul’s experience isn’t the norm. Oftentimes, she writes, making friends at a new church is hard. She’s experienced this for herself, as she and her family moved from Georgia to Ohio last year. Self-described "socially awkward academics," Williams and her husband lack Paul’s boldness and come up short in the small talk category. Even still, they have found that there’s only one solution for building relationships within a new-to-you congregation: "You make friends at church by being a friend at church."

"It turns out it can be just as intimidating for established church members to connect with newcomers as it is the other way around," writes Williams. "By being willing to take the first step sometimes, we were able to jumpstart wonderful friendships with people who have warmly opened their hearts and homes to us in the months since."

Whether we are the new faces in the crowd or have sat in the same pew for decades, may we move toward one another, forging friendships as we go.