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Friday, March 27, 2009

119 Cool Church Names

Special update: I wrote a book for churches to give to first-time guests. It’s had a huge impact at bringing more people back as second-time guests and adding them into the church community. Get the Kindle version of Unforgettable: Your purpose in Christ here and the print version from unforgettableness.com. Those outside the USA may need to order print copies from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.eu.
In the process of trying to think through a name for our new church in Chicago I brainstormed an initial list of 156 names. Some were so ridiculous that I had to remove them from this list, which now contains some less ridiculous names. 

I will not reveal here what the new churches name is. I'll be sharing that with the core group in a few weeks. In choosing a name I wanted to keep these things in mind:
  1. Something simple. One or two words with the word "church" after it. People need to know we are a church, so having "church" is important to me. Some exclude this, but I personally think that is a mistake. I wanted one or two words because some church names are so long it's hard to say them. I want things to be simple in this regard. 
  2. Would the unchurched be more or less likely to visit purely based on the name?
  3. Would the name connect with Christians?
  4. Be certain no other churches in close proximity had this name.
  5. Something that would work in different locations around the city.
  6. I felt that it was important to find something non-traditional, because we are targeting a younger urban crowd, yet something not too wacky that would turn away Christians who are looking for a church. 

I went through the process of having a number of Christians present 4 possible names to their unchurched friends in Chicago and pose this question: Purely based on the name, which church would you be most likely to visit if a friend invited you or if you saw an advertisement? This process was VERY eye opening and SHOCKING to some degree. Christians and unchurched people had widely different reactions to the names. I could not have predicted how our unchurched friends would have responded to the options. 

After hearing both sides, we have chosen a name. We'll reveal it soon, so checkout the brainstorm list and watch this space ... 


119 Cool Church Names (some aren't so cool!)
  1. ONELOVE church
  2. Recreate church
  3. Eklesia church
  4. Connect church
  5. CHURCH CAST
  6. The Race Church
  7. NewGlobe Church
  8. NewChurch
  9. Restorer Church
  10. Defender Church
  11. Rescuer Church
  12. Giver Church
  13. Act Church
  14. The Overture Church
  15. The Endeavor Church
  16. First Act Church
  17. Venture Church
  18. Great Endeavor Church
  19. The Exchange Church
  20. Truth Church
  21. The Source Church
  22. All Things New Church
  23. Pitch Church
  24. The Launch Church
  25. OutSetChurch
  26. Link Church
  27. Encounter Church
  28. 24 CHURCH
  29. First Love Church
  30. Replenish Church
  31. Global Church
  32. The Center Church
  33. CONNECTION CHURCH 
  34. Epic Venture Church
  35. The Root Church
  36. DANGERMOUSE Church (added for tobiwan)
  37. Renewal Church
  38. Renew Church
  39. OneWayChurch
  40. Landmark Church
  41. Century Church
  42. Central Church
  43. CleanSlate Church
  44. TombStone Church
  45. Kinetic Church
  46. Movement Church
  47. Motion Church
  48. Activate Church
  49. Dynamic Church
  50. Rhythm Church 
  51. Pulse Church
  52. Beat Church
  53. Sound Church
  54. Special update: I wrote a book for churches to give to first-time guests. It’s had a huge impact at bringing more people back as second-time guests and adding them into the church community. Get the Kindle version of Unforgettable: Your purpose in Christ here and the print version from unforgettableness.com. Those outside the USA may need to order print copies from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.eu.
  55. New Music Church
  56. Portal Church
  57. Music of Life Church
  58. Rhythm of Life Church
  59. Reactivate Church  
  60. TheCause
  61. LIFECAUSE Church
  62. BeTheCause Church 
  63. Motif Church
  64. Designers Church
  65. ThePattern
  66. LifePattern
  67. PatternOfLife Church 
  68. TheDesign
  69. Redesign Church
  70. TheSketch
  71. Objective Church
  72. CityBeat
  73. Fresh Church
  74. Start Church
  75. TheFigure
  76. TheCrux
  77. TheCore
  78. Guardian Church 
  79. Keeper Church
  80. Director Of Life Church
  81. One Church
  82. The Messenger 
  83. Messenger Church
  84. Message Church 
  85. Stream Church
  86. Streaming Church
  87. LIGHT CHURCH
  88. VIBE Church
  89. Verve Church 
  90. Manifold Church
  91. Home Church 
  92. Open House Church
  93. Propulsion Church
  94. View Church
  95. Vision Church
  96. Honor Church
  97. Celebration Church 
  98. Churchopolis 
  99. Churchopia 
  100. Star Church
  101. Jesus Church
  102. New Tribe
  103. Kin Church
  104. Commit Church
  105. Change Church 
  106. Resolution Church 
  107. Enthuse Church 
  108. Overflow Church
  109. Drive Church
  110. Enter Church
  111. Embark Church
  112. Purpose Church
  113. Multiply Church 
  114. Reproduce Church
  115. Celebrate Church
  116. Access Church
  117. New Deal Church
  118. Joy Church
  119. Crimson Church 
  120. Red Church
Special update: I wrote a book for churches to give to first-time guests. It’s had a huge impact at bringing more people back as second-time guests and adding them into the church community. Get the Kindle version of Unforgettable: Your purpose in Christ here and the print version from unforgettableness.com. Those outside the USA may need to order print copies from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, or Amazon.eu.




25 comments:

Alistair said...

Great move to actually ASK the potential audience what they thought of the names! Most people wouldn't do this, but DOH it's pretty obvious!

Unknown said...

When you unveil(cool church name:)the name...would you please reveal the survey results!

Alex said...

I second Jeff. I am very interested in how the survey went.

Jenn said...

I agree with the others, but I also have to add that I definitely laughed at some of those names! Thanks for sharing!

Matt Sweetman said...

Yes, some of the names are a bit silly to say the least. But that is what a brainstorming season does! I'll share the results for sure.

tobiwan said...

You forgot DANGERMOUSE church. Also you had Star Church twice.

The end..

Anonymous said...

What matters most is having the anointing of God at work. You can name your church "whatever" you want but without the anointing it will not have total success.

Justin Lether said...

1 AND it came to pass that as the disciples of Jesus were journeying and were preaching the things which they had both heard and seen, and were baptizing in the name of Jesus, it came to pass that the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting.
2 And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you?
3 And they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church; for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter.
4 And the Lord said unto them: Verily, verily, I say unto you, why is it that the people should murmur and dispute because of this thing?
5 Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name? For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;
6 And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day.
7 Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name; and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.
8 And how be it my church save it be called in my name? For if a church be called in Moses' name then it be Moses' church; or if it be called in the name of a man then it be the church of a man; but if it be called in my name then it is my church, if it so be that they are built upon my gospel.
9 Verily I say unto you, that ye are built upon my gospel; therefore ye shall call whatsoever things ye do call, in my name; therefore if ye call upon the Father, for the church, if it be in my name the Father will hear you;
10 And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it.
11 But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return.

Anonymous said...

Not sure what Bible "Justin" is using but I can't find that passage anywhere...

MrLuke said...

@Mark - That "bible" would be the Mormon bible.. *sigh*

Tira-tira Dulce said...

@ tobiwan:
I think he put Start Church and Star Church :)

Gareth Frow said...

So what did you call the church?

ddcop said...

Thank you for the list! It helped us when starting First Love Church. We were brainstorming names and struggling. God led me to your blog and suddenly we were able to really get to work! Thank you from FLC. www.1stlc.org

Unknown said...

You should totally add my church: Slaughterville Baptist Church.
Not even kidding.

Anonymous said...

Justin posted from the book of Mormon. A book read by a non-Christian cult.

Unknown said...

Justin needs deliverance.

karla said...

Or this one: Boring Assembly of God, located in Boring, Oregon. Thankfully has a new name now.

Born again said...

What about new world order church, like this: Newworld Order Church

Unknown said...

Where can I find this in the Bible please?

Unknown said...

I need a good name for my church

Unknown said...

Which really is no bible at all.. it’s a cult manual

Strong Tower Global Mission said...

Thank you so much for the list, it has helped to select Celebration Church.

Anonymous said...

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He's a loan officer working with a group of investor's who are willing to fund any project or loan you any amount with a very low interest.Contact Benjamin Briel Lee E-Mail: 247officedept@gmail.com  Whats-App Number: +1-989-394-3740.

Unknown said...

Please where is this verse in my Bible?

Unknown said...

This is from the Book of Mormon.