"We all have different journeys, and we all get to where we are going in different ways. But the important thing is that we keep moving."
Fred Rogers
My Journey to Elsewhere
My faith journey began in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where I grew up active in my home congregation, eventually serving as a lay leader, communications consultant, member of the innovation team, and architect of their virtual elder program. Ironically, I had never been more active in church leadership than during COVID. For years, a busy schedule meant I never quite "had time" for church, but hybrid worship and online committee meetings opened up a whole new world of opportunities. That online work drew me back into the building more than ever, even as it had me participating in more ways than before.
But somewhere along the way, I started to feel untethered from my church home. It was still the church I grew up in, but I had outgrown it. I felt a call to see what else was "out there." On Christmas Eve of 2025, out of a profound sense of loneliness and a longing for connection, I visited four different churches online and found the community I craved. I never looked back. I've been visiting four churches a week ever since. It fills my soul with joy to witness our differences and our similarities side by side, to experience Christian community on a scale I never imagined from a screen. The more I watched and shared, the more the conversation grew: congregations started sharing their own stories with me and asking for help navigating this same digital terrain, and people asked for links to sermons and recommended their own. That groundswell of interest is what convinced me this work needed to move beyond a personal practice. It needed to become Gathered Elsewhere.
The Churches I Choose
Because I’m visiting four churches a week, some people have asked if I’m running a clinical, balanced, unbiased sociological study. The short answer? Not even close.
This website is a chronicle of my deeply personal journey, which means the spaces I choose to evaluate are curated by a very specific compass: my own heart. I’m not out here looking for an artificially "balanced" cross-section of the internet. I am looking for the kind of church communities that I love - spaces that make my spirit lean in and make me want to curl up in my digital pew and join in with a fresh cup of coffee. To that end, I intentionally seek out sanctuaries that actively honor inclusion, warmly embrace diversity, practice radical love, and cultivate creativity through worship. You will see a lot of female pastors on my roster because, quite frankly, I love women in leadership and prefer female-led teaching (though it’s certainly not a deal-breaker if the vibe is right!).
Let's be entirely transparent about where I draw the line. While my approach to hybrid worship is relaxed, my boundaries are rigid. I do not tolerate, feature, or review churches that wield hate as a weapon or practice Christian Nationalism. You will not find me visiting digital spaces that use the pulpit to exclude, condemn, or align the Gospel with political supremacy or discrimination.
About the Author, Emily Adams
My heart and my career have always been intertwined with creativity, communication, and the church. I serve as the Coordinator of Communications and Media for Grace Presbytery, where I have the absolute privilege of supporting over a hundred congregations across North Texas, as well as our team. My faith journey began in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), where I grew up active in my home congregation, eventually serving as a lay leader, communications consultant, member of the innovation team, and the architect of their virtual elder program.
Before stepping into my regional presbytery role, I spent 14 years as an entrepreneur - supporting churches, nonprofits, small businesses, and artists nationwide with their branding, communication, and website needs. I stepped into the freelance world after a beloved chapter in the paper-crafts industry. As an educator, marketer, and product designer, I was on teams that launched creative products at Target, Hobby Lobby, and QVC; I even filmed segments for the DIY Network and advocated for creativity through writing, teaching, and media work both in the U.S. and abroad.
Whether it’s logo design, branding and signage, newsletter or website builds - I’ve spent decades helping people and ministries share their unique stories.
All of that brings us to this current adventure. Right now, I am letting my creative and spiritual background collide as I embark on a spiritual journey by visiting four different churches online every single week.
At my core, I am an optimistic person who loves my family and friends fiercely. I’ve been married to my husband, Matt, since 1999, and we live in North Texas with our adorably ridiculous dog, Rambo. While we don't have children of our own, we are proudly known as “Aunt Emily and Uncle Matt” not just to our immediate nieces and nephews, but to over 60 children of our cousins, close friends, and chosen family. We are deeply honored and delighted to be a part of their vibrant lives.
