I grew up in a Christian family where we would attend church on Sundays most of the time. I drifted away from it a bit in college, but by my junior year, I found a home church that I really loved. I attended regularly until I left for Germany and, while abroad I kept up with my faith by watching online services. Staying connected to my faith has never been easy, but it has always kept me grounded, especially during difficult times. When I booked my one-way flight to Europe, I knew that if I ended up settling somewhere, finding a church to call home would be a priority. Once I found out I was moving to Salzburg to begin my Master’s, I made it my mission to do just that.

A week before I moved to Salzburg permanently, I visited to see the cottage I now live in and brought two friends I had met in Germany. On a spontaneous decision, we attended Mass at the Salzburg Cathedral. It was actually my Canadian friend’s idea, and though I wasn’t sure I would understand much of the sermon (since it was in German and traditionally Catholic, which was new to me) I thought it would be an interesting experience.

Attending that service was truly unforgettable. The cathedral itself was breathtaking, and I had goosebumps the entire time. I had never witnessed something that carried so much history, tradition, and reverence. My friend, who speaks some German, helped me follow along by finding the corresponding Bible verses, which I pulled up on my phone. Communion was also a new experience for me, as it was practiced differently than what I was used to. By the end of the service, I felt refreshed and grateful for the experience.

Once I officially moved to Salzburg, I started my search for an English-speaking Christian church. The first one I found was Salzburg International Christian Church. I attended a service there and had a great experience. The sermon was engaging, and I met several people. On the first Sunday of each month, they host a potluck after the service, which gave me the opportunity to connect with the community. While I enjoyed my visit, I knew I wanted to explore more options before settling on a home church.

On September 24th, I finally attended another English-speaking church called Calvary Chapel Salzburg. From the moment I walked in, I had a good feeling about it. The atmosphere reminded me of home, and the structure of the service felt familiar and comforting. The sermon was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment. One of those moments where you just know God is speaking to you.

One thing I really liked about this church was its bilingual setup. The pastor spoke in English, and a translator repeated each sentence in German. During worship, the songs alternated between English and German, with subtitles provided. I appreciated this because it allowed me to engage more fully while also treating it as a mini German lesson. Additionally, I loved how international everything felt. It was a diverse community with people from various cultural backgrounds, which is something I value.

I have only attended one service so far, but I already feel like this could be my home church. Community is important to me, and I can already sense that this church offers a strong one. I’m looking forward to attending next Sunday and getting more involved. They also have midweek worship meetings on Wednesdays, and I plan to attend this week to see what they’re like.

With all this being said, I think I’ve found my church home. I’m incredibly grateful that God gave me the courage to step into unfamiliar places alone, ultimately leading me to a space of faith, hope, and connection. I look forward to making Calvary Chapel a familiar and meaningful part of my life in Salzburg.

Xoxo, Harleigh