I made a website to make it easier to find black churches

Hey everyone,

I’m from India and was born into a Hindu family.

A few months ago I watched a video of a Black church service for the first time and was completely blown away by the gospel music, the passionate singing and dancing, and that incredible sense of community. It was exactly what my soul needed during a really tough period in my life.

That experience sparked my curiosity. I started learning more about the connection between gospel music and blues, and how these traditions form the backbone of Black church worship. As someone who isn’t Black or Christian, I wanted to understand this world more deeply and show my gratitude.

In the pursuit of doing so, I discovered some great talents such as Mahalia Jackson and The Five Blind Boys of Alabama. I am grateful to the universe to have allowed me to experience their music.

I’ve always found joy in researching stuff that fascinates me and sharing what I learn through technology. These months of diving into this world gave me purpose during a time in my life when I felt lost and broken. It helped me rediscover my love for building websites and resources on the internet.

During my research on Reddit, I noticed many posts asking for suggestions of Black churches nearby with passionate pastors, great music, warm communities, and a place where the word is preached with clarity. But Google Maps doesn’t let you filter based on worship style or atmosphere. That’s when I realised how I could show my appreciation for this community.

So I built black-churches.com, a directory of African American Churches across the US with information about:

• Music and preaching style (traditional gospel choir, contemporary worship, praise & worship)
• Community engagement and outreach
• Personality of the pastor.
• Friendly, nurturing atmosphere
• Historical importance.

I analysed thousands of Google Maps reviews to spotlight churches praised for “uplifting music,” “welcoming congregation,” and “caring community.” I was able to do this by leveraging AI and technology which is what I am primarily good at.

I’d really appreciate hearing from you:

1. Are the church characteristics I included useful?
2. Are there other church characteristics I should include?
3. Is the tone respectful and authentic to the Black church experience?
4. What do you look for in a church if you were in pursuit of finding a new home church?
5. Are there any improvements I can make to this website in any aspect?

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thank you in advance for your suggestions 🙏

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