If God wanted us to pray our way into a relationship with Christ, you think we would see that language employed in the New Testament examples and commands. Instead, we are told...
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” (Gal. 3:26-27)
Church is not someplace we go. It is what believers become a part of when they choose to follow Jesus and obey the gospel.
Every Sunday, the church leaves the building. That, in and of itself, is something to think about. However, it is the "Then what?" ... the what that happens with the remainder of the week ... that matters most. It is what the Lord's people do next that impacts the world for good or ill.
Jesus wrote to seven local churches in the book of Revelation (Rev. 2-3).
The original churches did not strive to distinguish themselves by being different than all the other local churches. As a matter of fact, in so many ways, they were taught to be the same.
Would the apostles have grasped the idea of "the church of your choice" as many today grasp it? Something to think about.
Would you still be a Christian if the only local church you had a choice of being a part of was the original, primitive church that began in Acts 2?