Relocation and finding a church
I grew up going to the same WELS church for most of my life, but now I have moved to a new area and there isn't really a WELS church close enough. I have tried many different Lutheran churches in my area, trying to find one that felt right, but the one I have liked the best was an ELCA church. Is it a good idea to go there? Is there a big difference between the two? Or would it be better for me to just listen to WELS sermons online and read daily devotions on my own for now?
When there is doctrinal unity between churches, the members of those churches can express their fellowship by worshiping together. Doctrinal unity does not exist between WELS and ELCA. The church bodies are not in fellowship with one another. We would not want to pretend that there is doctrinal unity or that fellowship exists by worshiping together.
The differences between the two church bodies are many and they are significant. A book like WELS & Other Lutherans spells out the differences in great detail (different views toward the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture, abortion and homosexuality, ecumenism, roles of men and women, and Communion practices, just to name a few).
It sounds like you have inquired about a WELS congregation near you. If you have not tried the WELS Locator, this link will enable you to determine if there are WELS congregations close by. If there are no WELS congregations near your location, do contact the pastor of the WELS congregation to which you belonged. He could use your contact information to see if a WELS pastor might be able to serve you periodically or if there are other WELS individuals in your area. This is how new mission churches can get started.
Because it is not advisable to worship with people with whom we are not in fellowship, your personal devotional life becomes much more important at a time like this. You can supplement your devotional activities with resources from this link. God bless you.