I hate to post a negative review about a church, but...it's a big church, and if you are looking…read morefor fellowship, consider someplace else. I have prayed for years that someone, anyone, there would just acknowledge my presence. Ask me who I was, how I was doing. Make eye contact. Offer a genuine smile. Invite me to participate in something. But no.
Went to two men's retreats, optimistically hoping to meet some people and develop some relationships. I was ignored both times. Alone in a room full of people. When asked if I was going to attend a third, I had to laugh. No way I want to put myself through that again. Twice is enough. People who know each other there seem to stick together, and seldom attempt to reach out to someone they don't know.
Tried to speak with the main pastor once to discuss the issue of fellowship, and he blew me off. He told me to find a small group. My experience with the small groups there is that they seem cliquish. For the most part, the associate pastors seem to have the same attitude.
My wife was in the hospital with leukemia, and I thought I was going to lose her. I asked for someone on the pastor team to reach out to her. Ignored. When I mentioned it to the main secretary (a sweet lady), she told me she would bring it up to someone. Never heard a thing after that.
I have veteran friends who have tried to enter with their certified service animals, and were turned away. They can do this if they want to, of course, it's a private business, and I support their right to do so. Still, though...it's a bad look.
Why did I keep returning? Because my wife liked the pastor's biblical focus. One thing I can say about Steve Whinery is that he is absolutely unapologetic about his interpretation of the Bible. And good on him for that. We need pastors like that. There are too many milquetoasts behind our pulpits.
But again, developing fellowship does not seem to be a priority. You know how some pastors will mingle with the parishioners after the service? Never seen him do that. Never seen any of the associate pastors do it either, with one possible exception. The takeaway is that you're on your own...find a small group of you want to connect. Don't bother the leadership, they have very important pastor things to do.
On the other hand, it's probably just me.