I'll start with the good. There are some really nice people that attend this church. The band / singers are really good and have beautiful voices. The camera guys do a great job of getting good angles and lighting to create a powerful experience while you worship. It's like going to a concert rather than church to be honest. There's certainly a high energy at this church, and I'm sure many are drawn to. This is not your traditional church experience.
Sadly, there seems to be a money motivated culture here. There is an emphasis on buy our stuff, so you have "the tools" to follow God. Yeah, no thanks. I don't need your shirts or books to strengthen my relationship with God. Pass on that load of crap.
When I looked around the room, I saw many people wanting their souls to be filled with the Lord's love. Which is great. Makes sense, right? Wanting to be closer to God, so go to church to worship. My problem with this is that I also saw vulnerable people that can be taken advantage of and brainwashed. People "looking for answers" and wanting to be told what they need to do to be closer to God. That part doesn't sit well with me. I am a big fan of people's self-determination and autonomy. God gave us this ability for a reason. I don't like churches that are pushy and try to push their views down your throat. I don't appreciate churches that tell you how to live your life and go outside the realm of religion and spirituality. For example, pushing politics, or pushing attendees to purchase the churches apparel, and strongly emphasizing a corporate fast (without medical clearance to do so). This gives the impression that if you are not participating in the fast, buying their crap or "getting political" then you are not doing what you should be doing "for God." I am not a fan of this. Also, what if someone did the fast and ended up having a heart attack or stroke and died?? Was that God's will too? Or were false prophets leading people to do dangerous things in the name of God for their own monetary gain?... Honestly, going to church to worship should be enough. Without the politics and other junk. Reading directly from the bible and making your own interpretation of that, should be enough. Praying and talking to God, should be enough. Sure, pastors and church people can help us make sense of what the bible is saying; but ultimately every individual should be deciding what that means to them and what they intend to do with that information.
I'm sorry. But my relationship with the Lord is my own. It's personal. No church body is going to tell me what God wants for me. I'm not going to blindly listen to someone else's interpretation of what the Lord wants me to do. This is how cults are started people lol
For example, let's look at the history of Charles Mansion. This guy claimed God was talking to him and telling him what people should be doing. And people blindly followed Charles Manson because they believed that God was talking to him and giving him precious insight about what they need to do. And we all know how this ended, with his followers murdering people in the name of God. "I'm just the messenger. God's messenger. I'm the truth." - Charles Manson
Just think on your own. Make your own decisions. Find your own relationship with God. And don't let other people push their viewpoints on to you. Even in church. Just because someone goes to church or is a pastor, does not mean they are a good person or that they know the will of God. You would be surprised at how manipulative people can be, all the dark secrets people harbor, and the intentions that motivate their behaviors under the surface. Remember, that is just their interpretation of the bible and God's will. :)
Other reviews have mentioned this church being a political social club, having a racist culture and inappropriate attire for a family church. I've never seen a church have so many Caucasian people. Where is the diversity?? I think the only African American person in the entire church was one of the singers. And in-terms of appropriate attire for church. Seriously, one of the speakers was wearing boots I would wear to a goth club or bar. Although, I found them cute personally; they were definitely not appropriate for a family church service. What other yelpers have reported is very true. Heed these warnings... read more