I attended this church from about 6 years old until high school. On an average week, I would spend…read moreat least 10 to 15 hours a week at this place, including multi-day revivals, Saturday prayer mornings, Wednesday nights, and of course, Sunday mornings, not to mention additional holiday events. My mom and I started attending this church and upon our first visit, we were approached and invited to lunch with an "elder", who began courting my mom and ended up marrying her, against my will. Suffice to say, this man was not a godly man, and the church treated our family like outcasts instead of helping me. I was made fun of by the youth group and called a loner, was ignored, isolated, and humiliated to sit on the front row of this church with my "family", yet we were cordially ignored and avoided, eventually being asked to leave the church. It always confused me, how people who sang about helping others, grace, helping the helpless, chose to turn their backs on me.
When I finally had the strength to leave Irving in 2008, I called my so called pastor of this church to seek guidance, support and finally use my voice and share the truth, something that I had not been able to do since 6 years old. No matter how many times I called his office, how many messages I left, I was repeatedly told he was busy, or unavailable. I even reached out to his family, which was of no use.
It broke my heart, that a place that boasted they were so full of God's spirit, could reject our family instead of intervening. An entire organization who Saw ME as an embarrassment instead of being an advocate for a defenseless little girl. I can never again take this church seriously as they have put their money where their mouth is and have shown me for over a decade, their true colors.
My advice would be hard pass. Like most churches, they will have modern affects. Fresh coffee. Bright, shiny smiles. Even wonderful people who are being unknowingly exploited for free labor AKA serving, however the "warm fuzzy" feeling that coats you as you walk in isn't the holy spirit. It's a song and dance to get you to fund their illusion and kush lifestyle. So incredibly sad that the gaudy, prideful and arrogant people of this church never took the time to see I needed help, that my mom was too worn down and emotionally weak to take care of me and leave the "Elder". We were surrounded a sea of religious leaders who never intended to get their pretty shoes dirty. Thanks for everything, Calvary Church, what a gem!