I have sat on this review for several years and have only recently decided to post it. If I can save another person from the experiences I have had here, I want to. Many people turn to church when they are seeking or vulnerable; young people, in particular, seek at Living Stones. Because Living Stones is a very young church with young leadership, I excused their behaviors in the past. I chose not to be a member after attending a few services where things were said that unsettled me. They advertised themselves as a "church without religion," espoused drinking and swearing, and belittled non-Christians ("does anyone here know any non-Christians doing good in the world?" - and the pastor asked members to raise their hands if they knew any non-Christians volunteering, etc. - and everyone just laughed) and belittled other denominations (Baptists just "show up to get their bus ticket to heaven"). I was a new Christian at the time and very offended as I had spent years working as a non-Christian doing nonprofit work - also because I had known many Christians over the years who did not live up to this standard of good. Needless to say, I didn't go back for years. I found a small church with a loving, educated pastor who had a heart for worship and evangelism. The demographic was mostly elderly and there were no community groups so, eventually, needing community, I reached back out to Living Stones small groups. Even though statements were made in sermon that I disagreed with, I didn't condemn the whole church body or assume that it was a faithless gathering. I continued to attend Sunday sermons at my smaller church, but I found a women's group at LS and attended for over a year. One day, the small group leader wasn't present, there was a visitor from another church, and the printed study material stated, "God is the author of sin." I asked for clarification, assuming that what was meant was that God was the author of free will and sin is a result of free will. We discussed it and it was repeated that what was stated was what was meant. The visitor abruptly stood and left. I, too, felt that what was taught was blasphemous, but I cared about my group and, again, attributed it to miscommunication, misunderstanding, and the age of the church and leadership, but I said nothing. The next week, I was asked to quit attending my primary church or not come back to small group. I was told it wasn't biblical to attend sermon at one church and small group at another. I argued that we are all one body under Christ, but I was told to make a decision. I couldn't condone staying under those circumstances, and it hurt, but I left. I never heard from any friend in small group again. Fast forward a couple years, I decided to reach out to the (co)leader who taught group that night and who issued the ultimatum. I told her I still disagreed with the decision and was still very hurt but still cared very much for her and others and had become very isolated and needed community. I had met someone who wasn't a Christian and wanted prayer and support for a safe relationship. The leader cried and said they had just "gotten my soul back" and "now this." Meanwhile, the new co-leader of the group was living with the young man I had asked for prayer in dating. And she was smoking weed and sleeping with her boyfriend, who was also a church member. I said nothing but I left - this time completely disillusioned. I walked away from church altogether for years, for good maybe, because I still haven't been back. I am still a Christian, although.. a very broken one. A couple months ago, I finally reached out to another large church locally to inquire about small groups. They didn't respond. I work long hours at a hospital so my options are somewhat limited. I need a large church with a variety of meeting times and small community groups. Again, hesitantly, I looked at Living Stones. I saw there was a small group a couple blocks away from me on one of my days off. I really thought long about it, but again, I chose to forgive. I reached out to the leader of the small group and haven't heard back in over a month. And I am done. I hope that no one has an experience here or anywhere like I have had, and I recommend seekers and young believers find a more mature church, even at the expense of community. It is better to be alone with God than in community with false Christians, read more