This isn't a church for the narrow minded. For the strictly religion-minded, either.
If you want a quiet church that sings non-rhythmic hymns or tells you solemnly how you need to repent and that you are going to hell if you don't do certain things and you have to judge people for how they look and act (Hi, majority of South Floridians!) this place isn't for you. There are a ton of churches, go find one that works.
Potential is a huge church, and this isn't the only Potential in south Florida, there are another two or so here, one in Pensacola and some internationally. A huge congregation.
There's a reason why potential is so massive with a massive congregation: it speaks to people. It brings people back to God, to Christ. It brought my husband (who was agnostic for over a decade.) back to Christ, and has made him a better person.
It's not about bringing people to God the "traditional way" and if they don't come, then oh well guess they're not "godly" enough. I've seen that in a lot of churches. Potential is contemporary, and makes things easier on you. Our worship team gets you hyped up, the pastors don't just read from the Bible and tell you to go off on your way. They show you how to put the word of God into your everyday life. The church and the volunteers greet you at the door, they easily direct traffic to show you where to park, have golf carts coming and going for those who parked far away in the overflow parking lot, have Starbucks coffee in the lobby, have an outline of the sermon waiting for you at the door, have everything you need to get baptized right after service, have different groups for your children from newborn to 18. And yes, the teachers know your kid by name and personality even without their name tag.
There's service on Saturday at 5:05 pm, Sundays at 9, 10:30, 12:30, and 5:00.
So there's no reason not to come to worship.
Before i started getting connected here, when I would come on and off as a teen, I felt very much like a part of a large crowd. As if I was just a number, because everything is just so full of people! So yeah, I understand why people feel that way.
Getting connected is truly important here. Connected, as in speaking to one of the pastors, or asking someone to pray with you at the end of service. Or joining a class like Step In, where you can ask questions about religion and God when you first come here, can get you started. You can meet other people and get involved. I volunteer as a host for Step In, there's people from all walks of life and sometimes at rock bottom, and trust me you'll feel the sense of community.
And when you genuinely need something, you'll get it. I'm not talking about the "God I need a new car" and then somehow a car pops up in your driveway.
I'm talking you tell someone you're homeless while in Step In, just someone sitting at your table and you're brand new to the church, and then fifteen minutes later a pastor shows up with some people who are asking what you need. A job? Some clothes? Food? Need money to get into an apartment? People handing you envelopes with cash from anonymous people who donated and telling you "Hey, meet with so and so later he's got a job for you.". That's God's work, isn't it?
A disabled volunteer's car broke down so the church and volunteers were able to get her a new car.
These are just a couple of examples, all true.
But go ahead and tell me this church is just here for the money.
The lights, the media and music isn't all that Potential is about. We go on missions, where we volunteer our time to be the hands and feet of God across several orphanages, homeless shelters, homes of sick children and their families, soup kitchens, and do international missions to different countries to help with what they need. There's also free events like the Viva Women's conference, Trunk or Treat, the seasonal kick offs, Christmas drives and events, the Easter and Mother's Day events, for everyone to attended.
So while I see people complain about the "money shake down" (which is a prayer at the end of service for us to be generous and to help those of us who are in financial trouble then they pass the buckets around) it seems they don't know all that goes on to make Potential an actual church. That money isn't just going into the electric bill, the upkeep, that new playground and Pastor Troy's pocket. It goes into making sure everyone can reach our God potential, by not just going to service once a week, but by SERVING as well.
Yes there's a ton going on, maybe you're a little overwhelmed. Go to service, grab some Starbucks in the lobby, come to a class, join something, volunteer, go to a mission, get CONNECTED.
Heck, just walk around and see the youth groups and their fun, the young children in Sunday school, the volunteers holding an umbrella over your head when it's raining, the pastors helping everyone and praying with people, the passion everyone has for what we do.
You'll see why people love Potential read more