Where do I even begin? That's the main question. First off I will say that this is a review from someone who was part of this church for damn-near 10 years, who was a leader and who saw the ins and outs of the workings of this church.
First thing I noticed, many of the reviewers on here are people who have grown up in the church or are in with the clique. And I will say that formerly being part of this place, if you act, talk and joke like the popular people, you are automatically on the in. If they like you, you're good. But if you are different than them, don't have the same likes, don't dress like or have the same ideas, you are immediately blacklisted. It doesn't matter if you have 2 or 3 ministries you're helping out or even running in that church, if they don't like you, you're pretty much fkd.
I was a leader for 7 outa the 10 years I was there and I wasn't once invited to a single pastors house or get together. Why? Because I wasn't kissing ass or acting like the rest of them.
If you're new to the game, and easy to influence, they'll turn you into someone more religious and legalistic than they are. Matthew 23:15, read this verse. This is what they do. They'll brainwash you into thinking things like if you don't raise your hands in worship, if you don't dress the way they do, talk and use Christianese phrases and don't babble in "tongues" that you aren't close to God.
I will clear up the rumor of them taking w2's when you become a member. That didn't happen but I will tell you what does happen. When you tithe, (which tithing is what they shove down everyone's throat every week) they expect you to put your name and amount on an envelope. I was called out because they said I hadn't tithed for months, which in actuality my tithe is between God and I, no pastor or anyone else.
The pastors push tithes so they can pay for special guest speakers to come and preach. They are very money oriented, and again, success in life seems to come from the almighty dollar.
The pastors really like prosperity preachers and televangelists as they often quote them during their services. It was a little disturbing when the head pastor mentioned several times that "God cared about the marble counter tops that he (the pastor) liked, and ended up getting them for a cheaper price." Really? You gonna tell the entire congregation about your marble counter tops when the rest of us commoners have particle board counter tops? Then back in 2012 the pastors went on this epic endeavor to Update their altar to make it more "tv-savvy". There was nothing wrong with their previous altar. Admittedly their video cameras for tv were out of date, they should've raised money for cameras. Now they got a stage fit for Beyoncé to preform on. Look at the churches in Africa and Asia, and they are winning more people to Christ with what little they have. Again, all about the looks and the flare.
The single-life there is ridiculous. Women's ideal husband is for the man to be a preacher, on the worship team or be able to play a musical instrument (preferably a guitar). Girls who grow up in the church have the vision of being a stay at home mom while the perfect husband goes off to fulfill the great commission of the gospel. Guys in the church, for the most part from what I've seen are pigs and there's little separating them from the rest of the world. The guys who grew up in church are sheltered and as soon as they get out into the real world, I.e college, they are hit with the hard reality of how people and circumstances really are.
To prove that most of these people are fake, is that after I left the church, the ones who I thought I was good with would see me in public and chastise me for my decision to leave. Others would side-eye me or pretend to not know me.
Anyone that tells me that they are interested, I surely warn. Their gospel message is great. The pastors and leaders really know the Bible inside and out and how to navigate the words correctly. If you insist on going, be mindful of their snare. I always say that 1 outa 50 people there are actually normal and don't have some ulterior motive. So PLEASE BE WARNED! read more
