I've been attending CCOB since I was born. This church is a wonderful one to grow up in... the…read moreavailability of children's groups, middle school programs, high school programs, college age and adult programs is fantastic! Plus with the options of both Contemporary and Traditional services, there's truly something for everyone. While the church itself is big, it will quickly seem small with the warmth and friendly atmosphere the community provides. Oh, and don't forget the live-streaming in case you're out of town on weekends, it's so great to never miss a beat. Highly recommend!

Of all the Christian churches I've been to this was certainly one of them. :-) The contemporary…read moremusic was radio worthy - the voices, the harmony, the guitars, piano, drums and violin playing. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. We were invited by some friends to join them for the 5pm service on Saturday. (They like the guy who was preaching). We got to the church before them so we walked around. It is certainly a place where you can get involved if you want. They have programs for all kinds of activities and groups. The church is modern, upbeat, and dare I say 'hip'? If you're looking for a group of people wearing their Sunday best and a gray-haired organist playing 8 verses of Amazing Grace, you're at the wrong church (which was pointed out to us by an old timer who was using the excuse his back hurt to leave so he could hang outside while his wife attended the service.) The minister we came to see did deliver a good sermon. It had enthusiasm, passion, sincerity and humor. It wasn't laced with a lot of bible quotes or hellfire. It was delivered to teach, inspire and encourage. If I was looking for a Christian church, this would certainly be one I'd consider.

My husband Bob and I joined this church a little less than a year ago. I was raised Catholic and my…read morehusband Lutheran. We have been looking for a Christian Bible based place of worship and stumbled onto this great Church. From the first day we entered we knew this was our new church home. The people were so welcoming and the sermons were so touching and easy to relate. I tell everyone I know and encourage friends to attend at least one service. I feel strongly that if you come you will feel the same warmth and welcome feeling that we experience every Sunday. Music is uplifting and the service is educational, uplifting and thought provoking. Hope you come and join our family.

I have just started attending this Church. It has been almost 2 months and my family and I love it…read more They offer a LOT of fun programs for kids and families. They really focus on children and family in the community. I highly recommend anyone coming and checking this church out.

We visited a lot of churches before picking WSBC as our home church. The community is welcoming,…read morethe Pastor preaches truth and there are lots of activities for families with young children.

We have been attending this church over 30 yrs. We love it because the Bible is taught and remains…read moresupreme in the doctrine of the church. The children's and youth ministries are amazing. Our children are grown and still talk about the wonderful Sunday School teachers and youth leaders they had. The Vacation Bible School is the best too! They are active in missions and care deeply for our community and people around the world, spreading the gospel of Jesus.

We love our new church home and can't recommend it enough. If you're looking for a church that's…read morebuilt on solid Biblical teaching AND demonstrates a genuine love and care for people, then this is your place. Pastor Dustin is great at meeting you where you are, addressing any questions or concerns you have with empathy and transparency, and just making you feel like part of the Amazing Love family. There is a big focus on volunteerism and reaching out to the community as well - a church that actually focuses on LIVING our faith, the way Jesus would want us to.

There is not a single negative thing to say about this church. The amazing and energetic pastor's…read moreteachings are strictly based on the Bible's words. From the moment you walk in, you are welcomed and greeted by smiling faces of people and families of all ages. Excellent member-led nursery, toddler and young child care are available to all. High school and teen group is growing and buzzing with learning how to act and behave responsibly like young men and women of tomorrow. The music fellowship is great! Very contemporary and up-to-date songs with just the right amount of traditional hymns. Something for everyone! If you are looking for a fantastic approach to biblical learning, this is the best church you can try.

Very old, traditional South side of Chicago Catholic church. Although the neighborhood has changed,…read morethe church has not. Inside the architecture is very rich and bold. There is street parking available as well as a nice sized parking lot. That said, it has been many years since I have attended any services here, and mostly in the past I have attended weddings, since it is quite beautiful inside and makes for gorgeous pictures. The property surrounding the church on the outside is very well maintained and the sidewalks are all swept and free of debris. It is obvious the caretakers take great pride in keeping it clean and pleasing to the eye. I needed to visit the rectory on this trip and they were most helpful. I was both surprised and glad to see a Polish speaking priest who presided over a wedding that I attended many years ago. Nice to know that some things remain unchanged.

What a wonderful service held here for a friends mom before going to her final resting place at…read moreQueen of Heaven Cemetery. I was pleasantly surprised at the amp space and beautiful church indeed. Of course, I did expect me to blow up in combustible fire, but that did not happen. The pews are plentiful and the place is immaculate (fancy that). As you can probably guess, I am so not religious. I am spiritual, but probably not the "spiritual" you are use to . The father who maintained the hour, I thought was pretty good. But when I meet him at the cemetery, I found him to be quite dry and border line rude. Like he didn't want me to speak to him. And I just complimented on the beautiful service mind you. Not to mention I just gave them a nice offering and I am not catholic! So why give me the "leave me alone" attitude. Oh well, I could say more but that's not the deal here. I was really impressed by the cleanliness of the church, and the choice of solo singer to do the songs. She really doesn't belong in church. But whose to say that she was not just there to sing for the special occasion. She sang so beautifully and that made me tell her (whispering through the air) thank you. She smiled as she belted out the tunes of Amazing Grace. I had to contain myself because she did give me chills. All in all, not a bad church to frequent. But again, I am so not religious.

I visited Grace for Open House Chicago, so whilst I can't speak to the worship experience I did…read moreenjoy walking through the sanctuary and learning a bit about it's history. It's very high church. It's an extraordinary example of gothic revival style. Its architect, John Sutcliffe, and retains the character and vision for the church that the architect and original congregation had in mind. My favorite part was probably the choir and chancel. The rood screen is beautifully intricate, and it too was designed by Sutcliffe. When I was walking through the church I the choir was practicing, and the acoustics in the church were wonderful; the choir was really beautiful. The pianist continued to play after the choir had concluded and that resounded throughout the space. There are beautiful windows throughout the church, along all walls. The ones in the chancel depict the saints, except for Judas who is replaced instead by Saint Paul. There are detailed windows surrounding the sanctuary slightly above the pews, and there are upper level windows surrounding the church. I wouldn't mind attending a service here sometime to see the place whilst in the midst of worship and see how the sun lights up the windows. There is a parking lot to the west of the building.

I had a hard time with Father John. I thought the (two sermons) were very 'thin' disappointing…read more Also this guy didn't stay around for the social hour even though there were a few of us there who were looking for a new church.

I have been attending this church for a little over a year (after attending a more traditional…read morechurch for 20 years) and feel the need to respond to the two negative reviews here. The protesters that the one gentleman referenced are a small pro-life group that has been making the rounds around the schools (they are at Downers Grove North a lot) and some other churches. I don't know why they came to CCCH as we actively support a pro-life center. Yes, there is a security team at this church as a precaution, especially to protect our pastors and their families. (Ours has been threatened twice in the past by unstable individuals.) Our members, greeters, and security staff do try to be kind and welcoming; hence the greetings. We also get excited and happy to be there so that may overflow into how we interact with visitors. The church is non-denominations and not a "one of a kind sect." Our pastors network and work with other non-denominal churches in the area. The church teaches biblical Christianity. I have no idea where the diversity criticisms are coming from. As someone pursuing my second graduate level degree, I can assure all that educated individuals are welcome here. As a woman, I can tell you that I have in no way ever been treated as less than. All are welcome here. I have no idea what the issue is with the First Steps class. It just a basic group class for new attendees to learn what the church is about and if they might want to join. Pastor Matthew has been nothing but welcoming and kind whenever I have been around him (I attend a small group he leads and have worked on projects with him.) He does a great job of modeling the Christian life. I have never felt pressured for money. I understand that CCCH is not a good church fit for everyone, but I love this place and feel like my husband, children, and I are loved and discipled here. I have found my new church family. I am sorry these two gentlemen were unhappy with CCCH, but their reviews in no way express any experience I have had there ever.

I visited this church last weekend and left with so many questions about what they're really up to,…read moreit's unsettling. The moment I entered the compound from the parking lot, I was welcomed by a gentleman wearing an earpiece and directed into the auditorium-style "worship space." Inside, more aggressively cheerful greetings by various folks, including more earpiece-wearers (one of whom carried a visible gun on his waistband and never strayed too far from the side of the pastor who led the day with a Jim Jones-level of dynamic magnetism). When I asked about what kind of church I'd stepped into, the answer was consistently "Christian." This sect is a one of a kind - not affiliated with a larger group like Baptists or Catholics (whose formal worship style and centuries of tradition "pastor Matthew" took a few swipes at during his video-and-light-show-supported talk). The 70 minute "experience we shared together" was extremely well produced and market researched. Showy sets and lights, a soft-rock band playing inoffensive clap-along-and-raise-your-hands songs, and constant stimulation by TV screens showing social-media-ready clips of cheerful, diverse people robotically encouraging you to "get connected" (including via a class that's ominously called "First Steps with Matthew" ... have you learned nothing from the sex scandals of the Catholic Church he mocks)? The diversity is limited to the treacle-filled videos, though. Aside from the single African American woman they put front and center on "the platform" as part of the "praise team," the assembled flock of about three hundred was the white bread, middle-aged type you'd expect at a suburban chamber of commerce meeting. Apparently women have recently been given permission to do some heavily scripted speaking roles in the service, but gays, Democrats, or college educated folks aren't really welcomed here unless they answer pastor Matthew's final end-of-service call to turn away from their sinful lives to join him. Cutting through the (really impressively produced) spectacle, the message of the day was a pretty kindergarden level of Christianity. You sin, but God loves you anyway. A lot. And so does pastor Matthew. Get connected with him and his people. And give money. A lot. That smoke machine isn't cheap, you know.