The ONLY two reasons I didn't give this church a PERFECT score were:
1) It wasn't a glorious looking church with the most expensive decor. Building is old but in decent repair.
2) It wasn't packed - packed places seem more exciting.
I must say I LOVED this church! I don't get the reasoning of the woman who left a lukewarm review for this church. It is apparent she isn't pentacostal. I can't say I'm a pentacostal either. I hadn't been to a church willingly in many months. My wife has made me go a few times over the past 4 years. Before I met my wife, I hadn't gone to church for many years. I only agreed to go to church this time because it was Al Green's church.
The verdict:
I was SO entertained by all that went on, that I want to go again and again! I want to make friends there. Nice folks (from many races) were there from all over the world: the U.S.A., Italy, Germany, Canada, and Israel. It was festive, lively, friendly, interactive, and fun!
I especially liked how Bishop Green would go from talking to singing in one breath it seemed. He'd lead into a fervent gospel upbeat song from talking (with the band leading up to it). The crescendos were awesome!
I'd never seen a preacher (and band) go from talking (with faint music) and then into a song so smoothly (with subsequent full band and choir) as if it all were a song (or a concerto) to begin with. The band, preacher, and choir were all in tune to make it a real show!
It was VERY inspiring. I felt like an honored guest! I FELT the gospel.
There is an R&B SOUL (dancing in the ailes exciting) flavor in a Tabernacle church that you JUST don't get in the usual Pentecostal or any OTHER type of church. There were only a few folks who did the holy ghost thing, and the two folks who did that were in the crowd.
Church has been boring to me all my life (baptist, church of god in christ, methodist, jahovah's witness, etc...), but Al Green's church was EXCITING!
If you believe in God, you have to be even MORE inspired for God by Al's church!
Lastly, I wanted to explain another part of that last review that was wrong. Sure, the preacher had folks line up to give their offerings at the plate in front of his pulpit, while ushers stood there, but prior to us going up near the stage, we all were handed offering envelopes, so we all secretly sealed our offerings for privace PRIOR to going to make the actual offering.
Also, it did NOT take Al a long time to go onstage. He sat to the side with his Bishop clothes on for a good 10-15 minutes while ......
The choir sang. A couple people read introductions and welcome messages along with some program notes and upcomign event notes.
Then a dude sang a VERY nice and fun song with the choir. He spoke a few words.
It was ALL worth the wait. I was entertained by the ENTIRE proceedings from start to finish!
By the way, the last writer says Al hated on gays. I never heard him do that, but don't all preachers who go by the bible preach against gay acts? I don't think Al condemns gays because only God can do that. Al says he falls short of the glory of God, and that he is a sinner and is grateful for God's grace. read more