In the spring of 2021, a few days before my 23rd birthday, I first visited Risen Church. I had…read morerecently graduated from college and returned back to the Bay Area in 2020. Amidst the lockdowns and social distancing, it was difficult finding a local church community when I was accustomed to that kind of support within a collegiate fellowship. After reaching out to a middle school teacher, he recommended Risen, a church plant that was about a year and a half old. The first time I visited, the church was meeting outside at the staff parking lot area, with everyone spaced six feet apart. After I was handed a radio with some earphones, I sat on a folded chair while seeking shade from the school bus. The sermon that morning was on hospitality and the transformative way that Jesus frees us from our selfish passions, changing us to be more gracious and compassionate towards others. I can attest that I've experienced this firsthand as I look back on the last four years here. I was not the most approachable person and was quite guarded and reserved. I even had some disagreements with people while bearing much bitterness towards them. Instead of being open and honest, there were a few times that I considered leaving this church in order to run away from those problems. However, people still went out of their way to invite me to late-night dinners and hikes, allowing me to share life with them. Despite the hesitations I had, I ended up staying time and time again, being able to fully experience that transformative power of community. God gave me the courage to eventually meet and talk with people about some of my issues. What catastrophic expectations I had before these talks dissipated as I really started to see in my fellow church members the Imago Dei, the image of God. Once I began to notice this bitterness dissolve after a couple years of attending Risen, I pursued membership and later started serving with the Connections Ministry (welcome team). Rather than being a consumer who was only taking what was being given, I was able to start giving more of myself and pour into others. Although it is not a perfect church, my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ really embody that sense of hospitality that was preached about during my first visit. As our mission statement is to "Know Christ and Make Disciples," I have seen how God has really changed their lives as they seek to glorify God and use both grace and truth to truly love others. It has truly been a blessing to witness the growth and milestones our church has experienced over the past few years. We've gathered in many places--from the pastor's house to the staff parking lot, the Student Union downstairs, and later to the multi-purpose room upstairs. What began as a church plant has now become a particular church, marked by the ordination of elders last year. Looking back, I'm grateful I stayed through the discomfort and the hurt, because it is through those very moments that I experienced some of the deepest healing and growth.

Looking for a church and committing to a church isn't easy. So when I was prayerfully looking for a…read morechurch to commit to and live life with, I was looking for a church that: 1) preached the Gospel and 2) lived out the Gospel in their community. I've been at Risen for 7 months now and I am thankful that God has called this church into existence. First, Risen teaches and preaches the gospel. It's all about the gospel. The sermons usually go through a book in the bible or a topic that is centered around one of their Core Principles. Risen's 8 Core Principles are: Scripture, Sabbath, Prayer, Community, Gratitude + Generosity, Compassion + Justice, Calling, Mission. Second, Risen is a community of believers who live out the Gospel. The people at Risen are passionate about Sharing Christ and Making Disciples. That's our church's mission (I can say "ours" now). So there are all kinds of ministries that make it easy to Share Christ and Make Disciples - from our Community Groups that are extremely welcoming and unintimidating to our relational building fellowship events. So you can invite your friends to multiple different avenues depending on where they may be in life. If they're ready for a Community Group, there's quite a few to choose from where they'll be extremely welcomed, cared for, taught and encouraged with the Scriptures, and prayed for. Risen is a community that has your back, prays for you, and is there for you. If they're looking for something a little less official, there are several fellowship events that they can check out. For example, there is a Run Club at 8pm so parents who want to come out, after putting their kids down, can come. Our pickleball and park hangouts are family friendly, not only limited to pickleball players or "young(er) adults". We have hikes for those who want 'more of a challenge' in terms of exercise and incline, and also family friendly walks to encourage families with babies and toddlers to come out. At the end of the day, Risen is thoughtful about having biblical fellowship that considers people of all life stages. As an adult with no kids, I feel like I belong when I hang out with families with young toddlers and babies. I also feel the same when I spend time with other adults who don't have kids or are not married. But all of this is extremely intentional. It's all intentional to Share Christ and Make Disciples. Also, as a newcomer to the church, I appreciated the effort made by members to serve the church. Most people here really care and love this church. This was very encouraging and refreshing to see, which stirred up my heart to serve. A couple cherries on top: Risen has a good form of communication at all levels. The leadership cascades down really clearly why they do everything that they do-in their newsletters, Sunday announcements, to their ministries, and informal conversations. There's trust because there's clarity, and everyone is on the same page. Risen incorporates a good mix of hymns, christian contemporary music, and newer christian songs (thank you, David)! Risen does a real good job of blending the historic Christian faith with the modern world. If you're reading this far, I'm not sure what you look for in a church. Come check us out and worship God with us. By God's grace, I felt like this was a safe place for me to be myself, open up and be vulnerable with others. God calls all His children to worship Him together as a church - so come through!

7 years ago we were looking for a church who serves the city. We found a place we loved where they…read morejust preach Jesus. We were overwhelmed with the friendliness of everyone and how simple the Gospel of grace was told. Love God, love others. Through all the changes of the world these last few years, we have never felt more loved by God through His people at Resonate. Get there before service starts to grab some coffee and donuts, or tea and granola. Say hello to the greaters, check any kids you have into the childrens ministry and grab a seat, worship is awesome! If you're sensitive, there are even ear plugs available. This is a satellite campus so live worship is followed by a huge screen with the message broadcasted from the Fremont Resonate campus. It took me a minute to get used to a screen but that mostly because I'm easily distracted, so I just always sit in the front. Preaching is followed by individually wrapped communion and more worship and then you can have more coffee and doughnuts!

This has been my church for the last 5+ years. Here you will find a community of broken people…read moreacknowledging their need for more Jesus. All are welcome, and you are invited to come as you are. The number one message preached here is the Gospel, no frills. The worship is lively and loud. Contemporary jams are performed by a talented band using their gifts to praise and serve the Lord. The praise team even writes and performs their own music, which is so freaking cool. The kids ministry is awesome. My kids absolutely love going to church every Sunday (which was not the case with me growing up!), and have special bonds with the teachers and friends they make here. Most importantly they learn about Jesus every week and surprise me with how much they learn. It should be noted that there is no live preaching here. Every Sunday the sermon message is broadcast live via a video stream from the Resonate Fremont campus. It takes a minute to get used to, but is practically unnoticeable. If live preaching is a biggie, you can also check out the Resonate Fremont campus. Overall, I love being in community here. The people and staff truly love and care for each other and Jesus above all.

We've been attending 3Crosses for a few years now, and what keeps us coming back is the powerful…read moreteaching, especially from Pastor Larry. He has an incredible ability to connect the truths of the Bible to everyday life in a way that truly resonates. It's so impactful that even my teenager, who isn't easily moved, was brought to tears by one of his teachings--crying in church, which is almost unheard of! His messages reach the heart in such a profound way, and it's been a blessing to our family. And while I understand that there's no such thing as a perfect church, one area I feel could use some attention is how challenging it's been to connect with the community. Being part of a large congregation can make it difficult to find a sense of belonging. While I hear the phrase 'welcome home' often, it's hard to feel at home when the environment still feels somewhat closed off. For example, my husband recently attended his first men's Bible study, and no one approached him when he arrived. As an introvert, it was already tough for him to go after a long day of work, and he even texted me saying he wanted to leave. Thankfully, a fellow newcomer sat next to him and introduced himself, which made all the difference. Ideally, that warm welcome should come from the church leaders--it's not right for new attendees to feel like outsiders while long-time members gather in familiar circles. Despite the awkward start, my husband stayed, and he was deeply moved by one of the worker's testimonies, which reassured him that being there was the right decision. I hope the church can take steps to foster a more inclusive environment where everyone, especially newcomers, feels genuinely welcomed and cared for.

I've been trying out churches closer to home and The first time I visited here would be the last…read more Not so great first impression. Who ask for donations three times during service? Wasn't feeling it. I need more Jesus, more humble, more spirit. I'll continue to travel an hour to just to feel more at home.

The Thursday Food Pantry is wonderful IMO. One of the most abundant I've seen. Been coming for…read moreseveral years. The volunteers & pastors are kind and welcoming. I like the fact that their pastors are on a rotating schedule, with some variety in their approach (style ranging from laid-back to Evangelical). Pantry: Church not mandatory, but encouraged. (I attend usually---as a thank-you to the staff for it's dedication.)

This church doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you walk in.. the people are friendly…read moreand the word is good! Do not judge a book by its cover or you will end up passing this gem by. The pastor is one of the only down to earth pastors I've met.... at times you forget he's the pastor! This church invites anyone in, if it's a homeless person walking by or a suit and tie across the street. Come visit.

Great church, provides great free services to community, like free science camps for kids! Friendly…read morepeople too. Thank you!

I do attend Glad Tiding Church, the word is tough, and the presence of the Lord is in the house…read more I enjoy Sunday School at 8:00 or 11:00 am. There are so many departments to work in and this church has activities going on all the time. So come visit we are a friendly church in the East Bay Area.

A beautiful Catholic Churches that has withstand time with breathtaking architecture located in the…read morecity of Hayward. All Saints Church is a landmark. The twin steeple towers of the church can be seen from a far at the top of the hill and is lighted at night making it a beacon of safe passage all these years past and present. All Saints Catholic Church in Hayward was first established on June 18, 1898, and the current church building was completed in 1909. Yes it is ADA accessible. Plenty of parking available and entrance to the area is behind the church at the courtyard and inside the catholic school on the grounds. Another area is across the church with multiple parking slots and also street parking. Attending mass is very comfortable at this church. It is well ventilated and air filtration is constantly on and this gives a very comfortable experience during mass. Hand sanitizers are placed at the entrances as well as inside located visibly the church's pillars for everyone's use along with boxes of tissue incase it is needed. They have fun activities and events like fiestas in September and more. We are active volunteers helping out and everyone is welcome to participate just ask like we did. Daily Mass schedules and weekly scheduled confessions and times are posted on their website and they also have an APP that you can download and sign up and get more info. We were told to share suggestions on how to improve the church's APP and the website so please let them know. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/all-saints-parish-hayward/id6749620379 Or the website for more info https://allsaintshayward.org God bless and see you all soon.

All Saints Catholic Church is a beautiful church in Hayward California. My family and I attended…read moreMass there for the first time today and we've really enjoyed it.

I stumbled upon IGC on Redeemer NY's (Tim Keller) directory of sister churches within the PCA…read morenetwork. I have to say that I have been continually renewed with gratitude that I have found this church! The preaching is super gospel-centered, that is, every sermon will leave you with a reminder of the gospel and who Jesus is. The community is full with energetic children, parents, young adults. I felt SO welcomed the first few times I visited, and that is something I cherish greatly! Check out community group if you're thinking about visiting/have visited!

I don't know how the service is going to look like, I don't know how it'll be meeting at a school,…read moreI don't know what the kinds of obstacles there are for church plants. But, I do know this: I know Pastor Michael Chung is discerning in his doctrine, he is an articulate communicator, a loving sheperd of his flock and is most importantly humble. And the people who is joining in the effort to start the church has the same focus and heart for the gospel and the people around them - to also keep digging into God's Word knowning that theology will lead to doxology (praise and worship of God) For those who are looking for solid -gospel centered preaching where man is humbled and God is exalted, and the doctrines of grace is preached and embraced, this will be the church for you and I.

This church has been maximizing the Century theatres movie space for about 3 years now. The worship…read moreteam is live and the message comes across to many cornerstone locations throughout the east bay. The message is always thought-provoking and the Church is constantly pushing you to take your next steps with Jesus. And did I mention it's in a mivie theatre?! How convenient is that?

From the owner: We are compelled by the words and actions of Jesus and ask, "What does love require?" in every…read moresituation. We live life in community with one another, prioritize sharing any advantages we have with those less advantaged, and include everyone, especially those not like us. We live on mission with each other to restore all things.

I have been trying to find a church for a while and I happen to pass this one on my way home from…read moretherapy and the sign out front always has something so great to say so I decided to try coming, My first time here I was greeted at my car by pastor Zac to see if I needed help with my walker and as I walked in I felt so welcomed! I was looking for a church that I could belong to with no pretense just come as you are and share the love of Jesus. Pastor Zac and pastor Sue are understanding of people who come to their church. The service is said in a way that everyone can understand and feel a part of After the service they have pastries in the social hall so you can get to meet and talk with people. This is the church that will help you connect to Jesus, people, community. I have been coming for a little over a month and am so grateful and happy I have found my church

10am sunday service. It is a mixed group mostly wearing clean comfort clothes. 2nd floor looks to…read morebe for parents with kids. Parking is on the street. The day of service I attended was a female police chaplin who had a simple good message. Feels like a comfortable community church

Beautiful and lovely Christian Church! I dropped by last week and I was not disappointed. The…read morepastor was eloquent and fiery during the sermons and the music I was very familiar with. This is what a Christian Church supposed to be with a diverse audience from all colors and cultures. They even have a bicycle rack by the side of the building for those poor folks who can't afford a personal car of their own like me! You'll feel energized and refreshed and your faith with the Lord GOD renewed after attending a session here and that's an understatement too. Some churches inspire you and some are just that...a church, but this one is the first one stated!

Worst Church Service ever if you can even call it a church service. First of all....not a Bible in…read moresite! I mean not one! The pastor or pianist or lead singer witch ever title you want to give him came off as more of a cheap car salesmen than a Pastor. In fact, I don't think I heard the word Jesus once. Enough about all that. Save your time and take you and your family else where. Defiantly a hour of my life I can't get back.