Great gospel centered teaching and warm and inviting multigenerational group of people. Love their heart for the ministries they offer. Great family friendly church read more

At this church,, the theology is sound, it's bible- centric, and the preaching is good. However, you really don't want to go to this church for marital counseling. Unless you want to destroy your marriage. I've been at this church for 22 years. The cult like behavior didn't rear it's ugly head until 2012. My wife and I had marriage difficulties. The pastor at the time of our "Five Cities Campus", Ben Collins, instructed my wife to submit to a 'marriage counselor" named Mark McKinney. Mark identified (after taking $175 an hour) as a "sex addiction therapist". Not in any way a marriage counselor. He hangs in his office a "Stanford" in degree which I was told is deceipt. At best, he took one online class at Stanford. That is not near nor enough to qualify as graduating from Stanford. But he saw it was fit for me to submit to a lie detector test of everything I considered shameful from the time I was 4 years old. $175 an hour, $400 an hour for his friend that submitted us to then lie detector test. So, to the point. He told my wife that she was a victim of sex addiction. Even though we hadn't had sex in 6 years. At $175 an hour. He convinced her that the only way our marriage could survive would be for her to submit to a lie detector test to all of the shameful acts since 4 years old. At no time did he tell us that it would be equal and fair for her to submit to the same process. Only me. A wise person at the time counseled me at the time... that anything between me and God since four years old, as a child, was between me and God. They were right. Several doctors along the way:My psychiatrist. My psychologist.. my therapist...my family, my friends, my mother, my father... warned me that this would not be constructive to my marriage....but Mark McKinney, the person that SLO Grace referred us to... Was Mark McKinney. He made arguments to my wife that this is the only way to save my marriage.. and .the only hope of saving my marriage was to submit to the lie detector test. So what happened next? They forced me into a lie detector test. How? By threatening our marriage. He convinced my wife to not submit to the the lie detector, only me! Due to his influence, and directions my wife told me she would divorce me if I didn't go through the (eventually destructive) lie detector test. To reiterate, As a result of this "church" programming, she informed me that under the advice (that Ben Collins and Mark McKinney) that she should divorce me if I didn't submit to the lie detector test. I sought the advice of professionals, and they were overwhelmingly unanimous that this wouldn't be constructive to my marriage, but rather, destructive. Mark McKinney also convinced my wife that I was not to touch my penis except to urinate. I'd gone to Bible school from Kindergarten through High school, so I knew the scriptures. I knew all of the verses he was quoting in our session, he inserted curse words into then Bible. Becoming a "sexual addiction therapist", I would later learn, takes only a few weeks of online education. Anyone can become one, No real education required. So....I submitted to the lie detector test. The result? I became so stressed out during the lie detector test that my heart rate elevated to 200 beats per minute ( the norm is 65). I had to go the French Hospital ER and incurred a $9,000 bill. And what of Mark McKinney? He admitted that he had no training/experience to save a marriage (only to blow it up) to help us. He couldn't counsel us anymore after his buddy got a $400 kickback on the lie detector test. And after he'd taken us for over $1,000. He also refused to see me as a client anymore because and I quote 'My wife wrote a successful book" and I don't need to see clients anymore". So before you seek marital counseling from this church, be very, very careful. I've been seeing an actual professional psychologist since this ridiculous "Mickey Mouse" episode at Grace SLO. He had an obvious question: In the interest of equality, why didn't your wife also submit to the same lie detector test about all shameful things since she was 4 years old? The answer: The charlatan Mark McKinney makes far more money convincing wives they are innocent of all in a relationship, and instead indulge in a husband taking a ($400) lie detector, and $175 per hour to comment on the whole thing. read more

I've been attending Grace for three months and my wife and I are feeling like it is "home". The most important thing for us is the church's commitment to expository (verse by verse) Bible teaching and that is done well each Sunday and includes practical challenges on how to walk in the light of biblical truth. The music is a blend of hymns and choruses, guitar and organ, worship band and choir, and they are integrated into worship as well as traditional responsive Scripture reading. The result is an appealing mix of the old and the new, reflective of the diversity of the congregation. The church has a commitment to both local and foreign missions. We've already participated in their weekly food pantry program and are challenged each week by information reflecting the church's global Mission around the works. A work team leaves for India next week. The church works hard to create a welcoming environment. Next Sunday we will participate in a newcomers class and lunch. Having been a part of a church family for sixteen years we are delighted to have found a church that challenges us in our Christian life to grow in our faith and to serve The Lord read more

My husband and I just moved to SLO this week and this was the first church we decided to try, mainly because it's in our neighborhood. We found the members and pastor to be very welcoming! I'd searched around the website prior to going and found everything that they listed regarding their purpose and mission, to be true. There is a good sense of community and teachings come straight from the Bible. We will definitely be returning. read more

I attended Grace this morning, after the first 1/2 hour was sure this was the church I had been looking for. When the sermon started, the little boys next to me started to flip through magazines, drop toys, chat with one another etc. I'm sure they dislike sitting there for one hour being told to sit still and be quite. They was actually very good. Maybe parents are able to block out their chatter and disinterest but I am upper middle age and no longer use to blocking out the noise of children. I have no idea if the sermon was good. I was unable to both hear the children and the pastor. Very dissapointed as this seemed to be the perfect church. I wonder how much the children learned during the service. Probably the same as I learned. read more

My husband, daughter, and I have been attending Grace Church for almost 3 years now. This church was suggested to me by a family friend. I was a little unsure at first, but I decided to give it a try. I did like the pastor. He is very engaging and has a relaxed look. Pastor Tim tries his best to say hello to everyone. I like the greeting I get from Arlene. She has been on the welcome team since I started attending. I get my bulletin and she still asks how we are doing and how my daughter is doing. The child care is great. They are separated into stages. Such as newborns to walkers to 3 and up to potty training, etc. You sign your child in and put your name and your child's name with special instructions and your phone number so they can text you if your child needs you. They do have pagers as well if you don't have a cell phone. The childrens ministry director Dori Lunker is always checking in with the leaders of the rooms to make sure everything is going smoothly. The children in the sanctuary can be irritating at times. Most of them are quiet. At leas the ones that I sit near. I usually try to sit a good distance away from children because I want to be able to hear the message. There are plenty of things going on at Grace that help you to get involved in volunteer work or staying connected. There are growth groups that are a bible study about that week's message. You get to sign up for those and there are usually no more than 12 people in each group. All at different times of the week. I have met a few great people there that are very much like family. This is the church for me and my family. I feel very at home in this church. I haven't felt that way for years. So I am glad to be where I am supposed to be. read more

My wife and I have been attending Grace Central Coast since soon after we moved to the central coast in June '15. Some of the things that attracted us to the church are the biblically sound teaching, the boldness to talk about current issues and how they relate to the truth found in the Bible, the focus on connecting and growing in small groups, the broad range of ages and life stages represented in the church, and the seemingly solid children's ministry for our two little girls. The thing that has kept us going back to Grace is the relationships we've built with other members through women's bible study, men's book study, and our small group. The lead pastor, Tim, seems very genuine. He quickly reached out to my wife and I soon after we had visited, learned our names, and encouraged us every time he saw us pass through the courtyard after service. He constantly reaches out to new visitors and encourages the other members to do the same. Helen is an incredible leader in the children's class room. We are happy to call Grace our church home. read more

First visited 7/4/2010 & was quickly greeted in a friendly manner by the Children's Minister. She showed me to the kid's classrooms & showed me around... I haven't left since! This church is a multi-generational, Bible following, congregation! It is a large church and yet I have come to know a great many people! Very friendly congregation that is VERY active in the community & in missions! Love it there! SO many ways to help within the church, within the community & beyond! read more

Members are left to fend for themselves when experiencing financial difficulties. After such dedicated commitment, members should feel welcome to consult the church and receive sincere help and compassion. This is not the case under the current administration. read more