As good as it gets! Though my son and I no longer attend Gateway Community Church due to…read morerelocation, Gateway has always been an awesome and welcoming church. The worship music can bring you to tears! Pastor Al, years ago, is such a nice gentleman. He's welcoming and personable. The children's ministry team makes you feel safe enough to leave your children with them because they are so warm and welcoming. We definitely made some life long friends while attending Gateway years ago. Whenever we're in the area, we always try to visit and we always feel right at home. This was not our first time here and won't be our last.

This is a wonderful community of caring and committed Christ followers who want to live out the…read moreGreat Commandment of loving God and loving others! So grateful to be a part of a genuine faith family that loves God and loves others. If you have been hurt by church experiences in the past, turned off by Christians who haven't been what God called them to be, or long for authentic transparency in walking through life with it's hurts, habits and hang-ups free from judgment and criticism, come worship with us! There is hope for the hurting, healing for the broken, and life giving relationships within the people that call Gateway Community Church home!

This church community is very close and welcomes all with open arms it changed my life forever…read more Note it's located across from the old Merced theater 1714 MLK JR Way.

This church brought me closer to God than i had ever been before. The church is very welcoming…read more When i first came to the church i wasnt sure if we were going to be committed to it. i believed in God but i didn't know who he was. withing each service i attended i got to learn more about jesus and started to feel at home and peace with the church members. Before i was welcomed with opened arms i had felt like a nobody and felt like no one loved me i was yearning for many way to not be on this earth no more but God shown me this church. i was welcomed with so much love and opportunities,and surrounded by so much people that loved me and my family. The pastor and his wife are the most wonderfullest people along with their children. im so very greatful God sent me them. little do they know,they are the blessing i didn't know i needed in my life. So i thank God for continuing to waking me up every day and showing me the light and the way to new opportunities in life. i love this church and everyone who fullfills it. please come visit!

This is my favorite church in the town of Merced. Remind me a lot of my home city Christian…read morefellowship because it's family orientation and the surrounding locals friendly neighborhood. Definitely worth checking out.

I love this place! Being new to Merced I wanted to find a church family quick, but did not have a…read moreclue where to begin. The previous Yelp post helped me find a great church and I want to pay it forward! Saturday night is my night for great Praise music and always an awesome sermon. I'm involved in two women's groups that I highly recommend....if you have any hesitation, don't, this is a great House of the Lord!!

We stumbled upon this church, well maybe not so, God must have directed us to this church, and for…read moregood reason! Our pastor Mike Hull is AMAZING. His messages are so powerful, and apply to my day to day life. I honestly feel like my life has turned around since I've gotten back to church. Since the first day I arrived, people greeted me, hugged me and welcomed me like I was family. There is a great mix of people that are welcoming, from all walks of life and shades of color. You do not feel out of place at this church no matter who you are! Last but not least, the choir!!! Is soooo amazing, I am joyed to be back at church and overjoyed to be a member of CLC for a few months now!

I have been fortunate to have attended CPC of Merced off and on for many years…read more There may be some confusion surrounding the feeding program, but one thing I can assure you of: amongst the dozen churches or so which I have attended over the years, none has been filled with more loving, kind, unselfish, generous people than CPC of Merced. I would invite those who are critical to come and attend a service with us. This is NOT a church which needs to be criticized for being inwardly focused.

Solid church made up of down to earth people! The modern worship service has quite a few young…read morefamilies! Solid Bible based preaching from the pulpit.

The church/ people are very welcoming. You get Biblical teaching & preaching of God's Word. Truly…read morea demonstration of the Holy Spirit/ Holy Ghost.

Can I rate a church? Not on theology, but on pure pulse-pounding, soul-stirring, gut-wrenching…read moreexperience? Not to mention the best Gospel music and choir in the area? You haven't lived until you've got your praise on at Apostolic Tabernacle in Merced! If you are expecting a typical reverent, quiet Sunday service you probably won't appreciate the joy and verve of this interracial congregation. But if you crave a dose of "crazy church" straight out of the Blues Brothers you'll love this! You want soft keys or gently strumming acoustic guitars? Sorry, go somewhere else! Here it's drums, bass, sax and a maniac on the B3! Yes, Bro. Mark, you know I'm talking 'bout you! To be fair, this Mad Hatter of a Music Director also plays keyboards (very well!) and is in charge of the music program, which encompasses the Mass Choir, Praise Team, Band and assorted other groups such as the Children's and Men's choirs, maintaining a high degree of quality. He is assisted by the capable Choir Director and a team of spiritually-minded, dedicated musicians and singers. Yes, it does indeed take a village to raise the roof! A word about the preaching - Pastor Sam Emory is excellent. His sermons are moving and thought-provoking. If you remember the chanting delivery of old-time preachers such as the Rev. Franklin, yes, he gets into that, too. Sometimes there are guest preachers as well... To hear the Mass Choir, check out the 11AM service (they also have some songs up on YouTube). On Sunday evenings and Wed. nights, it's the praise team, which is about 6-8 singers backed by the band. They also Web-cast services at their site: http://www.upcmerced.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=127&Itemid=109