While visiting San Diego, we attended a Sunday service at this local church near our hotel. The…read morestreets were packed with cars, and we were worried about finding a spot for our rental, but luckily, they had a designated visitor parking area. We stopped by the welcome booth, where a friendly couple gave us a brief overview of the church and answered our questions with a smile. They even gave us coupons for free coffee! After the service, we enjoyed a delicious coffee (worth over $5) at the on-site cafe right next to the church.

I'm very disappointed in how this church treats the neighborhood. Instead of being a good neighbor,…read moretheir events often bring extreme noise and no regard for the people living around them. It feels disrespectful and inconsiderate. If you value being part of a community, please take the noise and neighborhood impact seriously. This pattern needs to stop.

Pastor Russ, I have been to so many Christian Churches. But your are the BEST LOOKING Pastor, the…read moreFUNNIEST Pastor, and the MOST SINCERE! Well, I Know you were known for your memory, and I truly MISS the churche's gatherings, and the MEN'S GROUP!!!! You baptized my son Adam at Mission Bay (?) when he was 15 years old. He is now 35 years old. That's when New Hope was located caddy-corner to SW College I am now searching for a new Catholic Church in San Diego, but your HUMOR and WISDOM has always been MISSED! I hope to visit you and ole friends soon! G_D'S "Abundant Blessings" CONTINUE, Martine Estrada and Helen

A New Hope Church It…read moreis a period of holy war. Christians, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against evil. During the battle, holy spies managed to steal secret plans to the evil ultimate weapon, Satan, a fallen angel with enough power to destroy the entire planet. Pursued by the Devil's sinister agents, Jesus Christ our Savior races home, custodian of the stolen plans that can save his people and restore freedom to the galaxy....

We found Calvary SD after an exhaustive search to find a spiritual home/family for our autistic 5…read moreyear old child. We are Christians who love the Lord, but many churches (even churches with robust children's ministries) were not a good fit for our child. She struggles with noise and crowds, and needed a special needs ministry that accommodated/supported her sensory related needs. It was hard as a mother who wanted my child to experience a spiritual family/community and learn about the Word of God-to keep experiencing spaces that felt so alien and overwhelming for her. It also pained me to watch my child not know how to interact socially with her neurotypical peers, and experience Sunday mornings/church settings as spaces of exclusion, rather than as a house of God. I wanted my child to feel the love of God in all of its splendor-in a way that made sense to her uniquely beautiful wiring, and that she would be surrounded by believers who would love her and her autism. Not that she is defined by this diagnostic label-but rather, that she would be sheltered in a spiritual/family home that allowed her to be uniquely, entirely, and unapologetically herself-and experience the love of God from people who "get it' and the autism parenting/autism journey. Moreover, we were seeking a church that was biblically based and a preacher/teaching staff that did not water down the Bible. Or use the pulpit as a platform for political divisiveness. It makes us deeply uncomfortable when a pastor tells me who to vote for (even if I would have voted for this candidate anyways)-or when the pulpit is used to malign or judge people who live or think differently. What I love about Pastor Phil Metzer is that his sermons are deep, nuanced, and biblically sound-and he delivers his thoughtful messages with love, humility, and a posture of servanthood, rather than one of authoritarianism or judgment. My husband was a minister, also. For over ten years, he was a minister in a different denomination/geographic region, and is fluent in Biblical Hebrew and Greek. He supported people in biblical translation and has a PhD in the Hebrew Bible. So, he's actually very discerning as to when a pastor is delivering a message that waters down the original biblical text and its cultural/historical context. My husband is also constantly impressed with Pastor Phil's messages. He's deep, thought-provoking, and doesn't provide easy answers to life's hardships and question marks. Moreover, I am beyond grateful for Pastor Phil's lovely wife, Joy Metzger. When I was going through a really hard time in my life-she listened to me for over an hour with an open, loving heart. I've had painful experiences of people not knowing what to do with my trauma history-and people, even very well meaning, loving Christians, would provide me with curt answers and platitudes about being grateful, forgiveness, or saying that God will take care of me-when I was sinking under the weight of so much pain. When my second child had a medical crisis-Joy was there. Joy oversees the "Better Together" special needs children's ministry, and she is a woman of boundless compassion and tenderness. She has prayed for our family constantly, and her faith, commitment to prayer, and her effusive love has touched my heart throughout our journey here. I want to thank Casey Glass, the "Better Together" volunteer and buddy for my child. Casey is an amazing woman (who also happens to train navy seals, not joking). She trains our special forces & also happens to be the best friend/buddy of a 5 year old with autism who loves Jesus, loves Casey, and loves bugs. I wound find Casey looking for and collecting bugs with my daughter and she has checked in with me repeatedly. Casey for President! We love you, Casey! We love you, Joy!!! You two ladies have been so supportive, beautiful, lovely, understanding, and helped my family in countless small and big ways. I also want to thank the very sweet Edith Murillo, who has also supported/served as a buddy, to our daughter. Edith is such a kind, genuine, and loving soul-and she told me that she is praying for my daughter. When she waits by the church for my kid, and embraces her-I am reminded of how blessed we are to have found a church with members who live out the love of Christ each and everyday. We are moving soon out of the area. Otherwise, I honestly would never leave this church. My husband and I said that we will be so sad to go-because it means no more Sundays at Calvary SD, and no more incredibly unique classes like the "Theology of Suffering" (a very deep, sprit filled class for the Christian who wants to praise the Lord in the midst of the storm) by the very gifted Pastor Jeff. BTW-some of the earlier reviews that are negative about the lead staff-the staff has since changed. I don't mean to dismiss your real experiences-but just making a note of this.

Everything was excellent I love the church and lady's super nice a berry welcome and the food was…read moredelicious

When we first moved to Chula Vista this was the church we raised our kids in. Since they were…read moreinfants in the church daycare. I always felt safe with the glass windows to check in on your kiddos and the paging system. I am forever grateful to the many bible focused translated to real life messages we heard from ( now retired) Pastor Meeks and Pastor James and the children's ministry and all the teachers that helped form my children's faith in Jesus. My kids loved going to church on Sunday ( bringing home verses on coloring pages and talking about the topics discussed, the prayers, and all the fun games they played. Then every Monday they shared with friends and teacher about their fun time in church, they wrote about it too in their writing journals so much so, that it was evangelizing( without knowing it) to their friends starting in Kinder . Their excitement about Jesus and church was enough to encourage their little friends to mention Eastlake Church to their parents, they then helping to bring families to faith. Their elementary school teachers would pull me aside and say your children are praying for their classmates when they are sad or feel left out. Their faith even when they were so little was so bold that even in some school assignments there would be mention of their love for Jesus and faith in Jesus . As a married couple / family we joined many growth/small groups and made lasting friendships and found the much needed community we needed as a young family. These groups and the people in them encouraged us and helped to make us better people and brought us closer to Christ. The people in small groups let us know we had their support, encouragement, and prayers. We are forever grateful to Eastlake Church and how it helped form our family's faith.

I started coming to EastLake in the early 2010s and genuinely loved it. I wasn't particularly…read morereligious at the time but the church's welcoming, nonjudgmental atmosphere honestly drew me in. I ended up getting baptized there because I felt accepted before I ever felt expected to believe. That approach made a lasting impression on me. Coming back over the last few years, though, I've personally felt a shift. The Father's Day service especially left me feeling uncomfortable. While I absolutely believe healthy masculinity and involved fathers are important, the message was framed around ideas like "culture is trying to redefine and dismantle manhood" and that masculinity is under attack. To me, it felt more focused on culture-war rhetoric than the welcoming spirit I remembered. Another moment that stood out was asking all the men to stand and publicly declare their commitment to God followed by everyone else. I actually preferred how the church used to handle these moments privately, emphasizing that faith is between you and God. This felt much more like social pressure. This is just my experience and others may feel differently hmm in fact I imagine some people might appreciate the direction they've taken. I think EastLake today will resonate most with people looking for a more traditional evangelical perspective on culture and gender. That just isn't the environment I personally connect with and it felt very different from the church I remember. There are still a lot of things EastLake does really well. The campus is beautiful, spacious, and very accessible. Parking is usually easy with two lots and when they're full you can park at Kohl's and walk over. The volunteers have always been incredibly kind and welcoming, the music production is genuinely impressive, and they have a separate building and programs for kids. If being inside a large auditorium isn't your thing you can also watch the service online or from the outdoor patio seating. Overall, it's a very polished experience and I just wanted to make sure to include that if this is still your vibe and so you know what to expect.

Absolutely love this church. Preaching really touches my heart and faith. I'll keep goingread more

Amazing friendly family environment, they made me feel like home the minute I drive up. Everyone is…read morehumble. Pastor Sam, one of the Hambelis people I've ever met. I'm so blessed to find this Church after going through several in the area.

Welcoming environment, always walk away feeling calm and cared for. Will definitely be returning.read more

Most welcoming church, family based disciples I have ever been blessed to get to know, and be a…read morepart of this incredible church. Pastor Nehemiah is inspiring, grounded, honest, humble, and delivers a message that brings tears to my eyes each time I hear him talk. I couldn't recommend him more Loving, community driven Fellowship. I am so thankful for this church and its teachings of the gospel, as well as how to continue every day to be a better person, and to serve

The church is wonderful and they just celebrated 9 yrs in Chula Vista! If you want a church that…read moreteaches according to the bible then this is your church. Pastor Tiznado is a strong man of God and his wife is a active member of the church and community. The members here are welcoming and I know of lives that have been changed and transformed with the help of this church. The church is active in helping serve the needs of the Chula Vista community with food boxes for those in need. There are many bible study groups and I have attended a few women's groups that helpful to me, were fun, and very welcoming. The church serves outside also with an active prison ministry and they are also help the unhoused population with food and prayer. They have missions trips out of city, and even out of country to serve and help those outside Chula Vista as well. The church has opened their doors, rooms, and sanctuary to Chula Vista organizations that have hosted such events as baby showers, Christmas events, Mother's Day events for the needs of the local community organizations. This Church is a gem and active in helping their community and it's members of the South Bay San Diego area. Grateful for them.

I will admit that I have not attended many satellite churches in my years in ministry, but if I…read morewere to start one, I would definite follow the model of the Shadow Mountain Community Church (SMCC) South Bay Campus! I have visited this place of worship multiple times now and find it excellent in every way! I wrote a review of the SMCC North Park Campus a few months back and felt that campus had much to work on to better serve its people, visitors, and community. However, the SMCC South Bay Campus does not have those issues. In fact, this campus has been well-attended since its opening a few years ago and continues to excel. Why? Let's try to list some. 1) A friendly and welcoming congregation. People who attend here will reach out to you and enjoy meeting and sharing with fellow members and new visitors. In fact, it's easy to learn about SMCC South Bay as there is a small canopy outside the worship center entrance that provides information to all who come, especially the visitors. In fact, first time guests get the best parking spaces in the lot! A nice bonus! 2) Great facilities and ample parking space. Yes, this is one of the cleanest worship places I've ever visited. The worship center, the fellowship hall, and the restrooms were astoundingly taken care of well. I don't think the white glove test has a chance against it! Also, in regard to parking, this South Bay campus has a large-sized regular lot and an extension for overflow on the back side of the lot. In this case, it is much better off than its sister satellite parking availability at the North Park Campus. 3) Preaching and teaching: The Shadow Mountain Community Church network, from the sponsoring church in El Cajon, to its six satellite campuses are overseen by one of America's most well-known and best pastors, Dr. David Jeremiah. Dr. Jeremiah has served at Shadow Mountain for 40 years and has probably written around the same number of books. He is also seen on television and heard on radio through the daily weekly ministry called Turning Point. SMCC is among the best evangelicalism has to offer in our times. When anyone attends a SMCC satellite church, a sermon is provided by Dr. Jeremiah on a large screen at about the same time as it is occurring at the main campus. If anyone wishes to watch a SMCC worship service online before coming to visit South Bay Campus or another satellite venue, just visit the SMCC website and there is link to archived worship services that are easily accessible. 4) Programs for children and teens: I admit that I did not get to look into the youth program as much as I would have liked. However, a church of 400 people just in numbers will usually have a vibrant program for youth and teens. From what little I learned today, it appears this is true of SMCC South Bay. I encourage those interested to call the church for more information. 5) Multiple service times: There are two morning services offered at SMCC South Bay Campus on Sundays. The first is at 9 AM and the second is at 10:45 AM. They both get pretty full but there is still room for more visitors! There is a band that provides the music and songs of worship, which are generally in line with contemporary worship in the Chris Tomlin style of song and lyric mode. It comes across worshipful, appropriate for the people who attend, and this experienced group of musicians and song leader connect with the congregation very well. It's been impressive. I could write more, as writing about evangelicalism and evangelical churches is in the full range of my own expertise in ministry. Though I have not met the South Bay Campus pastor, Todd Anderson, I will say I am very impressed with his leadership, care, and oversight of the worship event and how he reaches out to those who attend weekly. For those in the National City, Chula Vista area who are looking for a vibrant, friendly, gospel believing/teaching, evangelical church to visit, this SMCC South Bay Campus should be high on your list! Recommend: VERY HIGH

We attended a funeral mass for my mother-in-law's sister, and the priest gave a wonderful service,…read moreall in Spanish. The Nave is simple, but beautiful, with a very nice altar area, stained glass windows representing the Stations of the Cross. There is also a small, side Chapel, located just off of the Nave. Located just outside the rear entrance of the church, is a small Niche of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The restroom facilities were clean, and well stocked. Parking lot is located in the rear, as well as on street parking.

I'm new to the area but feel at home here at this Church. The Congregation and Priests have All…read morebeen Very Welcoming.

I have been attending the San Diego Rock church for many years and find it to be the best church…read morefor spiritual life transformations. Miles, the lead pastor of the church has a special spiritual gift of reaching all types of people. With his biblical teachings coupled with his personal testimonies, wisdom, and discernment his message is powerful, moving, and motivating. In addition, with many others of the church that share their spiritual journeys, along with special guests as well allow for significant spiritual growth and life-changing transformations to happen. I feel that my life feels more gratifying. satisfying, more peaceful, more loving, grounding, forgiving, and really my eyes consistently focused on God because of the difference the San Diego Rock church has made in my life. The San Diego Rock church is great for spiritual growth as well as connecting with like-minded people, but it's how you decide to live your life once you leave church on a daily basis. So many people have transformed their lives for the better, not perfect but improved due to continued spiritual inspiration that the San Diego Rock church represents. No matter what church you attend, I hope it is a powerful, inspiring, and life changing journey for your life. May you be blessed!

You always hear about how special and inclusive this location with a large congregation and schools…read moretoo! Did you know they have a superior summer camp they run at Point Loma Nazarene University? I came across it on a walk and was so impressed with the way staff was handling the camp population and visitors. I spoke with some young men from all over San Diego and Las Vegas! They were having the "best time of their year" they said and love staying in the dorms and meeting so many other young people of faith. I saw cornhole games and ping pong tables by the library and other games scattered around campus. There were also many chaperones and information tables set up for check ins and safety. It happens every year and I highly recommend you consider sending your children to this summer camp! Go on their website to check dates and availability! Great Summer Camp!

I love this church! The teaching is true to God's word. The pastor leads by example. I have been a…read morebeliever for about 40 years. Since I have been attending Upper Room, I finally feel like I am part of a loving and amazing family. That may be partly due to it's small size but either way It's a blessing. Currently the worship through is a cappella. Katrina has an angelic voice and it's wonderful to not have any distractions from an entertainment standpoint. BTW-- the "tip" by Kimberly N is meant for a different church (Upper Room Church) not Upper Room Community Church. I have messaged her asking to correct this.

You want to feel and be in the presence of God? Come to the Upper Room where we study the Bible and…read moreserve others! There is so much love here it's contagious! I am so glad God lead me here! Everyone in this church is real and have a thirst for Jesus!!!