My wife and I were not happy with our old church, just didn't feel we were getting fed and we hated the music.
But then we found the Promise Center.
The first thing I noticed when we attended our first time, was how friendly everyone was. I had at one time attended a big church that is almost right next door to the Promise Center and after 3 months of attending had not met 1 person; and I'm extremely extroverted. But here everyone I made eye contact with, smiled, shook my hand, and welcomed me.
I love how this church gets involved with the community, helping the homeless, people getting clean and sober, families, marriages, kids, etc. The first Thanksgiving season we were impressed that they said they were giving bags of food to the needy. Well our old church did this but asked the community to pitch in food for them to fill the bags....not here, we went out after service to find in the entry way that they had full bags of food, one with vegetables, the other with things to make a feast. We were to find someone to give this to who might be down on their luck.
I've seen this kind of thing over and over. I never hear the pastor begging for money other than simple tything, or telling of special projects that need extra funding.
I love that there is a huge cross section of people, old, young, families, single, married, and all kinds of ethnicities. That to me shows a healthy church that is meeting the needs of all.
Both pastors are real, down to earth, not pias or judgemental. They are some of the most loving people I've ever met at church.
The music sounds like it could be played on KLOVE, and often has given me huge emotional bursts where I've gotten teary-eyed.
If you are used to dry, boring church it might take some getting used to. If you are sitting next to someone who really gets into the their worship it can make you feel a little uneasy at first. I don't mean they are rolling in the isles, or speaking in toungs at group level. Just some hand raising, and maybe a "Thank you Jesus" out loud here and there. If you aren't next to one like that then you'd never notice it.
I like that they have 3 english services on Sunday and one spanish in the afternoon. A Wed night service too.
I love the people, the staff and most important the pastors and the word of God that's taught here. On that note at my old church, often I'd space out, or lose track of the sermon (and I've been studying the bible in depth for over 20 years, so it wasnt because it was too deep). But here I am always engaged in the sermons, they have humor, real life examples, often videos accompany them, and have real meat in them. I find my wife and I often will discuss the sermon afterward or during the week.
At this church, I really see examples in real life of people who are walking the talk, and living the life of the ideal Christian as best they can.
I'm really blessed to have found this place. read more