Well it all started when we went to see what Church had captured our daughter and her family's trust and hearts! The mantra is, (To Know , Love and Follow)! A Church for the UnChurched! It's best described by the devotion and commitment of its people. We are now proud to call Our Church home and family! Need to know more? Come and See... read more

I was initially concerned about the size of this church, worried about being one of the crowd who doesn't get to know anyone, but Venture Church strives to make people feel connected by encouraging members to be a part of smaller "growth groups" (instead of old-school "Sunday School" classes) that meet at different times during the week and are focused on different topics - some are sermon based (reviewing/studying the previous week's sermon), others choose a traditional Bible Study, others study specific books on different Christian topics, and others are more service oriented or activity oriented groups. All are designed to make you part of the church as a whole. Despite the comments in an earlier post, I have found every sermon to be Biblically based, with Jesus as the foundation. Salvation and forgiveness through faith in Christ are constant themes. Pastor Jeff breaks it down in ways that make understanding the scriptures possible for those who weren't raised in the church, as well as for those who are from a traditional church background. I've sat through thousands of sermons in my life, and still get something from attending a service at Venture, every time. The church bills itself as a "Church for the Unchurched" and has at its heart the goal of reaching people for Jesus Christ. Everyone is welcome and you are just as likely to see someone dressed in shorts and flip flops as you are likely to see someone in the traditional "Sunday best". There is a program called "Recovery" - and it is noted that we are all recovering from something. Sometimes its drugs, alcohol, other addictions, a divorce, an abusive situation/life, problems in our marriages, problems with our kids, or a life of sinful choices that have left us broken, but through Jesus everyone can recover and live a blessed and meaningful life. Venture also encourages people to get out of the "pews" (chairs in this case) and serve. Serve each other, serve the lost, serve those in need. They encourage members to participate in many community service areas, including the homeless shelters and local elementary schools, in addition to sending members on mission trips both within the US and in foreign countries, such as Haiti and the Dominican Republic. This church means it when they say they are all about reaching people for Christ. Don't be thrown off by the flashing lights, contemporary music/band, and relaxed, laid back atmosphere. This church is not all about entertainment. Yes, there is a coffee bar. Yes, there is sometimes a smoke machine. Yes, the band rocks. They believe in doing what they need to in order to reach people who are lost. But the focus is on Christ and the need that people have to meet Jesus and give their lives to him. read more

I have never felt more welcomed, loved and accepted more than here. Yes, it is a big church and yes, it is more contemporary. You will never find more genuine and loving people than you will at Venture. As with anything, if you go in with a negative attitude, you will most likely think you had a negative experience. Venture is a place that you can go and lay everything down at the door and worship and be loved. If you haven't been yet, or have been and you were not pleased, send me a message and please join me one Sunday and give it another try. read more

New In town and felt very welcome. Coming from the west coast, we are more relaxed in how we worship and I felt that right at home at Venture. No pretensions, how refreshing! Yes, they serve coffee, do not see why thats a point to condemnation- maybe some reviewers want a sterile environment that does not breed friendship and Unfortunately I am sure they will find what they are looking for. If you call your self Christian and believe in Christ then we all need Grace, given and received. Today's message was about acceptance, regardless of our ethnic, social or financial differences, we are all in the same family after all. read more

Back when I first visited this church, I was amazed by the amount of times I was greeted. It is different than a lot of churches around here with its coffee, lights, and band, but it was perfect for my family. We finally had found a church where we the sermons kept our attention spoke to us, and our kids actually had fun going. The whole experience is just really enjoyable like I think church should be. The worship is incredible too. We now go there every week and are part of the small groups they have there. read more

There is a new breed of church modelled after the infamous Rick Warren aka "Purpose Driven". You can spot it with the apparent lack of crosses, the ever-present cafe with everyone walking around holding starbucks-style paper latte cups (sip, sip, sip), and the light show and rock band on the stage. Gone are the crosses, Bibles and the word, "church". The new word is, "campus". Yep, this is one of those. I went to two services and gave it a try. I honestly want to find Jesus in church. I want to hear the Bible, I want prayer and Godly counsel. I want to meet Christian believers and fellowship with them. You can't do that here. It is built like a coliseum and the seats are like going to the movies. Fine. There is no pulpit, just as Rick Warren ordered, just to seek the "unchurched". What you are left with is God being left out. You have graphic design, video and lighting effects, and did I mention lattes? Sip, sip, sip. You walk in, squeeze past people, sit down, and get the once-over (meaning eyes travelling up and down you trying to figure out if you are one of them. You are if you have the intiials LV somewhere on you). Yes, this is the Real Wannabe Housewives of Hattiesburg, whom I have affectionately named "the muffies". They are the ones who drive white suvs, don't work, do their makeup while driving white suvs, wear the muffy uniform of spandex yoga pants and neon running shoes even if they have never set a manicured toe in a gym, and their kids have the ever-present bow stuck on their heads well past the age of having boobs. Weird. They look you up and down, have various cliques within the "campus" and never look you in the eye or so much as say 'hello'. I personally find that creepy, especially at what is supposed to be church, oh excuse me, campus. I can't get used to that one. The sermon is mostly done in a sing-song voicey which makes me wonder if the pastor goes through his entire day like that, or if it is just for show. It is mostly about him and what he does, what happened to him and he tries to be funny. I suppose it is for the "unchurched". What it does is leave God out of it altogether, seems irrelevant and you walk out feeling empty and can never remember what he actually preached about. That is what will happen. You will come, get your latte, be entertained and bombarded with graphics, get the once-over from the muffies, hear nothing, and here is the best part, get up and go home without ever being spoken to once. Well, maybe a cold once-over fake smile at the door while you leave from one of the older muffies. Weird and creepy. I would rather no one speak to me than anyone be fake about it. I honestly have more conversations about Jesus at the grocery store. What is not here? God. You will not ever have an altar call at the end of the service so you might never hear the Gospel to even get saved. You might think that by going to campus every Sunday, getting plugged in and even tithing, that you are saved. You could actually be a part of this campus and go to hell one day, because they didn't want to offend you with any information regarding Jesus being the Son of God, believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth that He is your Lord and Saviour and being cleansed and set free from all of your sins! Isn't that so incredible! It's so true. It is in your Bible. You will also find only the politically correct NIV Bible here. A "version" and not a translation that is copyrighted to Zondervan who also publishes the Book of Satan (yep, their "holy" book, yuck). Most people don't know this. The NIV was published in the 70's and removes quite a lot of words and verses entirely changing the meaning. It is a demonic bible and should never be used. I had one growing up because I didn't know. You can go on youtube and there are really informative videos put together by Baptists and other Christians about the truth of the NIV version. Get a King James Bible, please. You also will not ever hear about the end times, which I think might be taboo in Hattiesburg. Just please read that King James translation (it was translated from original manuscripts and is not a version and it is also not under copyright), read it and also know what it says, read revelation and pray. Ask God to reveal it to you, and He will. He loves you. You just will not learn the real meat of the Word here, but you will get in and out in time to make it to the buffet. You won't get a chance to meet the pastor of the campus on Sunday, or meet with him for some Godly counsel. I tried and tried and it would actually be easier to meet with the Pope. I personally don't like that. A pastor is supposed to be a shephard of the the people first and foremost, not a motivational speaker you go and "watch" for fifteen minutes on Sundays. I pray you all who are reading this will continue in The Faith, grow in Him, fellowship with other believers even if itis only at the gorcery store, and worship the King of kings! read more