OVERALL SCORE
★★★★★

What was it like when you entered the building?

Upon entering the church, the first greeter offered me mints and said, “Enjoy the service.” The second greeter received me with such a vibrant and welcoming demeanor. She asked if I was new. When I said, “Yes,” she walked with me to a table with welcome gifts and brochures for first-time attendees. We introduced ourselves and she asked what I was looking for in a church. She shared some facts about the church and also explained a little about the sermon speaker. She seemed genuine.
★★★★★

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?

I’m a parent and I would feel good about my child joining the youth ministry. The clean building was ideally located and had a warm welcoming environment for children. I noticed signage with smiling staff awaiting children for the youth ministry. I also read a pamphlet about the youth ministry.
★★★★★

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?

I observed a number of ethnicities within the staff and guests. They had a mix of age groups, a pretty even amount of men and women, and a wide range from young to older adults. I learned about a volunteer opportunity called “Night to Remember,” a formal event for children with disabilities.
★★★★★

Describe the service.

I enjoyed the live band that played contemporary, up-to-date music. The mu-sicians smiled and were into the music. Most of the guests clapped and sang along. The speaker greeted everyone and invited all the visitors to join the church. The greetings were just right. The 35-minute message was extremely positive and an easy concept to grasp especially since the speaker clearly ex-plained it. I felt like the speaker was talking directly to me and my life, that’s how relevant the message was to me. It focused on making good of the strengths you are blessed to have and not being jealous when you see other people succeed-ing. The speaker gave examples from her own life and the Bible. She was a guest pastor from the church’s other location who appeared on a screen via broadcast. She was not in the building. I would prefer to have the speaker pre-sent, but the technology was done well with no glitches or anything that hindered understanding the message.
★★★★

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you dur-ing your visit?

Everyone was extremely welcoming. I felt like I belonged with all the hospital-ity shown to me.
★★★★★

Would you return to the church?

I would definitely return to this church even though I don’t attend regularly. It was a positive and uplifting environment. Everyone was so welcoming and genu-inely seemed interested in getting to know me and having me as a member. I definitely would encourage others to go. Modern families and younger people would be attracted to the church.
★★★★★

ADDITIONAL OBSERVATIONS

Was the nearby community aware of the church?
About a block from the church, I stopped someone getting off the subway and asked where the church was. The young woman pointed toward some red signs and explained the church was located where the signs were. She didn’t share any more details.

How was the seating?
The seating was comfortable. I was led to a seat by an usher and there was an adequate amount of seating. About 20 to 25 open seats were left on the level I was seated on. Everyone was seated together and not separated all over the church.

How recognizable was the church signage?
They had bright red signs outside the church as well as the service start time. I did not notice any signs for parking. Inside the church, signs were easily visible outside the bathrooms and by the children’s area. The bright red signs were most helpful in finding the church as I wouldn’t have thought that a theatre building would host a church service.

How was the post service atmosphere?
I waited around and talked to someone about my experience as a new visitor. The atmosphere seemed relaxed and inviting as everyone hung around after the service talking to staff about the service as well as getting complimentary tea and coffee. It made me enjoy the experience at the church even more because every-thing seemed so genuine.

How would you rate the information resources?
They had several brochures with information covering a wide variety of topics. As soon as I walked in, a sign for new visitors to stop at a table and receive a welcome gift with a mug and brochures. The greeter informed me about the background of the church and the service that day. Upon entering the auditorium, someone handed me a form to fill out with my contact information. The infor-mation available on the website included the background of the church, its pas-tors, and its sister locations spread around the city. I was able to learn from the website what services the church offered. They had an event listed on the web-site for first-time members called “Starting Point.” This get acquainted program invited visitors to have lunch with the pastor and some of the members to learn a little more about the church.

What is your overall impression?
Overall I really enjoyed being a visitor at this church. The environment was ex-tremely genuine and welcoming. My only suggestion is that the speaker actually be in the building and not on screen. No one mentioned if this is how it is every service or if this was a special occasion. I left my contact information with the church and received an email from one of the pastors two days after my visit. The email welcomed me and invited me to join them again.

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which has evalu-ated more than 7,200 worship services across the United States. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
✭✭✭✭✭

What was it like when you entered the building?

I saw a greeter at the door, a visitors’ table in the foyer and people welcomed me in the auditorium. I had a great conversation with a greeter. The atmosphere was awesome and inviting. It had me hooked and revved up for the service.
✭✭✭✭✭

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?

I didn’t go to the children’s ministry area because I was alone. I assumed it would be as clean as the rest of the building was. The children’s ministry had slides in the building, an information booth and snacks. I would be comfortable leaving my child. Children would have a great time.
✭✭✭✭✭

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?

The church rocks on diversity. It was evident from the advertisements, the brochures and the people who gathered in the lobby. They had young, old and many different ethnic groups. The church had activities that engaged the community. The pastor spoke about their sister churches’ efforts against human trafficking.
✭✭✭✭✩

Describe the service.

I totally enjoyed the live contemporary music. The band and singers were sincere and believed in what they were singing. The audience was engaged. The in-service greeting was nice. They talked about the church, the expansion and upcoming retreats. We greeted each other with handshakes and hugs. It felt genuine with just the right amount of love. I don’t believe they said anything specifically for first-time guests besides welcoming us to the church. I found the 30-minute message rather interesting and enjoyable. It was well thought out and anyone could understand it, even if you were not super familiar with the Bible. The pastor used a short video the church had created, which was cool. He shared several Scriptures on the big screen.
✭✭✭✭✩

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?

Everybody I spoke with was super friendly. Overall, the people engaged with me, from parking attendants to door greeters to booth attendants and the people handing out programs in the auditorium. I felt welcomed.
✭✭✭✭✭

Would you return to the church?

I am definitely willing to return to this church due to the inviting feeling. I’ve already recommended it to different people. People from teens through about age 50 would love this church.
✭✭✭✭✭

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which has evaluated more than 7,200 worship services across the United States. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
✭✭✭✭✭

What was it like when you entered the building?

A gentleman in a suit and tie sincerely welcomed me. He was warm and professional, asked me about myself and advised me where to find the worship area. I observed a lot of smiles and laughing, which was nice. I felt right at home.
✭✭✭✭✩

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?

I don’t have any children, but I would bring family members who do have children. The kids section seemed safe and child-friendly. The church’s website had a section dedicated to kids that explained how the church was reaching out to children. I was impressed with all the positions the church had taken for children betterment.
✭✭✭✭✭

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?

This church was extremely diverse. One person had a hole in his pants and another wore a fancy suit. I saw young children as well as middle-aged adults and seniors. People spoke in different languages and appeared to be from various ethnicities. The church also supports the homeless and less fortunate.
✭✭✭✩✩

Describe the service.

The music style was blended. They had live music, and the musicians seemed sincere. They enjoyed themselves with everyone clapping to the beat of the music. All age groups would enjoy this music. The hour-long message was about God in our lives and how we should see happiness in the things around us. I really enjoyed the message. I enjoyed the way the speaker made the connection between me and God, and I felt like the message was directed to me. I felt so at peace and at home at this church. All of the speakers did a great job. They referenced and used Scripture. The entire service was an hour and a half.
✭✭✭✩✩

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?

The members of the church were extremely friendly.
✭✭✭✭✭

Would you return to the church?

I plan to make this church my church home. All ages would fit in, and I would strongly encourage others to attend this church. It is a great place to learn about what is going on in the community, and it makes you feel good about yourself.
✭✭✭✭✭

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which has evaluated more than 7,200 worship services across the United States. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
✭✭✭✭✭

What was it like when you entered the building?

Greeters stood at each door and guided people to the appropriate rooms. After introductions, the greeter escorted me to the room where I could feed my baby. An excitement filled the church, and children were all over the place. I felt welcomed and part of the group. I was in awe from the beginning.
✭✭✭✭✩

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?

The children’s play area was huge. The babysitting area was open and looked clean. If she were older, I would leave my child in the kid zone. I enjoyed the feeding room. It had nice chairs and a feeding pillow.
✭✭✭✭✩

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?

The church accepted everyone. I saw diversity, but everyone spoke English. The music appealed to the younger crowd. I saw a few people of different cultures, but it was mostly a Caucasian community. In the bulletin, I found a card to fill out to join an outreach program. I could volunteer within the church or on a mission trip.
✭✭✭✭✩

Describe the service.

The contemporary music was fantastic. The musicians were definitely sincere, loved being on stage and giving back to the people. The audience engaged and sang along. Greeters were kind and informative, but I don’t think there was any kind of formal visitor greeting. As for the message, quite honestly, I was surprised. The pastor stood on a diving board. However, the message was easier to grasp with the props. The 30-minute message was on how we are living now and for a reason. Everyone leaps into life differently as people jump into the pool differently. We have a choice to take risks or live safely. The bulletin had Scripture notes that I found helpful along with the song lyrics projected on screen.
✭✭✭✩✩

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?

I felt welcomed by the greeters. I did not make any friends, but I felt comfortable.
✭✭✭✭✩

Would you return to the church?

I would definitely return because I had an opportunity to spend time with God and my child at the same time. I would definitely recommend this church to my family and friends. I had a unique experience.
✭✭✭✭✭

Additional Observations

Was the nearby community aware of the church?
I stopped at a convenience store in town to ask for directions. The gentleman I spoke to had never heard of the church until he Googled the address.

How was the seating?
The seats were comfortable and perfectly placed. The family worship room had chairs lined up facing televisions on the wall to watch the service. Five other parents and their children were also in the room. I left that room and saw a nursing room that had rocking chairs and water for the mothers.

How recognizable was the church signage?
The signage to the church once I arrived was impeccable. Signs were all over the place. After entering the parking lot, I saw signs directing me where to park. The building was new and beautiful. The inside had signs on the ceiling and labels on the doors. Signs directed me to the children’s room and the auditorium. Signs outside the building identified the church with the worship times. Signs also directed me on where to enter the building.

How was the post-service atmosphere?
No one approached me after the service. It felt a little bit like a school event once it ended. It would be kind to offer a gift to stay connected. The other parents were kind and welcoming to my baby and me. The overall atmosphere of the church was positive. People were talking to each other and laughing. Children were playing with each other and it felt safe.

How would you rate the information resources?
All the resources and the website were a nice touch to the church. The commitment to the people and community of the church was nothing that I have seen. It was nice that anyone can come and join. The bulletin consisted of information on how to pray and gave reasons of praying for 21 days. It also consisted of the pastor’s name, a Bible verse and information to join the volunteer group or contact list. The website was easy to navigate because of the videos. In my bulletin, I received a card to enter my contact information. I chose to fill it out. The website was a resource to new guests who needed to find convenient locations or wanted a preview of the service.

What is your overall impression?
I loved the church. It exceeded all of my expectations of a traditional church. No one tried to convert me or make me join the church. It was up to the individual. I would also like to request more music. As of now (four days since my visit), I have not heard from the church.

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which has evaluated more than 7,200 worship services across the United States. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
✭✭✭✭✩

What was it like when you entered the building?

“Welcome. Glad to have you,” said the greeter who met me outside and offered me a free breakfast pizza. As I walked in, I saw a coffee stand. Inside the sanctuary, multiple people greeted me. Everyone was friendly and eager to meet me.
✭✭✭✭✭

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?

I found information for the children and youth ministry on the website. I saw a small playground outside the church. I would feel safe leaving my children playing in the playground during church. Children would have fun and interact with other children.
✭✭✭✩✩

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?

I didn’t see anything that referred to other ethnicities or languages, nor did I see anything about the elderly. The church mentioned a program that assisted people in need with clothing, food and possibly shelter.
✭✭✭✩✩

Describe the service.

The contemporary music didn’t appeal to me. The artists were sincere and they performed well. People were standing, clapping and singing. Everyone was well-engaged in the music. At the start of the service, the speaker asked everyone to meet and greet the people around them. During the service, the pastor asked if anyone was a first-time visitor. Visitor cards could be filled out to receive a free T-shirt. The 25-minute message was about Jesus and how he was crucified. I believed what was being preached and it was relevant to my beliefs. The message was given through video from another church’s live service. The pastor did a good job and also made the whole crowd—including me—laugh a couple of times. He was easy to listen to and comfortable giving the sermon.
✭✭✭✩✩

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?

Everyone was friendly and tried to make me feel welcome, which I did.
✭✭✭✭✭

Would you return to the church?

I would definitely attend this church again as I had a good experience and they engaged with me. Although people in their 20s and 30s would more likely attend this church, I would recommend it to people of all ages.
✭✭✭✭✭

Read more reports from church mystery visits »

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which sends unchurched visitors to churches across the United States to provide feedback on their experience. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
✭✭✭✩✩

What was it like when you entered the building?
A volunteer greeted me and handed me a bulletin. I felt welcomed and it was somewhat sincere. The church was not very full due to possible bad weather. The people sat farther apart. The church being somewhat empty did not affect my feelings about it.
✭✭✭✩✩

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?
The children’s ministry seemed good and looked like children would enjoy it. If I had children, I would feel comfortable leaving them there. I saw signage, information in the bulletin and the speaker made a presentation about the children’s ministry.
✭✭✭✭✭

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?
The diversity equaled the typical makeup for this area and age group with a balance of both genders. The church shared in the bulletin and on social media their community outreach.
✭✭✭✭✭

Describe the service.
Three vocalists and three musicians led the music, which was great. The people were sincere and the congregation engaged. All ages would enjoy this music. The greeting of shaking hands was later in the service and not many people interacted with me. One of the pastors introduced himself and that was nice. The 25-minute message was good and somewhat interesting, but I thought he went on a little long and took a while to get to the point. It was about repentance and dealing with sin from the book of Luke. The speaker did a good job and was prepared and comfortable. He used a slideshow with verses and one graphic. The message was easy to listen to, but I did not connect with him well.
✭✭✭✩✩

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?
The church was somewhat friendly.
✭✭✭✩✩

Would you return to the church?
I did not feel comfortable in this church and will likely not return. I did not connect with anyone and the age group did not fit me. I would encourage middle-class families and older couples to attend this church. I would not return to this church as a single male.
✭✩✩✩✩

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which has evaluated more than 7,200 worship services across the United States. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
✭✭✭✭✩

What was it like when you entered the building?
Greeters quickly welcomed us with warm smiles, eye contact and a hello. My daughter and I wanted to know where to take the grandkids. We found a room with some kids who were finishing a Bible study. We met a lady there, who took us to the children’s church.
✭✭✭✭✭

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?
The children’s church was appropriate for children under age 12. My son, who is 15, stayed with us. We checked my older daughter’s two kids in to the children’s church. They asked for her name, the kids’ names, plus their ages. When she picked them up, she had to initial a form. I did not see the nursery, but my daughter and I felt comfortable leaving them with the staff. My grandkids said that they had a good time. My 5-year-old grandson said he learned about Jesus and God.
✭✭✭✭✭

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?
I saw both old and young people, Caucasian and African-American. This church has a partnership with a home healthcare program. I don’t know exactly what this program does and I did not see any other community outreach.
✭✭✭✭✭

Describe the service.
The music was blended. The band and choir were sincere and the congregation sang along, but it went on for a long time. Although it wasn’t a style of worship I enjoyed, middle-aged and older adults would appreciate it. The pastor welcomed visitors and encouraged the congregation to greet them. They proceeded to walk around and hug visitors. The pastor spoke of how we have to humble ourselves and about how great God was and how we have to prepare for his return. The 45-minute message felt long to me, but the concept was easy to grasp. It was relevant to my life because we should all be humble. I enjoyed the message. The pastor was well-prepared and comfortable speaking. He used Scripture to deliver the message, but no other visual aids.
✭✭✭✭✩

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?
Everyone was friendly and smiling.
✭✭✭✭✭

Would you return to the church?
I would recommend this church to older adults because of how close the congregation seemed. I would return to this church because I felt welcomed, but the service was extremely long and the 45 minutes of music and 45-minute message was not my style. I arrived at the church at 10:20 a.m. and did not leave until 12:45 p.m. Overall though, we felt welcomed and the members were happy. We really appreciated that a lady helped us find the children’s ministry and she was pleasant.
✭✭✩✩✩

Additional Observations

Was the nearby community aware of the church?
I stopped at a local doughnut shop. The first associate had never heard of the church. I asked if she would ask another associate. The other associate was a member of the church but did not offer any information about the church. She gave me directions.

How was the seating?
The seats were a bit narrower than I’m used to, although they were at least padded. However, the cushion was not attached, so I partially slid off the seat a few times. I arrived early to have many choices of seating. Once the service started, the sanctuary was nearly filled and everyone sat close together.

How recognizable was the church signage?
The only exterior sign I saw was the main sign with the church’s name. They did not have the worship times listed. They did not have any interior signage that was visible either. I just followed the lead of those in front of me. Additional signage would have been helpful for the exterior and the interior to find the children’s ministry. A lady from the church guided us, but signage is needed in case someone wasn’t there to show us.

How was the post-service atmosphere?
They thanked us for visiting. The lady who was in charge of the children’s ministry was particularly helpful and friendly. Everyone was smiling and talking to each other. It made us feel like everyone was a big, happy family.

How would you rate the information resources?
This church has several different options for resources to stay connected. They offer a text message service and they had tables set up around the church with different materials about service programs and a calendar of events. They also had information about a home health care program. However, the website was plain and not helpful for first-time guests because there isn’t anything specifically for first-time guests to help us prepare for the service (i.e. children’s information, what to wear, etc.). At the start of the service, my daughter and I were both asked for our contact information including address and phone number. The Wednesday after the service, my daughter and I both received a postcard. The cards listed the upcoming service times. Since my daughter checked her children into the children’s ministry, she also left her information with them. She wished the children’s ministry would have reached out to her specifically, but she felt the follow-up was personal and timely and I would agree.

What is your overall impression?
Everyone I encountered was pleasant and friendly. Everyone was smiling and talking to each other. However, the service was extremely long. I enjoyed the message about humility, as I’m working on being more humble. I like that the church has a home health-care program because that shows me that they care about the sick and shut-in. I would suggest they improve their signage, especially inside the church, there really wasn’t any helpful signage. For the website, the announcements on the front page moved slowly, it is a slideshow type of set-up, but it would be helpful to just have a full list that you can view one time or a full calendar that is user-friendly. Also, there was not much information to help us prepare for the service (i.e. children’s information, what to wear, etc.) so I would recommend adding that in an easy to locate area on their website.

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, a ministry that sends unchurched visitors into churches to provide feedback on their experience. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
✭✭✭1/2

What was it like when you entered the building?
Four greeters wearing nametags occupied the entrance. Two of them welcomed me after they ended their own conversation. No one extended a hand, and I picked up a bulletin before they noticed me. No members asked who I was or where I was from. I felt slightly invisible.
✭✭✭✩✩

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?
They clearly invest in their youth, and kids would have fun. I heard children laughing and observed them creating artwork. This church resides in an area prone to violence. Considering their open-door policy at all hours of the day and night, I would feel a bit uneasy about the children’s safety. I do not question the intent of this church and its members, but outsiders may prey on their generosity.
✭✭✭✭✩

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?
This church is top-notch when it comes to diversity and outreach. They are not hesitant to welcome someone off the streets expecting nothing in return. They aren’t shy about reaching out to the LGBT community, homeless, rich or poor, male or female, differing ethnicities, etc.
✭✭✭✭✭

Describe the service.
The music was excellent. I was not expecting to hear opera music from such young choir members. The congregation was focused and serious about singing. The shaking of hands greeting gave me a chance to meet those around me, and everyone seemed sincere. This service was more of a concert as part of a series of holiday messages. They had a dozen speakers during the service who read different readings. If they had introduced the individual speakers, it would have helped me pull the service together better.
✭✭✭✭✭

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?
After the service, the interaction I had with the pastor and a volunteer raised the friendliness bar.
✭✭✭✩✩

Would you return to the church?
My experience was mixed. I am mildly interested in returning. I like that they are open and passionate about helping people. However, I would not return simply because I did not easily follow the service structure. I also didn’t get a feeling that the church was interested in meeting visitors. I would encourage others to visit for the church’s rich history and opportunities to help others.
✭✭✩✩✩

Additional Observations

Was the nearby community aware of the church?
Before the service, I stopped at a Starbucks and spoke with another patron in the store. She frequented the area, but had not heard of the church. When I explained where it was, she said she had just not paid enough attention to the name of the church to recognize it and had no interest in stopping in.

How was the seating?
The seats were a bit narrower than I’m used to, though they were at least padded. The cushion was not attached, so I partially slid off the seat a few times. I arrived early to have many choices of seating. Once the service started, the sanctuary was nearly filled and everyone sat close together.

How recognizable was the church signage?
The outdoor signage was adequate, but the indoor signage was not the most helpful and the hallways were narrow. The various bathrooms and classrooms mostly had signs on them, but none of the signage was perpendicular for easy viewing.

How was the post-service atmosphere?
No one noticed that I was new and approached me with questions. When I walked outside, however, the pastor asked who I was and directed me to talk to another lady who provided some additional information. Before I left, the pastor invited me to his house with some of the other members. I was stunned, but suddenly felt like I was accepted. I was not able to go to his house.

How would you rate the information resources?
I left my contact information after they reminded me and encouraged me to do so. Their website had an “I’m New” tab that was clearly visible. It was the first thing I saw, so this was great. The rest of the site was easy to navigate, nice looking and had many examples of how to connect with them.

What is your overall impression?
My experience was fine, although I never settled in. Being unfamiliar with this denomination was tough enough, but not having any member approach me early on made me truly feel like an outsider. Offering a tour is especially necessary for this church, plus it automatically would connect a visitor with at least one other person. I left my contact information with them, but it’s been a couple of weeks and I still haven’t heard anything.

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which has evaluated more than 7,200 worship services across the United States. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
✭✭✭✩✩

What was it like when you entered the building?
It was all love with handshakes and side hugs. This is New York City, so you have to welcome everybody like a newcomer. I asked for the bulletin and the greeter and usher pointed to a ledge.
✭✭✭✭✩

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?
The kids stayed with their families. Some ran around and others worshipped. If I had children, I would take them with me. The bulletin and website listed a lot of activities, including ones for kids.
✭✭✭✩✩

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?
I saw Caucasian and Hispanic people, and I was the only African-American guy. I observed people of different backgrounds, but not other nationalities. They offered their website in Spanish and have a Spanish service. They could work on involving more of the community since the area around the church is diverse. Mainly older people attended.
✭✭✩✩✩

Describe the service.
A pianist played traditional hymns and another person led the music and a choir. The people sang along and some moved to the music. I followed along because I didn’t know the words or where to find them. It wasn’t my first choice of music, but they did a good job. During the service, understanding the routine would have helped me. The pastor preached from the Bible and read Scripture. The 40-minute message was positive and uplifting, but I’m an atheist so some things did not resonate with me. The pastor had a great delivery. He was conversational and used his hands when he was talking. He did not use visual aids.
✭✭✭✩✩

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?
It felt like home, especially for them to be Caucasian and I’m African-American. I received no weird looks and they were nice. The greeters and ushers were the only ones who interacted with me outside the sanctuary.
✭✭✭✭✩

Would you return to the church?
It’s a good church with sincere and down-to-earth people. They welcomed me with open arms. I would return if I believed in what they were preaching. For someone who is looking for a church to call home, it was a great church, great community and it’s right in the smack dab middle of everything.
✭✭✭✩✩

Additional Observations

Was the nearby community aware of the church?
I took the bus to church. The bus driver knew the location, but offered no details about the church. It was easy to spot as it took up a whole city block. I also Googled the church before my visit.

How was the seating?
Everyone spread out evenly. It was big church with at least 200 in attendance. I sat at the back and just blended in. It felt full, yet still had space for more people. Even though I was in the back, I could hear just fine and didn’t feel alone or empty. Most of the members stayed up close and I stayed in the back. I had a few people around me and they were close enough to smile and greet me during the service. I could hear the music and people were engaged.

How recognizable was the church signage?
They have a nice sign out front that lists the service times and the pastors’ names. Inside the church, I did not see anything specifically for Sunday school or kid’s ministry, but right when you walked in there was a lobby and the church worship space. They could add more signage, but for what I needed during my first visit, it was easy.

How was the post-service atmosphere?
I enjoyed the beauty of the church after the service; however, I did not interact with the pastor, just the greeter. The next service was starting so new people were walking in. No one really did anything or said anything. It was okay. If I wanted to make this my church home, and engaged them with questions, they would have done more. It’s the type of scenario where they were not rude or pushy, but they would be friendly and helpful. They have room to improve with those who do not believe (like me) or go to church regularly.

How would you rate the information resources?
This big church had staff people all over the premises. They have a Facebook presence and brochures. They are open seven days a week at all hours of the day, and they welcome everyone. People knew they were there and they connected well with the community. The website was just like the bulletin, it was translated into both Spanish and English with lots of information. They have a big staff directory, and things going on every day. This was a good thing since some churches do not have anything but Sunday services. I offered a tithe in the envelope and wrote my name, number, and e-mail on the envelope. I have not received anything from them at this time. I did not ask for more information, as it was just a collection envelope. The ten-page bulletin had lots of information to review. It was clear, if you were a member.

What is your overall impression?
They need to do more to add diversity to their congregation. They are in a diverse part of the city, but I did not see anything offered in other languages. They were not big on theatrical presentations like I am used to, but they did not make me feel out of place one bit. I enjoyed it and the people were nice.

An unchurched person reports on an unannounced visit to a local church. Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which has evaluated more than 3,500 worship services across the United States. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.

OVERALL SCORE
3½ stars out of 5

What was it like when you entered the building?
The two people chatting near the entrance turned and looked at me, but did not greet me. A gentleman sincerely welcomed me in a friendly way. No one appeared to be a designated greeter.
***

Was it obvious where the children’s ministry was located and that it was clean, secure and well-staffed?
They mentioned the nursery was available on Sunday mornings and that they had a Wednesday evening activity for young children. I don’t have enough information to evaluate their ability to care for a child.
*****

Did you observe anything that would lead you to believe that the church values diversity?
Although the church had a good age mix, the group was primarily Caucasian. I saw no effort that reached out to the other ethnic communities in the ethnically diverse neighborhood. The website had information about a local ministry that participates in the farmers’ market and another program where small groups serve the community.
***

Describe the service.
Most of the contemporary music was live and the musicians sincere. The people were engaged and most sang. They projected the lyrics on a screen at the front of the church. The pastor invited everyone to greet one another. People shook my hand, greeted me and introduced themselves. The 25-minute message was about Jonah and how he was so focused on himself that he missed God’s vision. It was easy to understand and moderately enjoyable. He had an appealing, informal and enthusiastic speaking style. However, he used the word “like” too much. At the end of the sermon, they showed an effective music video.
****

Overall, how friendly would you say the church was to you during your visit?
A couple of people were friendly and sweet. It would have been better if the pastor had approached me in addition to the other two people. However, I don’t like to be bombarded with introductions in short succession, so it felt okay that only two people chatted with me.
***

Would you return to the church?
I would recommend the church, but they could do more to reach out to their community so the congregation could be more ethnically reflective of its neighborhood. If I were looking for this type of denomination, I would return because the general atmosphere was friendly and they seem well organized and sincere in their beliefs and worship.
****

Additional Observations

Was the nearby community aware of the church?
I stopped at a nearby convenience store and spoke with two clerks. They did not know where the church was and did not understand what church I was looking for.

How was the seating?
They had a plentiful supply of comfortable plastic seats. Everyone sat close together with the front rows filling up first.

How recognizable was the church signage?
The exterior sign was clearly visible and easy to read. I was able to find parking on the street right next to the church. I did not see a sign for any parking lot. The service time was posted. I didn’t see a restroom sign or children’s area when I walked in, but I quickly found the entrance to the sanctuary. The bulletin had directions in it about where to find restrooms. Also, the bulletin directed visitors to the Welcome Center to find a map for directions to the children’s area.

How was the post service atmosphere?
Two women greeted me and were friendly. One of them in particular showed an interest in me and briefly told me of her own personal history with the church. She invited me to coffee and donuts in the basement. I declined, but she was nice. The post service atmosphere was friendlier since two people made a point of approaching me, introducing themselves, and chatting with me. This made me feel like a part of the group and also more positive about potentially returning to the church.

How would you rate the information resources?
They had a card in the bulletin to leave my information, but I did not leave contact information. Also, the pastor invited newcomers to go to the Welcome Center to receive a gift, but I did not visit the Welcome Center. The website was appealing and informative and easy to navigate with an up-to-date listing of current service times and events. It also described their mission, beliefs, and values. Adding photos of the people who attend the church at their events would make it more relatable and inviting.

What is your overall impression?
The pastor stated that newcomers should go to the Welcome Center to receive a gift. I suggest that he specifically verbalize a welcome to newcomers and invite them to speak with him or other church leaders after the service.

Adapted from a report provided by Faith Perceptions, which has evaluated more than 3,500 worship services across the United States. Visit FaithPerceptions.com.