Calvary Chapel Of South Bay

I used to go to a different church, different religion every Sunday and holidays. Then, my brother invited me to Calvary Chapel. He had been going there for awhile, He is with the Lord now. He had changed for the better so I went with him. I was drawn and still am to the church. I feel so connected to God. The worship part uplifts my spirits, The teachings help me understand the word of God more and the consequences of every day life. I like the Pastor and the people doing ministry. I feel peace whenever I have any problem or concern when I go to church. I got baptized to this church. Now, I go to church twice a week and during holidays. They care so much for the needy. They have several ministries that help people. I'm glad I am a part of this church that cares and loves God.

Posted 11/21/09 | Report Abuse

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My husband and I attended and at first we were kind of bored. Someone had the nerve to shhh us because we were talking during message a few times. We decided we would never go back. But before we could firmly make up our minds, surprisingly this same person warmly introduced themselves after the message and showed us around.

The Lord moved in our spirits to try the church again after we realized that we were used to being entertained and not fed when attending other churches.

Things really took off when we started attending Men and Women's study and served on spot projects. In any church, if you sit in the same spot and only go on Sundays, you will only know the person behind, in front and on the sides of you. If you participate in ministries or attend events (BBQ, picnics, bowling nights, softball, missions, GAP fellowships, etc) you start meeting people and getting to know them and shouting each other's name across pews in greeting before and after the services.

I've been there for over 10 years now. It is a Bible teaching church, a very diverse denomination and I have never been more empowered and impacted spiritually. I can confidently answer a question about my faith without hesitation and without it being in bible-thumping judgment. It helps to have a pastor who holds the congregation up to the Lord like an upside down pyramid. He is on the bottom lifting you closer to God through his teachings and sermons, as all pastors should do.

If you are looking for a shouting preacher, tamborines and a place to show off your Sunday best, this isn't your place.

If you want to get to a point where you look forward to singing worship songs that feature lyrics that will help you to praise Him through a difficult trial and look forward to listening to sermons that feed your spirit and soul, then this is your church!

The star of the show is Jesus Christ; not you, not other members but God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit working through you.

Posted 10/07/09 | Report Abuse

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My wife and I have been church-hopping for a while, trying to find a church that has the mix that works best for us: sound balanced teaching, great worship, friendly members, a fair ethnic attendance and most of all a feeling of LIFE and EXCITEMENT in the Lord.

We had attended a spectrum from a Methodist assembly of 30 octogenarians to a Assemblies of God fellowship that seemed to have gone supernaturally-overboard. But we best enjoyed our experiences with Saddleback Church (Ps. Rick Warren) in Orange County and The Potter's House (Ps. TD Jakes) in Dallas - if only we could find something like these that was closer to where we lived, we would have gladly pitched our tent and agreed to try it for longer.

This Sunday, we went to CCSB. We were keen to see how God was working in this place, and what was attracting a 10000+ weekly crowd. I must say I have never been so disappointed in a church ever before.The sanctuary is great, and so are the facilities. The worship team was good, but they weren't really worshipping, nor did it feel like anyone in the congregation was doing so either.

But within 5 minutes of Steve Mays beginning to preach, we both knew that we had made a big mistake coming here. I have never seen a church more dead and lifeless, and a more meandering pointless message. Mays titled his message "The Foundation Stone", the first of an 8-part series, but ultimately his message had very little to do with literal or figurative stones or foundations. It went all over the place, filled with spiritual jargon and sentences that did not even connect to each other. All delivered in a strict monotone; as we saw people across the congregation nodding off to sleep with this drone, we were filled with sadness at this picture of much of what is wrong with orthodox Christianity and why more people exit the pews that enter it.

We sat in the cafe area of the church while the next service was going one, this time looking at the CC-tv and trying to make sense of Mays' ramblings. I tried to give him the "benefit of the doubt", trying my hardest to link his thoughts and make sense of his jargon and disconnected sentences, but i shook my head in dismay when i could not.

My wife and I usually try to give an church at least 2 attendances to be able to sample an adequate flavor of it, to give churches a "second shot" if you will. But we could not even fathom coming here even once again. We also usually try to walk away from the church having bought at least a couple of sermon CDs. We just could not this time.

We both tried to figure out - what is it then that has drawn a crowd of 10,000 to this place?? Usually that is a sign of God's work, but how could God be working in such a dead lifeless place? My wife thinks that it is because there are more Christians who like to be comfortable and sit back, never being challenged or convicted, just fulfilling their Sunday duties. My theory is that not only is she right, but also if you put together good and spacious facilities, it will inevitably attract a crowd more than a smaller church building would. That might be the secret.

I would definitely not recommend this assembly to anyone who is truly seeking for an active relationship with God or for people who will lift your spirit up or for teaching that will build you. I plan to attend Greg Laurie's assembly sometime soon - I trust that would be a very different experience from this, judging by his reputation.

Posted 04/05/09 | Report Abuse

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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I travel extensively and I prefer a non-denominational Church, as it is the Word that is most important to me. I have visited small Churches and large Churches and found that the smaller Churches are more personal and warm. The most memorable was a start-up Church in Ohio. I found it being conducted in an elementary school indoor quad. At the time it had about 250 people. I was met at the door not by a greeter, but the pastor. Once in side, as I approached the coffee and cookie area, I was approached by 3 different members successively. All with a smile and all recognizing that I was a visitor. The children were welcome during the Worship (music) portion and then excused to their classroom, for teaching on their level of understanding. The pastor was an incredible speaker and the message perfect. Clearly it was the Lord that guided me to that Church that day. In Colorado Springs I went to a large Church (over 10,000 congregation) It was very much like the procedures at Calvary Chapel South Bay, so they are probably standard when dealing with large congregations. I have no children; go to the restroom before the service (62 yrs old); and principally go to Church for the message and fulfillment. The pastor, Steve May, at CCSB is a soft spoken, to the point pastor, with an authenticity that comes from his worldly past. Sadly some of the reviewers were distracted from hearing pastor May and his message. Church is God's house, but run by well intentioned humans, who are less than perfect. At least they know that because you find them at Church doing the best to help others. Church is not a building, rather the body of the people who make it up. Everyone has to find one that fits them and their family. Be it big or small find a place that will not distract them from hearing God's word, which should be the reason they are their. Be advised that the growth of a Church is in God's hands, as he uses it to reach people. All big Churches were at one time small start-up Churches (the Church in Colorado Springs that I mentioned, started in a small former Chinchilla hut). Find a place where the Lord speaks to you, and turn everything else over to him. If you can do that, you will have found the Church He wants for you.

Posted 11/29/08 | Report Abuse

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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We were looking for a church that we could join. My youngest having never been to church before, We went on line and this church sounded good. The place is beautiful to look at but its so impersonal and cold the first ushers we met at the door gave a standard smile and welcome as they attempted to welcome my Deaf six year old, when I said to the pair at the door that he is deaf the woman stated " hi honey is that your name DEAF?" with a smile. the lady never caught it ! that's because they are robotic and are not really listening to the people and what they say. the male with her finally caught it and corrected her, then the greeters at the welcome booth told me my son of 6 could sit with me but that normally they do not allow children under ten in the service, but since 1. he is deaf 2. its our first time and 3. they could not tell me if a translator was available in the children's area until the following week on Sunday, They said he could stay with me. The minute I crossed the threshold of the sanctuary I was rushed upon by two male ushers insisting my son could not stay in there. I tried to explain that he is deaf, we are new, and I was given the okay by the welcoming booth staff. it did no good. they told me to see pastor "So-in-So" in children's ministry... I don't know anyone i am new I insisted..they offered to take me....okay fine we start walking,and walking and out the building and across the alley to another building that we needing to go up a flight of stairs..I stopped him and handed the literature back I would not leave my son so far from me in a strange church for the first time..forget it!!! he seemed shocked..I wish this church would focus on the family..the whole FAMILY. As we walked out the usher slipped the literature and CD that I gave back to my ten year old walking behind me !! when we got home I read it and found out they give you a coupon for your child!!! and they flash your coupon number on a screen during service if they need you ! and if you leave the service for any reason or say to use the restroom you can't go back in !! you have to go to a "OVERFLOW" room to watch the remainder of the service on the screen in there. So if my 10 year old went to the bathroom with out me he would be stuck outside alone..they offer lots of nice sounding things, a cafe, bookstore, bible studies and retreats, outreaches and mission work in the community and Mexico it seems very full and complete but, so do cults and that's the feeling I got. Too impersonal and cold.

Posted 10/04/07 | Report Abuse

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Faces are smiling, but the huge hollow feel gave us the creeps. The church was recommended by a friend that said their church "accepted everyone". Perhaps that much is true, but no one welcomed or talked to us or shook our hands.

Posted 10/27/05 | Report Abuse

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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I love to go to Calvary for their worship. They have amazing artists performing and leading worship. They also have great programs for kids. The biggest problem for us with this church is that it is very very big and we feel lost there. It is hard to make friends or get connected.

My kids to go VBS there every summer though.

Posted 07/14/05 | Report Abuse

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