love it here. been going here for 15 years. like a great big family.

Didn't believe in the whole laying of hands thing but give it a try anyway. I did feel emotionally moved. I'm not sure if it was the Holy Spirit or not but what the heck? I'd like to think it was the Holy Spirit. The only reason I give it three stars that every time I've been here, I've come home with some kind of illness. A cold, the flu, and once a truly upset stomach from an absolutely hideous Valentine's dinner. If you don't mind these little hazards, then I guess it's an okay place to go. I just won't go back myself cuz it's not worth the risk.

God's presence is felt. Many lives are changed and healed by the giftings of the Holy Spirit. It's a well balanced church in the area of worship, teaching the Word, community groups, missions based & church planting, Bible studies, and relying on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us as we grow to trust in Jesus deeper in order to become like Him for the purpose of honoring & glorifying God.

I came to City Harvest Church in 2005, completely utterly broken. I no longer believed in the church as an institution and made the decision to attend 2 churches because I didn’t want to get too heavily invested. I made it my express purpose to not get to know anyone in leadership, because I never wanted to see the inner workings of a church again. Unlike many who make City Harvest home, I didn’t walk in and feel immediately like it was where I was called to be. There was no “deep calling to deep” in my heart, no instant recognition that I was home, and to be honest it took me a long settling in period before I started to like it. I couldn’t sit through an entire sermon and the presence of God left me weeping thru every worship service. I had known Senior Pastors Bob and Sue from another church, and Pastor Bob went out of his way to reach out to me, letting me know I was seen, that I was cared for, and that he was there if I needed anything. Slowly, I began to relax and started serving in the nursery. God used this experience to completely blow me away. I worked every week, and as couples in the church rotated in to work with me, I was completely taken in by how unselfish everyone was, and how they would spend the whole morning asking me about my story. Everyone I worked with would ask questions and actually REALLY listen to the answers. I had never been in a place where people were so genuinely interested in me as a person. In my now 11 years at City Harvest, I can tell you that it is a place where people are genuine, and it is ok to be your true, authentic self. Everyone is down to earth, and leaders are honest about their own weaknesses, making it safe for the sheep to be honest too. There is a culture of warmth, family, and transparency. It’s also a place where you will sometimes be uncomfortable. Pastor Bob usually occupies the pulpit on Sundays and he teaches the Word in a systematic, thorough way which balances theology and practical Christianity. The word is often convicting and compels action or a response on the part of a believer. Other staff pastors also preach, and they too are interesting to listen to, and convicting. The leaders are also very personable and will speak into the lives of the sheep, encouraging, building up, and also helping believers see their blind spots. It’s not always a fun process, but there is a certain security that comes when you know your leaders care enough to confront things in you. CHC isn’t perfect, and if you stick around long enough---you will get hurt---like anyplace else. There are ebbs and flows, like in the life of any family. What I have found is that if you stay through the times of hurt, the times of joy are that much sweeter, because you’ve worked through things together. And like family, I have found that individuals are never given up on. City Harvest is a church that values the presence of God, which pursues Him and His will eagerly, which seeks to minister regularly to the poor, and to the community it belongs to. It’s a church that plants other churches worldwide—it’s a church that sees the individual. It’s a true “Come as you are” church.

Our first service we attended, both my wife and I cried during worship as the anointing was heavy and hearts were genuinely lost in worship. We cried for several more worship services as the Holy Spirit was reviving us both. People get healed during worship and lives are forever changed. The leadership are all true servants with no personal agendas or pride. You can easily see the Holy Spirit in them as they reflect Jesus's love. You are accepted as you are but you are encouraged to grow in God. One of their sayings is "Ordinary people doing extraordinary things for God." Pastor Bob brings a message of transparency. He can joke about himself, use humor and a deep knowledge of the word to penetrate hearts. He and others motivate you to want to press in closer to God and in turn touch other lives. In our 2 1/2 years there, we have observed NO klicks but an attitude of total acceptance for others including visitors. I am truly amazed at the atmosphere of family, acceptance, openness and love within those walls. I encourage you to visit as you will be blessed!