1 /5 John English: I have never felt more unwelcome anywhere in my life, much less a church. Worship Place is not a welcome place.
First, I understand that this church is in Sun City Georgetown and primarily serves retirees and senior citizens, but you would think those people have families who would regularly visit with them. So when I showed up with wife and baby in tow, I already expected to have the only child in the building. I certainly did not expect the coldness and even outright hatefulness we experienced.
The sermon was watered down fluff, but again to be fair, this is an interdenominational church more concerned about not offending anyone and trying to appeal to a wide range of theologies. So I took it with the audience in mind.
The audience at Worship Place, however, was the problem. When we walked in no one bothered to welcome us. When we were discussing where to sit to be least disruptive if we had to take the baby out, a man approached us and suggested we go to their other campus. The service was already starting at this point. When I explained to him that we were visiting with my parents, he went away, but Ive never had a parishioner approach me and suggest that I leave and go to another church before.
On the way out, one sweet lady did say, Oh, its been so long since weve had a baby here! with genuine warmth. But this experience was immediately negated by a man yelling, Maam could you move please? at my wife so a lady with a walker could walk where she was walking toward the door.
Seriously? There was room to go around and everyone was moving the same direction toward the door. You feel the need to yell at my wife in church and push through because... what? Youre really that much more important than me?
None of us are perfect, but this Worship Place in Sun City Georgetown is COLD. Very unforgiving and unwelcoming. My parents are going to find another church and we wont ever, ever be back. If you have a family that you want to visit with you, stay clear. It came across as a hateful mob of bitter old men and women, not a welcome and loving congregation.
You can find a much warmer and more welcoming congregation than Worship Place in Sun City anywhere.