Crave Church — Attraction in Vancouver

It’s been a couple years since I had written my review. All that God has done for me through Crave Church merits a better review, fr 😂

For context: I have been consistently attending since 2014.

I’m going to list some of the areas where I have had personal growth in. I pray to Jesus that this might help y’all

My Belief Never understood or wanted anything to do with God or church before. I came from a “catholic” family that didn’t practice. It was borrowed faith for my family. I didn’t understand that believing in God, attending church or being a Christian was more than just a religion, doing “good things” and or being a “good person”.

My Mental State / Living for More Struggled a lot with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts entering into and throughout high school. I didn’t really have any purpose or dream to aspire to reach down the line. I didn’t have hope for anything and quite frankly… I wouldn’t have been alive to write all this or make an impact the way that I’ve been, through serving in this church. If not for the bonds, love and community in this church, I wouldn’t have the support I need or people to do life with (City Groups) that help me fight to stay in relationship with Jesus. If God hadn’t planted me in this church, I wouldn’t have made it and I definitely wouldn’t be living for more than just for myself as I am now.

My Family Okay so.. I was a brat but that’s not the point LOL I was terrible because I wasn’t honouring or respecting my dad at home. My home life was rocky and the atmosphere wasn’t always the best. Fights, yelling were common, because there was never proper communication established and I was like at that “know-it-all” stage, iykyk. However, God has done a work in me by convicting and teaching me through the sermons, leadership and basic understanding of what the Bible says as well. I can attest to this day I have peace at home. Ofc, I’m still praying for all my family to come to Christ but, this is how this area has progressed so far.

Social Skills, Excellence Throughout my years serving in this church, whether it’s by cleaning, productions, so on and so forth. I wouldn’t have been a proper human being with BASIC social skills and confidence without their leadership and biblical values, principles 😅 The culture of this church has elevated my standard of living and also to strive for excellence in all that I do outside of church. God has blessed me in all my workplaces, BECAUSE of how the leadership in Crave has run and how we are to do everything with excellence as if we’re serving the Lord God himself.

Understanding & Patience We are not a perfect church, because a perfect church doesn’t exist. We aren’t perfect people and we all make mistakes. We don’t demand perfection and we don’t reflect perfection, only Jesus is perfect. This church IS and will always be a space of grace for imperfect people to crave God. That includes being a space of grace for all the leaders and our pastor, Pastor Marlon as well!

Communication Had some differences as most people will come across at some point in church but, if you would just tell your inner self to shut up and go have a mature and proper conversation with those you don’t see eye to eye with, it would resolve many issues. Maybe there was something that didn’t align with your preferences. Don’t be so quick to switch up and throw big words around when things challenge and confront how you are. A question I’ve asked myself that has kept me when being challenged is… If the culture, sermons, leadership, or the Word of God itself— if these things in a church don’t challenge your character, lifestyle or perspective then who could lead you?

Relationship with Jesus Our mission statement is to lead people into an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. That has rung true for my life. I was taught the importance of prayer. To establish a devotional time with God and to protect it. How my relationship with Jesus isn’t led or based on how I feel or what I see.

Okie, blessings &...

To the leaders of Crave Church,

Greetings in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

I write to you with a heart of concern, yet filled with love, as one who seeks to build up the body of Christ in truth and holiness. May grace and peace be with you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

I have been made aware of a recent celebration within your assembly where secular figures, including the Grinch, were used as part of a skit to commemorate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. While I rejoice in your zeal for fellowship and creativity, I must speak plainly, for I fear that such practices may lead you astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:3).

The Apostle declares, “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11). The celebration of the Lord’s incarnation is not merely a festive occasion, but a holy remembrance of God becoming flesh to redeem mankind. To intertwine this sacred truth with secular and worldly symbols risks diminishing the glory of Christ and replacing His supremacy with the inventions of man.

Paul exhorts us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). The Grinch and other such figures belong to the realm of entertainment and are neither rooted in the Word of God nor edifying to the soul. What fellowship has light with darkness, or Christ with that which is not of God? (2 Corinthians 6:14-15). By bringing secular elements into the sanctuary, we risk confusing the sacred with the profane and compromising our witness to the world.

Let us remember the warning: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21). Though these secular figures may not be idols in the strict sense, they can become distractions from the worship of Christ. Our gatherings should not elevate the creativity of man above the revelation of God. Instead, let all things point to Christ, who alone is worthy of glory and honor.

As leaders, you are charged to “shepherd the flock of God that is among you, being examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:2-3). Your role is to lead the people in worship that is pleasing to God, grounded in His Word, and focused on His Son. Let us not adopt the patterns of the world, but instead proclaim the gospel with clarity and conviction.

Brothers and sisters, I am confident that your intent is not to detract from Christ but to engage the hearts of all who come to celebrate His birth. Therefore, I urge you to consider ways to exalt the Lord without reliance on worldly symbols. Let us adorn the gospel with purity, joy, and truth, reflecting the splendor of the One who was born in a humble manger yet reigns as King of Kings.

May the Spirit guide you in all wisdom and understanding, that you may lead the church in a manner worthy of our calling. I pray that your efforts to glorify the Lord will abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10).

Grace be with you all. Shalom.

In the service of Christ, A fellow laborer...

I joined crave when I was in high school not knowing what a healthy church looked/felt like. I wasn't raised in a Christian home and I had no idea what to look for in a church. I was extremely impressionable when I started going to crave. I didn't see anything wrong with a 23 year old hanging out with a bunch of kids. The “pastor” of crave would bribe kids in his complex with money and gift cards to join him in his living room for “church.” I wish I had known how messed up of a situation it was then.

After many years of faithfully serving at crave, I've finally left. I now have to seek therapy for the treatment I received there. The constant guilt tripping, gaslighting, gossip and micromanaging has ruined my perception of church. It's hard for me to step back into a faith community/any church because of how hurt crave has left me.

If you're looking for a faith community, I would strongly suggest looking in another direction. The "pastor" of crave has had no seminary training. Crave also has no legit deacons/elders or church board of directors. There is no one overseeing what the leaders do here, therefore they do whatever they want. Speak with other pastors in the city and ask their opinion of crave. Most likely they would have already heard about marlon or crave, and most likely what they know/heard are not good things. There’s a reason why no other local church collaborates with crave.

When I left crave, I had an exit interview with marlon. He said that the way I was leaving his church was dishonorable and unbiblical, for what reason, idk. He tried guilt tripping me by asking who’s going to take care of my city group that I’m leaving behind, amongst other things.

The last interaction I had with leaders at crave was when I was trying to retrieve my belongings. After months of silence and being excommunicated the Toronto "pastor" and my old CG leader gave back my belongings (including my mom's and other family members belongings that they had graciously lent to crave) broken and dirty in a used/old trash bag.

I’m appalled by how disgusting people can act just because you leave. This place is a classic example of why people hate the church. The people here don’t exhibit any traits of Jesus. And the misuse of the Bible is gross and perverse.

I really don't understand how people can turn a blind eye to all of these things. There’s absolutely no accountability for the hurt they’ve caused. I’m disappointed with the amount of people who witness the abuse but are still silent. It’s like being a bystander watching someone get bullied. There’s a ton of other stories just like mine out there, this is not a single incident! Do your research about them and you’ll find more stories just like mine.

If you care about your spiritual health, do...