Passion City Church — Attraction in Atlanta

the 411: Non-denominational, modern worship style (live band and at times loud). The culture is different, diverse and all stages of life: student, young professionals, couples, families, mid-life, retirees. The gathering is like going to a Passion conference. There is no "paper program." Yes, the auditorium is huge but once you get to know people after a month or so the space seems more familiar. Never been? Give yourself 15-20 minutes prior to gathering time to park, find your way around and get the best seats. Recommend sitting in the middle and back if you have sensitive hearing.

Parking: Two different lots, great parking ushers. Main lot in front of church. Additional Free Parking at Lindbergh City Center on Sidney Marcus. Many ministries split into age groups for kids, teenagers, college and young adult.

Every Sunday there’s a prayer support team to answer any questions or resources to get information and connected. There are 12 Community groups based off of where you live in the Metro Atlanta area and OTP area! If you're looking for an intimate provincial neighborhood church this MAY not be the place for you. On average each Sunday gathering hosts about 200-300 people. PCC offers different avenues where you can build a smaller community but it does require you to be proactive, purposeful and willing to meet new people at a local community group or serve on a team on Sundays or in a community group. Personally as a social introvert it’ll go outside your comfort zone.

Reminder: This is not a "review" but more like an observation and experience of the culture from August 2013- Oct 2020. The following is a lengthy depiction of this organization’s objective and heart and my personal experience.

PCC sometimes uses hyperbolic words "amazing," "passion," "change," "love," "follower (not fan)," and "radical grace" but at times a true representation of the people and culture of PCC. At Passion, there are real lives being transformed and eye witnesses stories of Jesus renewing lives. People from all walks of life and from different backgrounds are here (Christian, non- Christian, agnostic, etc.).

The founding pastor Louie Giglio's message style is conversational, inductive and in depth. There are also other pastors equally great Grant Partrick, and Brad Jones who give the message and they're all well spoken. There have been guest speakers and popular authors who you wouldn’t expect like Ravi Zacharius, David Ramsey, Lee Strobel and the like. There’s a real sense of spirituality not new agey nor academic but spirituality that's bible based, cross centered and from the life of Jesus.

This organization adopts Jesus' perspective of welcoming the down trodden. PCC originally started as a conference and not a church so the fact that they’ve been able to be a large church made small is impressive. However Passion's mission is this (verbatim). For God. For people. For the City. For the World. The motivation, intention and exploration of being a small minded community is there however the actual execution of it is lacking. I was involved in many community groups and tried countless times to start a cell group. Over the span of six years in three different community groups I only felt a real sense of belonging, w/ one couple/ family (late 30s) who lead a CG, my Flourish mentor, and another more mature couple (early 60s). I definitely felt welcome but there was little follow through. As a group facilitator/ leader and only once had a successful outing outside community group & church. In general even the regulars seemed clique ish, they’d be open to doing a one-on-one Bible study or an outing but it doesn’t develop like an actual friendship. In 2020 when I left there was no message/ phone call from anyone in my community group leadership or someone from the door holder team. It’s a great church which gives many opportunities to serve the city outreach organizations, the actual church and local schools but when it comes to matters of each individual it’s all about who you know and...

”

= We should do our part but it is GOD’s part that establishes the works of our hands, thereby, makes our work last forever.

= We receive the talents,gifting and opportunities that GOD’s gives to us and turn them into something that glorifies him and pushes GOD’s Kingdom forward in this world.

= If we desire to be free then we should overcome the love of money and fear of death. None of us choose when we die, not all of us can choose how we die but all of us can choose what we die for.

= Nothing happens as an accident but are orchestrated by GOD from the beginning of time. The following substantiates this:

In 2015, Pastor Louie Giglio went to the funeral service of Dr. Billy Graham’s wife.Dr. Graham was lying on a bed. Pastor Louie Giglio placed his Bible with the pages open on his chest, read GOD’s word to him. There he had an opportunity, along with his friend Dan, laying his hand on the shoulder of Dr. Billy Graham, knelt by his bed, held hands and to do what Dr. Billy Graham had done for hundreds of millions of people in a lifetime. They worshipped and read the Bible together. After which, Pastor and his team toured around his house. The funeral was wrapping up and so Dan and his son Andrew went to meet up with the family while Pastor Louie Giglio was waiting in back seat of the the car thinking how stunning it was what just happened. A while later, Pastor Louie Giglio saw three men advance towards the car; Dan, Andrew and an unknown guy, who happened to be Dr. Billy Graham’s son. Upon seeing Pastor Louie Giglio, the guy told him that his mother loved Pastor Louie Giglio’s sermons. Last year when his mother was struggling with cancer, she had come across the message on ‘HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD’ by Pastor. It did something for her. She was so touched by it that whenever someone would come to visit her, she would make them watch this sermon. She played it over and over again, approximately, 30 times. He further added that a clip of Pastor Louie Giglio’s sermon had just been played at his mother’s funeral and here he is. While the reception was still on, the son ran upto to Dr. Billy Graham and pointing towards Pastor, exclaimed, its Louie Giglio. Dr. Billy Graham then grabbed Pastor in a bear hug and started sobbing on his shoulder. Dr. Billy Graham was repeatedly saying ‘I cannot believe you came here, this is amazing’. Pastor didn’t know much about the family but he told Dr. Billy Graham that the one thing he knew about his wife was that she loved JESUS and that she walked with him and also that we know for a fact that she was with JESUS. He said that God had sent him there, on that day, without him actually planning to be there, given that, he had to be present somewhere later on that day. This happened so that Dr. Billy Graham could not only know that his wife was with JESUS but that he could also know that JESUS is with him and Dr. Billy Graham is on heaven’s radar. They were all standing in a moment that GOD has orchestrated from the beginning of time. There is a great GOD in heaven who organizes the days of our lives. Nothing is incidental, nothing is ‘just chance' rather it’s all GOD’s plan.

DEAR PASTOR GIGLIO.... I WOULD LOVE TO SEND MY SON JOSE JOSHY FOR PASSION 19. HE IS 22 YEARS YOUNG AND IS IN KOLKATA,INDIA. JOSE HAS WRITTEN THE GIST OF SOME OF YOUR SERMONS WHICH IS POSTED IN PASSION GOOGLE REVIEW. I DO NOT HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REGISTER AND SEND HIM TO ATTEND PASSION 19. IS THERE ANY WAY OUT OF GETTING ANY HELP OR SPONSOR ,SO THAT ,I WILL BEAR A PORTION OF THE EXPENSES TO FACILITATE JOSE TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE? GOD BLESS YOU...

As a practicing Christian, I believe one of the most important things a church can do, in addition to providing biblically accurate sermons, is ensure it has welcoming volunteers.

Your volunteers are the first impression for visitors coming to your church. This is especially important for Passion City Church, which is such a popular church around Atlanta, as there may be many new Christians or those new to the faith who want to attend and grow.

I have visited the Cumberland location and the main Passion City Church location, about two years apart. Sadly, at both locations I found the experience to be the least welcoming I've had at any church. I had hoped the unwelcoming atmosphere at the Cumberland location was just a one-off, but after attending the main campus, I encountered the same issue. This appears to be the culture at Passion City Church.

If I were a new Christian, and this was my first church experience, I would never want to go back. This is a strong statement, but the experience was so appalling and jarring that I feel compelled to provide this feedback.

Out of the many volunteers I passed by from the time I walked in to when I reached my seat, only two people greeted me - one shuttle driver and one door greeter. The rest completely ignored me, staring blankly or appearing annoyed, without any effort to welcome or assist me as a first-time visitor.

There was one young lady who did make an effort to help me, but the overall lack of warmth and hospitality from the other volunteers was very concerning. I've never encountered this type of behavior at any other church I've attended, especially when making it clear it was my first visit.

Usually, there is a protocol in place to welcome new visitors, add them to a contact list, or at least share information about next steps. None of that happened.

To the door holders, greeters, and other volunteers at Passion City Church, I would encourage you to reflect on the importance of your role. People who are new and making the effort to attend your church should feel and see that this is a space that glorifies Christ and shares His kindness. Unfortunately, that was the furthest from my experience.

I hope this feedback can be received with an objective heart, and changes can be made...