Top 10 Things I love about Celebration Church: They have several service times - 9:30 , 11:30, & 5PM They have multiple locations - We all know how Austin traffic can be. Thankfully they have 3 locations spread throughout Austin - Georgetown, Central Austin, and Southwest. The worship is AMAZING, and the presence of the Holy Spirt is so evident. Pastors are authentic, and super humble. No lie, you will often see them walking around the hallways, and the auditorium ( super rare even for a small church) No one gets left behind. There is a small group or everyone! ( There is even one for Jeep owners lol crazy right lol) Everyone is always smiling - no seriously, when i first got here I was like why is everyone so happy lol. but trust me its genuine. Their students ministry is dope! They have this thing called WAVE night - from Parkour to dunk contest- plus worship and a great message. If only I was 10 years younger lol but if you family members 10-27 they will love it!. Leadership development - if you feel called to leadership there are plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. (One of them is my number 9 ) Celebration Leadership Institute - They have a leadership theology evening program. If you feel called to ministry or leadership even outside of the church there is so much you can learn. Hands down the greatest opportunity to move from a believer to a disciple. They teach you how to fulfill the will of God in your everyday life. And finally. My favorite thing about celebration is the people. In the past two years I have build so many long lasting authentic relationships. People here love you for real. They are the heart beat of the church, the body of Christ.
1 Cor 12:17 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
I can't believe its been 2 years since I walked in these doors for the first time. I grew up in a small town church in Virginia and had strayed away from the church during my teenage/young adult years. I had began to experience depression, low self esteem, and suicidal thoughts. I also began abusing alcohol, and drugs pretty regularly with no real desire to live, often not knowing how I got home. One day after one of my many crying calls to my family back home, a relative sent me a video of Pastor Joe preaching and I thought he was funny. I honestly felt like a church this big there is no way they would notice me. I decided to visit because I figured I could "blend in". Boy did God have other plans! God met me right here and changed my life drastically! I mean face to face, I experienced the love of Jesus. In one night he took away every broken thing I walked in there with, and gave me a new identity. Chosen, and Redeemed.
If you are looking for a family, this is your church. If you have ever felt rejected, unloved, unwanted, or unworthy there is a seat for you at this table! The love of Jesus Christ is felt with every smile, every hug, every hand shake. I am so grateful to be at a church that I can walk in broken and walk out changed. I love that Pastor Joe and Pastor Lori have a true heart for God and his people. It is a vital part of our DNA as a church to make sure everyone that walks in seen and loved.
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasureâ...
   Read more(I originally wrote this review January 28, 2025.) Iâve grown up attending a mega church and have been to a wide variety of churches in the past few months. Iâve attended this church twice in two weeks because the main pastor wasnât there the first week. First of all, I will say the parking lot volunteer team is amazing. We attended first week in the freezing cold, the next week in the rain. The team was there, bundled up, with smiles on, helping hundreds of people find parking. Kids check-in was so easy. There were always dozens of people to help us get checked in. My toddler had fun as well. FYI: They do have bag security checks. I didnât learn that until our second visit.
They have free coffee and a lot of creamer options as well as a cafe, if you want fancier coffee.
The worship experience is amazing, but know that it is loud no matter where you sit. They have free ear plugs at the connection kiosk for you, if you donât already have some. The songs were biblically based, and the energy of the worship team was top tier.
The first week, the preaching was pretty ok. It was the location pastor. The second week, the main pastor preached. There were two times I noted where the main pastor said something that could confuse people who are new to faithâthings said in passing, dealing with Sabbath and Holiness (two very important values of the Christian faith). I caught what he was trying to convey, but I have been going to church and reading my Bible for a while, so I can track with most "Christianese". Something that still presently disturbs me is that the pastor, from the stage said something along the lines of 'if I could've picked anywhere in the world to plant a church, I wouldn't have picked Texas for myself. Maybe Hawaii'. That made me feel so sad to hear him admit, if I'm honest. If it was intended to be passed as a joke, I don't remember hearing the congregation laughing. Also that day, there was a man in the congregation (a few rows behind me) who was being disruptive, he may have had special needs; I donât know. When the man disrupted the preaching (after a few times) The pastor said (passively) that he himself was âaggravatedâ by this. I 100% empathize, but itâs not my church nor leadership. As someone visiting, that was deeply disappointing to hear the church leader admit on stage. With a church this size, I was surprized there wasnât a plan or protocol in place for people who are repeatedly disruptive. The pastor's later attempts of crowd control rubbed me the wrong way. I really hope the connections team talked to this man, heard his side of it, and prayed with him, but when the service ended and I turned around, most people had already left.
I hope they've since created a plan for situations like this because regardless of who enters the doors of any church, people should be treated with love and respect, especially by those who work there.
(I realize the service I attended may not appear online as the majority of churches post the single, best service, but to my knowledge, this was my honest experience. If you love Celebration, I'm so happy you've found your church home and community! I just wanted to share my feedback and perspective...
   Read moreUpon relocating to the vibrant city of Austin, Texas, my family and I embarked on a quest to find the ideal spiritual home. We understood the importance of finding a church that not only aligned with our beliefs but also provided a welcoming and nurturing community. Our journey led us to visit approximately ten different churches, each offering its own unique atmosphere and teachings.
While these initial visits were informative and introduced us to various facets of Austin's diverse religious landscape, none of them truly resonated with us. We found ourselves searching for that intangible connection, a place where we could wholeheartedly invest our faith and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
It was during this exploration that we stumbled upon Celebration Churchâa discovery that would alter the course of our spiritual journey in Austin. From the very moment we stepped through its doors, there was an unmistakable feeling of warmth and inclusivity. The congregation's genuine hospitality and the palpable sense of community made us feel like we had found a family away from home.
Celebration Church didn't just offer religious services; it provided a comprehensive and enriching spiritual experience. The sermons were thought-provoking and relevant, providing guidance and inspiration for our daily lives. The church's commitment to outreach and community involvement resonated with our values, allowing us to actively contribute to causes we held dear.
One of the most compelling aspects of Celebration Church was its dedication to fostering personal growth and relationships. Through small groups and various ministries, we had the opportunity to connect with fellow members on a deeper level, forming lasting friendships that extended beyond the sanctuary.
In retrospect, our search for the perfect church concluded the moment we set foot in Celebration Church. It was a place where our faith found roots, our spirits were uplifted, and our family felt at home. The welcoming congregation, inspiring sermons, and strong sense of community combined to create an environment that nurtured our faith and enriched our lives.
Thus, without hesitation, we can confidently award Celebration Church a resounding 5/5. It's not just a place of worship; it's a spiritual haven that has become an integral part of our lives in Austin, Texas. In our faith journey, we have discovered not only a church but...
   Read more