Word Of Life Christian Center — Attraction in Honolulu

I was involved with this church for over a year. I genuinely appreciated the community and grew in my faith during that time. However, I gradually became uncomfortable with how spiritual authority was being exercised particularly in areas like dating, tithing, and personal decision-making.

When it came to tithing, I was told by my lifegroup leader, “Give 10% or nothing at all,” which immediately raised concerns. During election season, I was criticized for choosing not to vote, and my faith was questioned because of it. I often felt more pressure to conform than encouragement to seek God personally.

There were also subtle but concerning controls placed on personal interactions. For example, I was discouraged from speaking to any females at church even in casual, friendly contexts and my lifegroup leader would intervene anytime he saw me doing so. Over the course of a full year and some change, I never even got to meet or know a single woman in the church, which contributed to a sense of isolation and imbalance in the community.

When I asked sincere questions about doctrine or leadership practices, I was labeled as “sowing discord,” which made me feel silenced rather than discipled. Every concern I raised was treated as an argument instead of a desire for understanding.

Eventually, I was given an ultimatum: fully accept all the doctrines of WOL or leave the lifegroup. I was told my lifegroup leader functioned almost like a prophet, and that I should follow everything he said or did without question. Not long after, others in the group were instructed not to speak with me and were told I was “dangerous and being used by the enemy.”

A week later, the pastor gave an entire sermon on discord, which was directly aimed at me. That was the final straw. I realized the environment had become very toxic and left little room for honest questions, healthy relationships, or genuine growth.

Adding on, the thing that disturbed me the most was how financial matters were handled within the church. Leaders would frequently ask you how much was your income. However, many of the leaders and workers were on payroll, yet any time someone asked how much they were being paid, the response was defensive or evasive, like it was something to hide. Members were expected to pay for every spiritual growth step LifeClass(baptism), DT1, DT2, Vision Class, and more making it feel like faith was being sold rather than freely nurtured. What made this even more frustrating was the way the church treated the homeless. Despite being all around the building, homeless people were not welcomed they were ignored, excluded, and never offered help. One of my close friends was even kicked out simply for buying a class for a homeless person. That was hard to watch, especially because I had physically helped build the youth church during the construction process. I put in time, labor, and heart into serving every week, believing in the mission. But that moment and many like it made me realize this church didn’t reflect the love of Christ. Yet every time the pastors stepped off the stage, they have security with them, which felt out of place in a church that claims to be a community. Be very careful young people are often unknowingly funding the leaders of this church and adhering to the prosperity gospel which is nowhere near biblical. Its not about the soulful music or the bright lights.

At the end of the day, our relationship with God is deeply personal. It should be rooted in love, trust, and truth not in fear, pressure, or manipulation. While community and guidance are important, no human should take the place of the Holy Spirit in your life.

If you're ever in a place where questioning is discouraged, individuality is suppressed, or you're made to feel spiritually inferior for thinking differently, it’s okay to step back. God invites us to seek Him with our whole hearts, not just to follow others blindly.

Let your relationship be with God alone not filtered through people who demand control, but anchored in His Word, His Spirit,...

Upon attending, I was approached very quickly by leaders who strongly encouraged me to join a life group. I was told this would help me grow in the Word--but I later realized it was more about gathering personal information, applying pressure, and exerting control. I was never clearly told what the life group structure was or what I was being groomed for. I later found out they were trying to build teams of 12, and I felt the process was manipulative and non-transparent.

In one group I joined (under Calvana and Kennera), I informed them I would be off-island for a medical appointment and can only attend class part in person and part online..when the time came for me to leave I I asked multiple times--both via text and zoom chats--for an online link to continue my class. I was never given the link. Instead, I was asked to share my travel plans, doctor's appointment times, and return schedule--information first. My personal growth became conditional, manipulative and coercive.

Every Sunday, we were encouraged to sit together as a group and were constantly photographed after every service, allegedly to be sent to a higher-up leader. We were also required to wake up at 6am in the morning for prayer meetings on zoom and when we did not our group leader would send texts demanding we Join. These practices felt uncomfortable and invasive. At times, it even felt spiritually unsafe, as if there were other motives behind these routines.

I tried to switch groups when my original leader left the island and handed us to the next person like we were a task to be completed, but even trying to switch leaders led to confrontation. I was denied the option to move freely into another class (with Lynn and Chrystal) until they had no choice...I later found out that I didn't need to be in a group at all to access the educational content. In this new group, the same cycle repeated: I paid for the Destiny Class, and again was pressured into attending in-person watch parties at people's homes, which I found distracting and uncomfortable. When I ask to study on my own, I was told to attend the watch party again which told me that they prioritize pushing their system over my spiritual growth.They was unwilling to give me my money back,Instead, my contact info was passed to others group leaders without my permission, and I was pressured again.

After expressing my concerns and setting boundaries, I felt targeted. I was asked personal questions unrelated to spiritual growth and was even told to run Christian content I shared in our group Text by leadership first--while they felt free to add me to group chats and circulate my information without consent. One Sunday, I was told I couldn't move to the front during worship until my group leader was found. The lady tried to force me to wait by holding my hand until I snatched away from her. I also noticed they would intentionally crowd the downstairs of the sanctuary, and would not allow people to sit up Top for appearances--likely to make the room appear full for online broadcasts. On another occasion, I was asked to leave immediately after service if I wasn't staying for the next one. AND EVERYDAY SOMEONE WOULD COME UP TO ME ASKING ME IF I HAVE A GROUP LEADER AND IF SO WHO! This was Very harassing environment. Another concerning issue is that the church does not allow individuals to be baptized when they feel led to do so. Instead, you’re required to pay and complete their Life Class first, as a prerequisite.They have no baptism in the church they hold at Alamoana park once or twice a year....

I am a Christian and have been to different churches throughout my 34 years of life. Let me tell you, this is the first "church" that I consider to be a scam. I was participating in their activities, such as Sunday services, zoom group meetings, overly charged conferences and etc, and they appear to be the most hypocritical people out there. They use the name of God to manipulate and gaslight people. I have read the pastor art's books and they were all quite empty and repetitive , definitely waste of money. They tell you questionable testimonies that most likely are fabricated to get buy-ins from vulnerable people. They take advantage of these people to get money and fame. The pastors' lifestyles are basically funded by the crowd, yet have the audacity to stand on moral high ground pointing fingers at others and pretending to be holy. Their group leaders love to put pressure on how much you should give to the pastors. They would tell you in order to get blessings, you have to give at least 10 percent of what you earn regardless of how difficult your life circumstances are. To me that is a form of threat and manipulation. The churches I attended prior to this particular one had never pushed people to give money at a particular amount. This church talks and preaches a lot of LOVE, but they only love those who hold similar life styles and beliefs. If you decide to live differently, they would judge you and trying to take your rights away by telling their minions to call law legislators in the hope of altering the law in their favor. They use the name of love to hate people. The pastors and life group leaders of this church like to tell you who to vote for during the elections and that is absolutely distasteful. After almost 3 years of observing, this church appears to me that they represent the greed and lies, and are hurting the name of Christianity. If you are a strong christian who truly believe in God and want this world to be a better, loving place, please avoid this so-called church. They are the wicked and will use you for their personal gains and gaslight you for not offering them dollars or being their providers. My heart aches for those who has been taken advantages of, whether through financial or spiritual. I agree with some of the previous reviewers that the word of life hawaii has a strong cult vibe. During the time I was there , I'd heard numerous times of how they think pastor kuna is the holy spirit which I think is disrespectful to the true holy spirit and further proves that they are questionable. Please, be aware of this church, they are aiming at your wallet while chasing the...