Community Bible Church — Attraction in San Antonio

Definitely depends on what you’re looking at in a church as to whether or not CBC can meet your needs, but even for the needs I have that CBC CAN meet, I have see a lack of follow up and or Christ like behavior in paid leadership-positioned people across multiple ministries there. And some ministries would thrive better were they run by actual licensed professionals, but hey, it’s a”Yes Xyz needs improvement AND at least this place is trying.”

They have a plethora of volunteers who ARE the hands and feet and serve with genuineness, so that plus that the head pastor gives listener guides for notes reference for us new to the Word partakers ALMOST makes up for the bad taste left in my mouth on the other experiences, but I can’t quite shake what, from the outside and as a whole, appears flavored with hypocrisy. 3 out of 4 people in a crisis come to a church before ie counseling with mental health and in this day and age where a place claims regularly to be a spiritual hosptial and place that champions all people in all places? Ehhh, I pray for leadership hearts to be changed, illumined, regularly.

That said? Good for a weekend word that can make someone who is down or lost feel good even if they’re struggling with their Godlationship, as far as weekend sermons go. Good if anointing with oil from James is something you feel called to partake in as they typically anoint at every service. Improved baptism process if you need that service. They do preach regularly and sometimes in an entire series on subjects that, from what I understand, other churches will only whisper about - mental health/suicide, abortion, church hurt, etc - so that is good to see. They also host multiple community events and have a park for the city open year round with recreation courts and a splash pad, etc, so that is a good benefit to the city. I also like that there are services in three languages every weekend - English, American ASL and Spanish. The head pastor seems from the stage to be a very down to earth person, tho I’ve had different experiences in closer face to face (but what can you do when you’re the public face and everyone externally and internally are looking to you, AND you wrestle with your own hang ups? I get it, and pray for the man regularly.), but then those times save one? Is when he’s in between sermons anyhow, and the fact he does any face to face at all? God bless him, and his family.

At the end of the day? I love this place and keep being drawn back after God calling me here seven years or so anyway, and yet often want to flip a table out of sheer frustration - to watch what seems to be more than can be chewed being bitten off before other, currently existing issues would be fixed? It breaks my heart. I wish there were ie feedback surveys or some way to gauge “What is the congregation disliking/wanting more of?” for a congregation that big, and lol I’d volunteer to BE on that team, God willing. But for now, it’s not time.

I believe all in Gods time & that the mistakes here aren’t necessarily out of any truly unchristness, but a lack of awareness, professionalism and communication skills.I am thankful that this place has intention to lift hearts and help others, and will be all the more proud to ie put that sticker on my car once there seems to be some other issues ironed out. In the meantime I will pray, drop my name in the volunteer hat as my energy allows, likely shop for a secondary church where I really can find discipleship and feel like family not just wish I did, AND still keep coming here. God isn’t done with CBC yet. 🙏🏽 In the name of Jesus, free this place from constraint and ignorance & self importance and unawareness and let people see what’s in their own eye, as well as see and tend better to those most unseen or in lack. As this corner of the world cries out in birthing pains, let CBC become more fully a place where our city can run to and find the community from ACTS, not only when they beg hard enough/know someone who knows someone who knows someone or etc, but simply because each there has...

Short version: It's a good church for someone who doesn't desire growth or depth. This church looks like a hospital, but no one is being cured. They seem to worship the pastor more than God, and they create a "pumped-up" experience each Sunday that is more similar to a business conference than a church service. Their number one priority stated in the lobby is "Giving: You give through a church not to a church." This is the most unavoidable statement written throughout. The people are not friendly to visitors, and they are spectator-forward. For the people who want to watch church, not be the church.

When we attended here, we came to the 9am service. We got there at 8:15am, and there was a line waiting outside the sanctuary to get in. By 8:30, it was nearly out the door. When the doors opened, people RAN inside to save seats and it was one of the oddest things I've seen at a church. We were not greeted by anyone, there was no welcome team or guest service experience. It was baptism Sunday, and they rushed the baptisms behind the stage, so it didn't even seem like a special moment for those folks.

The coffee shop was good and at $4 per latte, was a reasonable price. The bookstore had things that created a grey space between Biblical and worldly.

The worship was standard Bethel/Hillsong rotation, playing the top Christian hits. The pastor, Dr. Ed Newton, gave a sermon that mentioned scripture briefly throughout, but didn't dive into anything in particular. It also seems as though he doesn't really make himself available to people. He seemed to be leaning toward acting rather than preaching or teaching. My wife noted that he does not wear a wedding ring, but has the ring tattooed, stating that if he's able to wear chains and other jewelry, he should be able to put a ring on.

This church also has 3 campuses and counting, and has a "board of directors" rather than a board of elders. There's not a lot of historical context or depth to this church, but they do claim to help the community. Personally, I don't understand the campus method when they could be planting churches. When a church is centered around one person, it's not a great plan for the future.

This is an honest review of the church experience we had at CBC. Yours may vary. Make your main goal to follow Jesus and point others toward God. Find a church that works for you and...

I’ve been at stone CBC since Chris Emmitt was the pastor and I was living on Redland rd. I have actively seen with my own eyes how this church has changed throughout the years. I understand completely that it’s a whole new crowd, as Pastor Ed’s main goal is to be a church for all of San Antonio and I really do love that. However, I do not enjoy seeing the woman attending church in inappropriate & revealing clothes. At the end of the day, that’s none of my business, and the MAIN reason I was pushed to leave this review today was because of the white, male, pastor preaching to the 2nd and 3rd graders today for the 12pm service. (I state his color and gender because I didn’t get his name) I left service early, as something just wasn’t sitting right with me today in service and went to get my son. As I was walking towards the class, I could clearly hear the pastor on the microphone getting after some kids. I walked in to see that it was a couple of kids sitting up front on the floor who appeared to have the wiggles. He ANGRILY, (NOT nicely OR patient), he angrily got after the kids and said if they didn’t stop he was going to call their parents to immediately escort them out: as the little boys tried calmly explaining, he shut them down and RUDELY and sarcastically asked them, as if he was speaking to another adult his age, “did I ask you?” Boy oh boy was I GLAD to walk in and catch that. I loudly stated, “I am so glad I walked in just in time to get my son out of here!”. Then immediately had a conversation with my son as we walked out about “bad” people and “bad” adults, EVEN if they’re pastors of someone who should be trusted. This review is being left, in hopes of other parents seeing this post before deciding to attend this church or not and to leave their kids. Every parent should know. I will never in my life go back to this church, and I will never recommend it to anyone in the area who have kids. With all that being said, The pastor is great and always has been. He’s the reason I even kept going back. Unfortunately, I have to make sure my KIDS are in good...