Trinity Church Dallas — Local services in Dallas

Many reviews on organizations or products are opinion based. I’m going to share my experience and readers can form their own opinion. I attended C3 Trinity Church Dallas for several years...actually before it was a C3 member. I heard some good sermons and made, what I thought, were real and lasting friendships. I was placed into a small group, where we met each week and shared some of our most personal struggles and problems. We cried together and prayed together for each other and people we knew who were also dealing with problems. We saw God answer many of our heartfelt prayers. Fast forward to today, 2+ years since I left the church. From the last time I stepped foot into the church, I have yet to hear from one single member, including the pastors, my small group, or my “friends”. Even the few I have reached out to myself, have refused to respond or even so much as acknowledge my calls or messages. (There are four EX members who have remained friends.) Apparently, C3 Trinity Dallas sees this as the outcome I deserve. I would be interested to know the scale they use in which they determine a person’s value and who receives unconditional love, concern, forgiveness, etc... and who gets the cold shoulder. I’ve been in church all my life and I have never experienced anything even remotely close to the hurtful experience with C3 Trinity Dallas...nothing like this ever even crossed my mind. It truly has been shocking. But it does prove one thing...that we can continue to learn and have new experiences, regardless of our years. For that, I am grateful, even though it has been one of the most hurtful experiences of my life. When I shared this experience with someone I believe to be a very wise person, her response was that we are all just a work in progress. This is true, but I had higher expectations from pastors...the people in authority over their church. I had higher expectations from other members/friends/Christians, but I recognize more than ever that there are none “above”. None we can truly hold to a higher standard because of their position or their (expressed) religious views. We truly all ARE a work in progress and simply men and women doing our best in the circumstances which we are living. My strong hope would be that this would never happen to another person...that no one will ever feel ostracized, judged and alienated as I’ve been made to feel. The next person might not have enough faith, or the support system around them, to hold on to their beliefs, to God. What does it say about Christians, people who are called to love unconditionally and not judge one another, who treat their brothers and sisters in this manner? Thankfully, God is not like these people...Christians, pastors, church membership ers. He is a God who loves unconditionally. “In Him there is no condemnation “. We can fall off the track, but he will meet us right there and put us right back on. He sees the difficult moments we’ve endured. Just like even the prodigal son was greeted with love and showered with gifts upon his return, so God is as a father. He won’t just meet you where you are, He will shower you with blessings. I’ve never experienced this hurt before, but also never seen such a clear picture of “Here is what man will do” and “Here is what God will do”. I’m thankful for the lessons learned, but pray this will not happen to anyone else that C3 deems unworthy and condemnable. God is loving, gracious, and kind...our difficult times do not exceed his ability to extend...

I wanted to post a positive comment because all too often people only post negative remarks when the have a bad experience. I am a 47 yr. old mother who was looking for a church my son could attend in Dallas near his new home. Being I live in AZ the web search is my only way viewing those churches to recommend to him.

I was sad to see someone who attended a church "10" times decided to write a negative post on one experience of someone in the church that asked him to move. I thought of the story in the Luke 14:7-11 which says this

He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, "When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him, and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person.’ Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

Now I know this was Sunday morning church not a wedding banquet and we are all equal, but it was sad that it took "one" negative experience to stop this person from going back. Interesting how satin can hurt someone even as far as to have them post a negative comment about the "whole" church. When apparently he had "9" good experiences prior, which caused him to come back each time till then.

Here's my experience, I could have let this one comment detour me from going any further with this church in my search, but I work in a call center and experience all too often how people take the time to complain verses taking the time to say something positive. I decided to continue my search with Trinity and listen to one of the sermons by Pastor Joe Martin on "Hearing the voice of God" Part 1-Walking with God, and I was moved by the Holy Spirit that came from the message and glad I didn't give up.

All to say, my experience was wonderful and I didn't have to attend to know the Holy Spirit works within "yourself" even when bad experiences happen with web reviews or "fellow believers". Let it be a lesson to all of us to treat others better then ourselves, and not let someone else's experience detour us into our own thoughts and actions. I would have missed a wonderful message from Pastor Martin.

I have recommended this church to my son to at least try it out for himself and make his own determination whether it’s the right church for him and praying for the other person who had that experience and gave up. Because prior to his bad experience with the fellow believer he was drawn back to attend 10 times. God might have had something really wonderful in mind for him and he let satin get in the way.

Thanks, for taking the time to read my...

I've been to this church probably about 10 times. The last time I went is probably the last time I will ever go. There's a difference between charismatic and spirit filled. This church is charismatic, but not spirit filled in my opinion. Specifically my wife and I had an unpleasant experience where the woman at the front was very rude to us in telling us to move seats. Situations like this separate the charismatic from the spirit filled. Every church should very carefully decide who they put at the door of their church as this person, in many cases, is the face of the church. In my opinion this church is looking for warm bodies and not spirit filled people.

On the other hand they do have a good youth ministry and the few times I've met the senior pastor he's been a very genuine person. Also, my wife said she liked their women's group alot. There are definitely some positives about this church, but it doesn't seem like their turning out spirit filled people. Just animated charismatic people that are a bit rude when their true spirit is tested. It appears the seeds here are not being planted...