The Universal Church — Local services in Houston

These guys are literally dangerous to your mental well-being, and especially your pocket book.

I have friends born/raised and still in Sao Paulo Brazil, where SILC is based out of (The Universal Church), who confirm they are the largest church scams on the planet, and the financially poorest of people attend praying and hoping God will provide a miracle.

There are so many scary parts to this church, there isn't enough room to explain it all as thoroughly as I want.

Everything they talk about is scriptural from the Bible. BUT, they twist it to a point where even a well-seasoned, knowledgeable Christian can start becoming confused. A new/young believer doesn't stand a chance of receiving all that God has in store for them from this church.

There is NEVER any REAL preaching/teaching, "meat" that you can really sink your teeth into and help you learn fundamentally, grow in the Lord, and as a human being.

Their "sermons" are all one very long infomercial, guilting you into giving money, then they turn around and tell you that they are NOT guilting you, if you feel some type of negative emotion, it's God telling you to give more... see they turn the tables, you're not doing what God is prompting you to do. Then they say if you've already given or don't have the funds to give; no problem still come and receive the blessing.

Anyone who reports that this "church" has done something wonderful for them is very deceived. God can reach people ANYWHERE, and clearly it was the right time for these people, and they were seeking God for some reason or another. His word says all you have to do is knock... so it has NOTHING to do with this church, and everything to do with God and His steadfast nature; keeping to His promises.

SILC (The Universal Church) provides zero outreach and 100% inreach. Their entire schtick is that they are providing help by building more churches, which is why you should give. Every action they take is to rope you into doing something for them or giving to them; it's literally a bait and switch. The claim is build more churches so God can fix your problems. Well God does help His people... he does it through other people! It's called outreach! And He's called EACH AND EVERY PERSON to participate!

They re-built the Temple of Solomon in Sao Paulo, if that doesn't sound like sacrilege I don't know what does.

I've heard hundreds of ministers preach about the false prophets, but NEVER have I witnessed it to this great of an extent. What angers me is that so many of the parishioners are in such desperate need and these "men of God" sit there day and night watching these folks give EVERY LAST PENNY, just wishing with every ounce of their being that God will provide a miracle. Well God is not a vending machine, and the Church is not a casino. In fact I seem to remember a little time where Jesus did something about just this type of behavior, and guess what?! He got angry too!

I've even caught them in a lie regarding a parishioner and a "healing testimony"! It was a complete set up between the parishioner and the "pastors", where this BIG healing took place; but the person never had the illness!

I implore anyone, just check out some good churches. Watch how the long time parishioners & staff act in their community, how they act among the "least of these" in the church (cuz it's easy for folks to be nice and kind to the biggest giver, but how do they treat the person in the rattiest of clothes, or someone who just generally doesn't seem to fit in). Are they preaching from the word of God? Are they giving you a good mixture of positive messages, along with some stuff that might be tough for you to hear, along side some stuff that helps you grow fundamentally?

We spend hours and hours shopping for clothes, build a closet full of clothes, and then continue to spend hours trying to find the right outfit to wear for just the right occasion. Churches can be very good, but maybe it's not the right church for you. Spend more time than you do on your wardrobe, finding a church that fits...

As the Mexican guy came to my door, I seen other guys with church shirts on, walking to door to door. And he handed me a flyer. As I looked at the flyer I was interested and thought about going as it looked interesting and inspiring. Side note : I am a baby Christian myself and encountered God months ago. He encountered me while dreaming and saved me. After that I drastically changed my life with his help and his teachings. He is a good Father , he’s gentle , patient, and kind . I have a good relationship with with God / Jesus. So I thought this could’ve been God .

After that later that day I had gotten a call from a lady and she was telling me about a church service which they provide the rides and told me what the service would be about and was really insisting that I’d go and feeling okay about it is said yes. So I felt a little odd about the conversation, but I was thinking that maybe she just wanted to call personally by choice to know each member properly.

After that day it wasn’t even the day I was supposed to to go but I got another call and they were checking to see if I was still going I politely said yes, but was starting to question why they kept calling and decided to do research on the church. Couldn’t find much about them so I just questioned to myself about going.

After that I kept getting calls and I started feeling nervous about going to the church, then afterwards I caught a migraine and fell sick the day I was supposed to go and when I tried calling to tell them I couldn’t make it the lady on the phone asked me “ You sound fine, and “ We’ll help you , even after telling her the kind of sick it was after she asked and why I couldn’t go she still was pressuring me !! Afterwards , I told my partner about this and he already doesn’t like churches because of issues like that , so he thought something was off, and I immediately digged deeper in my research and other people in the reviews said that the church pressures their members to give money and compared it to a robbery!!

Immediate no , I listened to my gut/ and decided this church was a no for me.

I set my boundaries before hand when they tried to text me as well trying to see if I was still going to church and it just felt like what is the purpose of pressuring me so much .

It made me feel NERVOUS just to go to CHURCH !!! I SHOULD NOT BE THIS PRESSURED TO GO TO THE PLACE WHERE GOD DWELLS !!!

From personal experience, God is PATIENT, gentle, kind, PEACEFUL, and a father . He is NOT a God that will make you feel anxiety!! FEAR !!, or PRESSURE, that is the ENEMY!! God is a very PERSONAL God and He encounters us all personally. I got a gut feeling about this church and I’m glad I listened to it. If God wanted me to go to a church I would’ve felt a pull to go to church not GUILT, FEAR, PRESSURE, or ANXIETY. And that’s EXACTLY what I got from the people calling me and texting me. They barely know who I am , but constantly trying to get me in this church ???!!!!! Are you...

I thought I already did but I'm spiritualy minded I'm not going to be all negative because there are some people that where able to help I seen but it is really Jesus doing the work keep it official I felt some dark energy at times not with just offerings you have a choice to give or not they were prepared I no that some did not like me in that church I was going through something they were not ready for and I needed a church I could go to more than just Sunday so that was cool I go to church for the Lord it's his house no matter what but there more going on then I care of knowing but hopefully they anotied everyone that works there because if the girl that they always brought the evil spirits out of wasn't real then as a pastor being false prophet and working there and you where taking part your as guilty and you will have to deal with what that comes with and would not be easy to deal with or sleep if you really love Jesus that is the low of lows but I hope that everything was legit because that would be scary but God...