Trinity Christian Center International

This review is about the Christmas light show. Free and beautiful Christmas lights in various scenes on and surrounding a beautiful piece of architecture.

I use to go here multiple time with the fam when I was little, it is such a beautiful place and the movie selections they have are very good as well, they were anti Christ and the last war between God and the devil related. I highly suggest everyone to stop by and check it out! It is a very good place to go take pictures (;

Great place to go to, and to be there in person.

This place is breath taking! The whole place is amazing! I can’t believe how pretty everything is and so much meaning to everything’s. There’s bible from the 1800 and the painting! I didn’t even want to leave this place at all. I would love to get marry here. The font view is so amazing.

God forgive those who mock this place for they do not know what they’re doing eventhough they think they KNOW IT ALL… I love this place! actually love at first sight. my family and I were mesmerized the minute we got to the entrance. all I can say is WOW! I’d go back here to see how it looks at night and take lots of pictures. this place is amazing, makes me imagine how heaven might look like.

If you’ve driven the 405 in Orange County you’ve most likely seen this building glowing at night with a bazillion lights. I’ve always been curious about it and found out the grounds are open to the public.
I don’t watch TBN and can’t testify to their business practices or charitable intent. The Christian message is certainly here although on a flamboyantly grandiose scale. This review is solely for the experience of walking around the grounds and the interior museum.
The grounds are elaborate with over-​the-​top architecture, fountains and sculptures. The interior is elaborate to the point of being surreal. Inside are more sculptures, paintings, a museum dedicated to founder Paul Crouch, many historical bibles on display, the television studio where they broadcast the shows and something they call the «virtual reality theater» (dioramas of Jerusalem during the time of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus). The vast center is filled with Christian music which plays from a boom box near the entrance. It’s all the more surreal if, for the entire time you are there, you are the only people in the place. I went with a friend and we saw no one else except a lone guard the entire time we were there.
The gift shop is not open Monday through Wednesday (it was a Monday so we unfortunately missed out on that).

If you ever find yourself in a mood to be creeped out, this is the place to go. The money that went into the gaudy and over the top décor should make you vomit in your mouth as you tour grounds of the TBN center.
The TBN Center comes off as a front for lost souls seeking salvation and redemption but in reality, this is one family’s ego exploding all over the walls in the name of Christ. They fill their bank accounts on the backs of the hopeful as they praise the lord with fingers crossed. This is the devils playground and it’s awesome.
This is a must see if you are into cheesy art, twisted images of Christ, fear mongering or bagels. Yes, they have an on-​site bistro. You can break bread while looking at all the wasted dollars that went into this place.
Surprisingly this place is free to walk around but it will cost your a few bucks to see the on-​site movie which is intended to scare the hell out of you.
Bonus creep out fact: From time to time they sell Paul’s worn slacks in the gift shop.

I drove by one evening on my way to dinner and was literally dazzled by the holiday lights. Unfortunately, it was shut down on my way back, so I went out of my way to check it out a couple nights later.
To be fair, I only drove through the holiday light display and strolled around the grounds (being semi-​discretely followed by security) after the building was closed, but I think I experienced enough to justify my reaction:
WTF?
I won’t turn this into a philosophical or moral rant, but if the people who send these guys money (and there are a LOT of them out there) could see how their donations were being used, a handful might actually pause to question. To make a case for repealing tax exemptions for religious organizations, you needn’t look any further than the Trinity Christian Center. Feudal lords never lived so well, and they didn’t have to worry about voluntary donations!
The whole time I was wandering around the grounds, the immortal words of Frank Zappa kept running through my mind: «Remember, there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over…»
Okay, I suppose that was a bit rant-​like, but to me, this complex seems to violate many of the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith, particularly those regarding greed, idolatry, and pride.
Anyway, live and let live I say. I just hate to see such a display of extravagance achieved at the expense of those who can least afford it, and probably honestly believe their «donation» is advancing the ministry, rather than the ministry’s coffers. But maybe to some, they’re one in the same.

I’m not a religious guy, but have had spiritual experiences I cannot deny or ignore. That being said, this place and the TBN does not represent the essence of spirituality to me. Just the grossly ornate spectacle of this palace belies the question: Were tax-​exempt funds from people in need that watched or read and were looking for hope and an answer used to build this gaudy façade? Is that the real meaning of charity? Is lighting up their entire property like an amusement park the best use of donations that could benefit the homeless, sick, abused, poor, widowed, and orphaned?
Ok, on a lighter note, just think how cool this place would be if it was abandoned. And covered with ivy. And haunted. Yea.