Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church

My week isn’t complete without the message from Bishop Thomas! This church is amazing and does so much for the community. I am at home at Pilgrim Rest.

I used to come to this church consistently but after about 3 sermons that were about the same concept — money, I had enough. Once they had a PowerPoint explaining how much you should be giving to «God», I was completely over it. I shouldn’t have to feel guilted into giving money to see blessings, that’s not how life works. They really need to refocus the topics because not everyone is as fortunate to give like they expect you to.

I have to admit as a woman with little faith in the church experience, I was a bit of a skeptic. I continued to drag into the church in spite of me trying to find reasons not to go. I will say I am a proud member of this family. This is a big church but the foundation is warm and loving and our man of God Bishop Thomas delivers the word!

This church has a HUGE congregation and it’s easy to get swallowed in all the under currents of personalities. I attended here years ago, with my children, but left when I heard that the Pastor didn’t support 12 Step Programs. My calls to his office, to confirm this, went unanswered.
They have a powerful choir, who takes front stage long and hard. Afterwards, the Pastor’s sermon rounds out the theatrics. Since he swayed from the bible quite a bit, and ventured his opinion, the message of Jesus Christ became blurred.
Today was my first time stepping back on the church grounds, albeit for the fresh vegetables and fruits they give away every fourth Saturday of the month. The line was long and the heat fierce, but the church members who volunteered to serve on this event were on the case: promptly offering cold water cups, water bottles and offering indoor shade to the elderly, sick or those who suffered heat exhaustion. Unfortunately, I was one of those who suffered heat exhaustion while my daughter pushed me in my manual wheelchair. Once inside the church, we were trusted (on the Honor System) to respect our outside places in line. I chatted with others, who came in, of their illnesses and offered to assist in anyway that we could.
After about 1 hour, I resumed my place in line. The volunteers did a great job of organizing the food lines as well as assembling tables with each item. this created a great flow for traffic. Younger church members handed out bags and/​or assisted with transporting your items, via a donated shopping buggy, to your car. I received: kale, broccoli, individual packaged chef salad, asparagus, corn on the cob, onions, apples, loaf of bread, hamburger buns, huge bag of green and purple lettuce, 2 containers of green tea, 4 bottles of water, 4 bags of Doritos, a cantaloupe and 3 small packages of Tennessee pride breakfast sausage. i was impressed that everything was fresh, and they had plenty of it to go around. Starting time was 10:30 am. we arrived at 10:15 am. We left around 12: 45. not bad at all.

I will never forget it. Easter 2011, I went to church that I am a member at and was bullied and rudely kicked out and told by these two women at the front that there was no room for me and they made a big embarrassing scene in front of many people in the back of the congregation by standing over me in a intimidating manner to get me out of the church. As I left I seen them kindly let this other prospect openly go into the church with open arms. I guess I was overdressed? lol I will and have no intent to ever go back to this church ever again and when I find the time will asked to be taken off as their member. I wouldn’t be surprised if they already took me off as a member being that I can honestly say I had not ever really been kindly welcomed in the first place. This church is fake. I do not like this institution at all

I can’t say enough about Pilgrim Rest. If you are looking for a church in the valley, give this one a try. You will not be disappointed! A world class choir, a pastor that makes the word easy to understand and has you looking forward to coming back for more! Don’t take my word or anyone else’s …Come see for yourself! Bishop Thomas and The Pilgrim Rest Family will feel like your long lost church home!