The Block Church

If I could give this church zero stars, I would. My siblings and I have attended every so often for a few years now, and while we kept hoping things would grow more welcoming and Christlike, it has become painfully clear that this is not a spiritually safe place for everyone. The lead pastor often chooses volume over compassion, and instead of creating a space where all people feel seen and valued, he regularly speaks in ways that exclude entire communities. Most recently, he stated that gay Christians do not exist. Hearing that as someone with a gay Christian family member was heartbreaking. Nobody should come to church to be told that their identity makes them unworthy of a relationship with God. That is not the Gospel Jesus taught. In a city as diverse as Philadelphia, a church should be the first place to embody welcome, grace, and humility. Instead, the messaging here has become heavily political, selective in its outrage, and focused on drawing lines between who is “in” and who is “out.” It feels far from the heart of Jesus, who consistently reached for those on the margins. There are some pastors and staff members here who genuinely seem to care and teach with sincerity. I truly feel for them, because their work is overshadowed by leadership that appears more invested in control and ideology than in love, truth, and community. If you are seeking a church that reflects the inclusive, compassionate teachings of Christ, I would encourage you to prayerfully look elsewhere. Faith should not be something you have to endure. It should be something that brings you closer to God, not something that makes you or your loved ones feel erased.

4 months ago

A place that truly nurtures, teaches, and protects. My son attended The Block Church from Pre-K 3 camp through Pre-K 4 and then returned for camp again—and I can honestly say, he’s going to miss it so much. This school has been such a gift to our family. The small class sizes, with two dedicated teachers, created a safe and loving environment where he could learn, grow, and feel seen every day. He looked forward to going each morning, which says everything. The camp was full of fun, creativity, and connection—and the staff made him feel like he belonged. As a parent, knowing your child is not only safe but genuinely happy is priceless. Thank you to everyone at The Block Church for pouring into our little ones with such care and intention. You’ve made a lasting impact on our son—and on us.

7 months ago

Great Location. Also a nice building with a great atmosphere. Constantly improving so far actually! I give it an honest 5 ✨

2 months ago

Great experience for my family of 5! My children had a great time as well. They are 1, 7, and 18 years old! My husband and I have been looking for a place to serve our whole family and by God’s Grace He delivered! Worship to message delivered! 🙏🏾 will definitely continue going!

a year ago

What can I say, weather you are a hipster, an executive, a youngster or a Senior member of our society, The Block Church will welcome you with the same open arms. The level of Love the leadership and congregation share among each other is priceless. I have not seen many churches that are this well balanced in regards to how they go out their way to make the atmosphere feel welcome to Millennials and older generations alike. All of it while enjoying a Lead Pastor Joey Furjanic, that will always go step above and beyond to preach the gospel of salvation, repentance and redemption; A message filled with conviction, Love, and mercy for the souls. A message not just for you to feel right, but a message based on sound doctrine for you to be moved and be touched in the spirit to get right. I also love this quote that Pastor Joey has as one of his mantras in life and I could say that pretty much this summarizes the quality of church this is. -“INTEGRITY WON’T GET YOU THERE FAST, BUT IT WILL GET YOU THERE WHOLE” when a lead pastor has such an inner conviction about integrity He then goes beyond his way to share this value across all his leadership teams, and for me this was a clear indicator that I didn’t have arrived to my next home. If I would have to describe es h location in a short sentence; Port Richmond: The Foundation “Always feels like family” Center City: The Energizer “Young and Fun” -Pastor Derrick will make your time worth your while! Northeast: The Balance “Where the young meets the old and they realized, they were all just the same! - Love you Pastor Matt. P.s. I thank The Lord and a great friend for leading me to this place! -Proud member and Volunteer of The Block Church.

7 years ago