The positives: the choir, and the main speaker, Dr Kevin R. Johnson is passionate and gives it his all. It's a church service, so I'd tell everybody to dress appropriately and be in your best behaviour. The negatives: It was welcoming in the end, but at the door, they were turning away tourists. I don't know if something has happened to make them direct people to other churches, but they were claiming that they didn't have space for tourists. Our experience: Once inside, we had no issue and we really enjoyed the participative service. People were friendly and welcoming. For me (who I am an ATHEIST), it was an experience, and there were things in the speech of Dr. Johnson that I really liked. The church seems welcoming of LBGTQIA+. I was surprised how social and political aware Dr. Johnson was, but I don't disagree with anything that was said. The choir is AMAZING!!!!

My Friends and I went as guest - not tourist. We enjoyed the service. The singing was phenomenal. I love that they are still singing from hymn books. It was just like being at my home church New Bethel. Thank you for opening the doors of the church so we didn’t miss worshiping on our vacation.

The Pastor teaching the Bible..Dr.Butts is a great pastor.. If don't understand why they don't like when so m eomeone gets up during the Pastor's teaching his sermon of the Bible .. ask and maybe sit in on a class that are open for everyone at the Church.... Learn that the ushers are respecting the Legacy that the Baptist Church have held for years and respecting the pastor by sitting till the end of the sermon. You are not to walk around at a Catholic Church priest preachers so why would you want to do that to a Baptist minister..Maybe you should ask before you get up and disturb the rest of the parishioners that are there to worship God and listen to the word of GOD from Dr.Butts at abyssinia Baptist Church

A HOUSE OF GOD CONTAINING RACIST & UNKIND PEOPLE AN UPSETTING EXPERIENCE. NOT RECOMMENDED 'To win more souls for Christ through evangelism, pastoral care, Christian education, social service delivery, and community development'. This is the Abyssinian Baptist Church’s mission statement, and I can confidently say that following my visit to this church with my 9 new old nephew, not only did they not 'win our souls', one of their members behaviour and words causes great upset. My nephew and I arrived early on a Sunday for service and as regular church goers, we both were dressed in our ‘Sunday Best’. We were really keen to make sure we were able to go to the service and so we arrived an hour early. The weather that day was horrendous, the rain did not stop and we both stood outside in the rain patiently waiting to be let inside the building. A woman arrived at the door, who could clearly see that we were absolutely drenched, looked at us and walked back into the building. Twenty minutes later the women came back and opened the door and told us that we would not be able to come in today because it was ‘too busy’, despite being the only people waiting to go inside. The woman also said that my nephew could not come in, because he had a bag. He had a small bag with him, the size of my handbag, which was empty, as he wanted to put souvenirs into it, as we were going shopping after the service. I explained to the woman that the bag was empty and if necessary we could leave the bag outside. I could not believe what the woman then said in an angry and aggressive manor and in front of my nephew “It’s you white people killing us black people”. She then closed the door and went back inside leaving us once again standing outside in the pouring rain. A man then appeared delivering food into the building and by this point I became upset and teary, partly jet lagged and in shock as to why this woman would say these words to me and in such an aggressive angry way, as if I had just personally killed one of the congregation. It was so bizarre. I explained to the man delivering food to the building what had happened. I said I was so shocked as to what had been said and he replied, “I’m sure she didn’t mean what she said” and “not to worry” and patted my shoulder. My nephew was now saying ‘auntie let’s just go’ as he could see I was upset. I have visited many religious buildings around the world, and I have always been made to feel welcome. I was adamant that after my nephew and I had stood outside in the rain for over 30 minutes we would not just walk away. I left my nephews rucksack in a basement stairwell opposite the church and returned to the main door. The woman returned 10 minutes later, and I explained that we no longer had the bag and could we kindly be allowed to go to church. After being left outside for another 20 minutes we were finally allowed inside, drenched, cold and upset. I do not fully understand the racism that exists in the USA because I have never been subjected to it, however I do understand racism is a major issue with police brutality and discrimination common place. The church according to its website, values its history as a Christian institution born out of rebellion against racial discrimination and its commitment to social justice for all. It also states that the church is a house of prayer for ALL people. Clearly some of its members need to refresh themselves of the church’s mission and values and consider whether their behaviour and values are aligned to the church that they belong to. ‘Being Christian’ is not about a name, but actions and how you treat people. Race and discrimination works both ways. If you truly care about helping the cause, do not be a hypocrite. Create unity not division. Create ‘all of us’ not ‘them and us’.

It's a church, not a tourist attraction, they do their best to accommodate people but the services are not for tourist and not part of a tour. If you are going for a show or just want to hear gospel music there are plenty of other places to go. If your going to worship and you are looking for a place to worship not gawk at people worshiping than dress appropriately and go worship. I see a lot of people are disappointed because they were turned away but you have to remember this is not a tour, people are here to commune and worship not be stared at by people looking to hear gospel music dressed in shorts t-shirts and sandals