Lakeview Christian Life Church

Happy new year everyone!! I wanted to balance out all of the suspect reviews of Lakeview by saying that I have attended churches in the past all over the world but could never find TRUTH. I found the truth of God's Word here at Lakeview - no foolishness that is preached in churches in the area and all around the world. Here's the bottom line... THE FRUIT! At Lakeview all of the generations are intact from the oldest through a vibrant and holy singles and youth groups down to nurseries. The singles, young people, married couples, and on, all love The Lord and are faithfully serving Him in garments without spot or wrinkle. Here's something interesting.. When you look at the social media for a number of the people who have left this church over the years you will see these former members talk about there hang overs, use horrible language (explitives), and you will see that they are involved in every sort of evil of this world - and they are the ones writing these reviews. Tis has to tell you some thing.. Remember, the fruit! Well done pastors of Lakeview! Thank you for readying us to stand before the King one day with robes of white. God bless you for your excellent work! more

It must be nice to have all of your ""friends"" manipulated into tithing to support your travels, homes, cars, and shopping trips to Harrod's for obnoxious hats to announce your deliberately late church arrival. In fact, this disgusting family operation has managed to spend ""God's"" money on just about everything except true community outreach, gym memberships (they are beyond overweight even by Midwest standards), and decent payroll for teachers. While Norman Jr. acts according to whatever demands his godless, clearly evil, and loveless mother imposes (she's wished death on ex members to their faces), his sidekick Chris is all too happy to oblige in his condescending and always right tone. It's hard to imagine why he'd be so upset and rude all the time as his wife seems trained to be submissive enough to have dinner on the table whenever prompted. Perhaps he is hoping for a promotion? After all, the 3 James sons are all in place handling different ministries that mom and dad generously set up for them. Where else could you be a principal and pastor with no education? Cheers. If you are willing to wear your panty hose, part your hair, give all of your time and money to be left unappreciated and stand in line at 2 hour alter calls every Sunday, this place is going to rock your world! Look forward to the safety nest of a self-appointed apostle who LEFT A CHURCH to start his own and was ""told by god"" that he could retire wherever he would like after all his selfless years of service. How fantastic to be ""one of the Lord's favorites"" and a VIP pass to heaven. I was taught as a child to judge a tree by its fruit and LCLC is barren. The sad congregation is a fantastic mix of people so checked out they would put on white Nikes and drink the kool-aid or are too afraid to leave and loose all ties with family. Ichabad. more

Everything written here is true. We Got out in 1998 after being there for five years and additional two years in an affiliate Church in Japan. We saved our family and children from that awful church if you can even call it that. Please stay away from that place it destroys families. more

Things To Know Before Visiting: Part I\r ___________________________\r \r Hi everyone, \r \r I've taken some time to read through the reviews of my former church. Not looking great, is it? I read through all these entries and found that the most basic dysfunctional attributes of this local body were not being discussed in any way. I hope this entry of mine will provide some clearer and more updated pieces of information that should be easily accessible to the common public. But ya know, to be honest, if I were new to the area and surfing the Internet for local churches, I would see that big 11% approval rating and know well enough to steer clear. \r \r This 11% percent rating would explain why, during my years there, the stream of visitors at Lakeview dwindled to nearly nothing, even as technology progressed at a staggering rate. More information about the church has become readily available online to curious minds, and as people moved to the Internet to do their church shopping, fewer and fewer people were willing to even give Lakeview a shot. \r \r My fiancee and I just left this church a couple months ago. We were engaged to be married there, and were excitedly preparing to get married within our home sanctuary. But we were asked to leave just weeks later after it was discovered that I still maintained communication with my brother, who no longer attends Lakeview. That is the sole concrete reason for our dismissal from this religious group, and the resulting family consequences. Give that some real thought before visiting. \r \r This church is guarded at every Sunday by an armed officer of the local police force. The stated reason is to provide more added protection of the premises during services. This was initially portrayed to the congregation as being a ""standard procedure"" in today's ""increasingly violent society"", a fact that remains mysteriously unconfirmed by current violent crime data. Out of curiosity, I made phone calls to nearly every local house of worship in the South Hills area. None of them employ an area police force to provide armed security during services. Zero. Give that some real thought before visiting. \r \r This church forbids the consumption of alcohol. Furthermore, members of this congregation have been shamed by the leadership for enjoying the occasional glass of wine. This is despite studying a Bible that has more favorable references to alcohol than any literary work I've ever read. This is despite being led by an apostle who has a well-known, lifelong affinity for alcohol in his private life. This is despite the reality of Jesus' first miracle on Earth at the wedding in Cana. Give that some real thought before visiting.\r \r This church does not allow brides to dance with their fathers at weddings, or any other form of dancing for that matter. An elder of the church board was almost dismissed from his leadership position because he dared to violate this rule. The stated justification for this enforced policy is that it may cause inappropriate and overly provocative behavior to occur as a result. Ironically enough, I have been a wedding photographer for an entire decade now, and I have yet to see any form of provocative or inappropriate behavior occur as a result of watching a father share the sweetest moment of his life with his daughter on her wedding day. On the contrary, after dozens and dozens of weddings, I have found the standard human reaction to be tears of joy and occasional applause. This is despite preaching from a Bible that instructs its believers to dance regularly in nearly every book of its content. Give that some real thought before visiting. more

Things You Should Know Before Visiting: Part II\r __________________________________\r \r This church does not have any functional website of any kind that provides easily accessible information on the church's doctrine. If you'll glance down in the corner of your Macbook or up at the top of your smartphone as you’re reading this today, you'll see that the year will soon be 2014. Dwell on that for a moment. Just 20 years ago, I would have absolutely no way of reaching this great of an audience so quickly and so effortlessly. Most of you will be reading this post by the time the sun rises, perhaps while sitting on the toilet or brushing your teeth. And yet, this local religious bastion of boundless creative and intellectual talent has yet to construct any form of website or create any community initiatives that actively recruit new believers. Pretty staggering when you consider that nearly 90% of the information we receive on a daily basis in 2013 is delivered to us in some form of digital medium. Oh, and if you want to hear a copy of last week's sermon by Pastor James, you'll simply have to order a CD of the recorded sermon, then locate your CD player in your basement closet, then replace the batteries, and then pray that the device still works. All of this because this church “does not believe in the MP3 format"" to disseminate its sermons to the congregation. That's a true story. Give that some real thought before visiting. \r \r This church has a pastor who just recently sold his house in order to “downsize” to a small mansion that ended up costing the church $390,000 (this is according to public record). Now, I've always been confused by the hypocritical doctrine of the Catholic Church, but if I'm honest with myself and all of you, I have more admired the humble actions of Pope Francis in the past year than I have for this local pastor. What an unfortunate reality. Give that some real thought before visiting. \r \r This church has long celebrated the success of its private Christian academy, which is built on the back half of the church property. Indeed, this tiny academy has produced excellent graduates since its inception, including extremely successful employees who now succeed at some of the most prestigious workplaces in the nation, including Facebook, NASA, and Prada. This is the result of intense dedication by several talented teachers and volunteers, as well as a controlled, peaceful learning environment. You should be informed though that the principal of this academy has no formal education of any kind beyond high school, let alone any formal training in the field of primary education. He was brought on staff because he is the son of the founding pastor. Apparently no further qualifications for this position were necessary. Give that some real thought before visiting. \r \r This church's leadership has told an excommunicated member that they pray daily for the Lord to ""take their lives."" This former member, you should know, is now a fully-trained, active minister of the Word. He had to leave this church in order to fulfill the prophetic calling on his life to be a pastor. Now his home church leaders are actively praying for the Lord to prematurely end his life. Give that some real thought before visiting. more

These Godless cult pigs took my dear brother and his children from my family. I was raised in the Mormon cult, and left at 16 years old, because I knew without a doubt it was evil. I attended 1 service with Pastor James' old hag wife speaking and knew instantly that she was a demonic psychopath. Please pray for the distruction of this horrible tool of Satan. more

With respect to ""Car. C."" I completely agree that the people who are living a shadow life in the church are helping to prop up a corrupt regime. That said, I have full sympathy for those who might like to leave and feel they cannot.\r \r I was lucky enough to leave with my family, keeping us intact and thus I didn't pay that price. And so I can't say exactly what I'd do. The most I can bring to bear is what I've learned in the years since and make my theoretical decision that way. \r \r The first truth is that family is the most important thing we have in this life, and friends second. That is why the casual way this church discards people, to prove their ever-hardening resolve, is a near-blasphemy. And so I cannot, at first, recommend that someone leave, and discard (even if it is in no way their choice), their own church-bound family. If family is first, then we must make our own decisions, even toward the church, with that in mind.\r \r But the next thing I remember is that if I were to leave, and my family discarded me, what kind of family is that? What kind of friends, from whom I never hear again? No relationship that is funneled through, and exists at the behest of, one man or institution, is a true relationship. And so while we must hold onto our family tighter than they hold to us, we must bear in mind their stunted relationship with human interaction in some ways changes the calculation.\r \r The last piece of wisdom I can bring to my theoretical decision is hindsight. Within months of leaving, I knew that the life in there was no life at all. Limited in scope, limited in inputs, creativity, promise, future. As detailed above, it was most limited in love. Without these things, chiefly love, what is there? Not much. Out here, there is life and promise and potential. Friends, true friends, and unconditional, Christian love.\r \r And so, as awful and broken a decision as it would be, I would urge myself to follow the path of truth. I'm the kind of person now who cannot abide living with lies, in large part from this experience. I would choose a life that extends to the horizons, where I can go and do as I am led and as I please. Love whom I want to in a way that echoes the scriptures, not have someone looking over my should at my recent contacts list.\r \r Leaving the church was the greatest pain I ever experienced, and it crushes me to know that there are people whose experiences dwarfed mine. But in the end, like most choices of its kind, it was no choice at all. more

There is one thing as an EX-member I find more disheartening than the clear fact that Lakeview Christian Life Church passed up being a church many years ago, and has digressed into being nothing more than a Carnie Show w/ bibles. \r \r It is the people that continue the cycle. Those that are still in the church & have identified it for what it is, YET choose to stay.You are the ones that have supported the church for years. You have either raised your children under these legalistic perversions or grown up in it through the school into adulthood. You have been the ones that have stood silently alongside our moms, dads, brothers, sisters, friends and supported them as they have decided to disown us year by year. \r \r Leaving will initially be difficult for a long term far BETTER outcome!!\r \r I wish I could say shame on you, but I can't. I was there. I waited till I was old enough & then I left. ( I hope you will be able to say the same) I could no longer exist in something so reprehensible.\r \r You will either find living under the hypocrisy unbearable & STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR NOT LEAVING and leave, or continue the cycle of destroying family's, assimilate, and stay. more

Unfortunately, what you read about this place in the reviews below is true. I was very good friends with Pastor Norman Jame's third daughter. She ran away in the middle of the night to get away from this place. The leaders are still trying to track her down through social media. It's very sad. She left everything in her life behind, including her substantial financial debts, which I assume will be passed along to the congregation through tithes and offering. I think of her often. I would try to contact her to see how she's doing, but I am afraid of the consequences that will come down on me and my family if I do. I am sure she thinks of me too, but she doesn't want me to suffer any of those consequences either. I am free to leave the church, and yet I am trapped here. It's a feeling shared by many young families like mine. Please don't add to this to your list of churches to visit. Just stay away. \r \r I added a photo of the church sign. If you see it in your travels, just keep on driving. But don't give up on your search for a healthy church family in the Pittsburgh area - they are out there!\r more

Ok, in 1997 our family moved into the area and were looking for a Church to attend. Our boys were 7 and 5. Anyway, we went on a Sunday, my husband thought it odd that EVERY MAN was wearing a suit and tie! (My husband did have dress pants and dress shirt on) I think I remembered that all ladies had dresses on. Well after the worship, the pastor of the church started going on and on about another minister on TV, no preaching, just bashing this person and their ministry. Now my husband really didn't care for the mentioned minister, but didn't feel that the pulpit should be used to just bash another minister. He should have been preaching the Word. Anyway, we didn't stay and left. What was really and truly weird was that we got a call from someone from that church (they got our name and number as a guest) and this person was related to my husband's father!!! She asked about him, and was happy that she found some family and to think we were going to the church (what is weird is this lady hasn't been around the family since I knew the family which was about 11 years, didn't even know she existed) Anyway, when we told her we choose another church, she sounded sad and said, ""Oh, I see"". She NEVER called us again!!!! Then a few months later we met a nice young teenager girl in our neighborhood who went to that school. She was saying how they don't really hang around anyone outside of that church!!!! This is when I truly felt that this church is not healthy, not a true Christian church but a cult!!! There are enough of great churches where the Spirit of God is there, you don't need to go here!!!! more

As a current member, I read these reviews and though sometimes people are dramatic and take some liberties, these are frighteningly accurate. I am trapped in this place, and don't know how to extricate my family from this place that has destroyed so many lives. The pastors follow a book they wrote more than the Bible, and this place has produced NO FRUIT. Whenever I go to my extended family's churches I always see such community involvement, outreach, love, and growth. Here, there is nothing but broken families and shady dealings. If I wasn't so involved with my family, my kids, and a lifetime being conned here, I would get out. Please do not ever come here - not that you need to worry, new memberships are incredibly rare. more

Pope Norman James is to be revered, beyond all understanding. I don't question HIS authority. He is all powerful. His words are mighty, like his appetite. He writes HIS own prophetic ideologies, and I TRUST AND OBEY. Thank you Fr. Norman James, for I am truly blessed to have grown in this church- the only true church.\r \r Amen and Amen\r more

I have thought long and hard before posting, and I will keep my opinions, especially those of my personal exodus from the church at bay, while merely focusing on presenting the facts that have given me peace about leaving. The following are not my words, but those of a group that monitors the activities of cults. I will also not name any names, rather, just present these findings and allow you to come to your own decisions.\r \r 1. Church members must sign ""covenants"" stating that they will obey the church leadership. \r \r 2. To not submit is to rebel against God's will and condemn you to a barren Christian life outside the protection of the Super Apostles magical ""umbrella of authority"". \r \r 3.They practice ""enforced giving"", where tithes and offerings of church members are recorded. Members who do not give the ""correct"" amount are disciplined and held back from leadership.\r \r 4. People are banned from going to other churches and working for Para church organizations not under the apostle's control.\r \r 5. They control relationships, ordering people to stay away from friends and family outside the movement.\r \r 6. Some even demand Christian members seek permission to marry each other.\r \r 7. Church members are given the impression that they can only be saved by being part of the Super Apostles church. Churches outside the ""kingdom"" are fallen and dead. Not all of these apostles state this so blatantly, but this is the impression they cultivate within their churches. \r \r 8. These apostles and their families (nepotism is rife) receive significant incomes from their work. They drive expensive cars, live in luxury homes\r \r If you have emerged from this church, this will feel familiar. If you are in this church and this strikes too close to home, maybe you should reconsider the Lord’s calling on your life. My prayers are with you all. \r \r \r more

If you doubt how delusion these people are... here is a parting message from a ""friend"" when I decided to move away from the church... more

I also know this church and know them for their evil doings here in Alabama. I watched families destroyed in the Alabama church that was under the demonic dictatorship Apostle Norman James. I kept the CD of the last service that was held here in Alabama of Mrs. Apostle James and the up and coming baby Apostle James. I watched demons fill her mouth as she glorified herself and husband beyond that of the throne of GOD! I sat shaking my head as she spoke to an audience of zombies as a back door female guard (Mrs. Lamb) give me an evil stare from her post. I'm waiting for the day God exposes this demonic cult and should any want to hear this CD for themselves, contact me. I no longer live in my home but would be willing to share this cd with any of those considering attending this church. you may contact me via e-mail or facebook. God Bless those of you standing for righteousness!!!! Stay clear of this church if you desire to keep your families intact, the apostle over rules the commandment to honor your parents, honor is to their apostle first even above the God they say they serve. Debra more

I think it is amazing that you don't see people responding in kind from Lakeview...the Lord knows those who truly follow Him...100%...with their whole hearts....and those same people also know that He will plead their case and the battle is their Lord's to fight as He sees fit, in His time.... more

Ok, first off I have to say whoever born to serve is...i admire your guts. I actually had a very similar experience...actually worse than many of these reviewers had with their church..with my own church. I am not going to tear you apart like the other defensive ones did. See here's the thing...they can write whatev they want about that church but the minute you go at all against the grain you are going to get trashed. But you knew that going in right? which is why i admire you. And they are talking out of both sides of their mouth...they tell you to back off and not to judge yet they are right in YOUR face. Christians don't act like this. Bottom line is if you all REALLY have the love of Christ..which im not disputing you do.. ..how can you act like this? I don't care what you've been through...i've been through hell and back..a lot of peopl have. But if your whole vision is for the Lord and His ways you would never act like this. It seems like your problem arose with the leadership of that place...as did mine. But i have come to see that disobeying the leadership that the Lord has appointed is the same as disobeying Him. Do you just not believe that? What about when the Lord says to be obedient and if the leadership is wrong it will fall on their heads...but if you disobey and become bitter the Lord will judge YOU. i just don't know what you do with all that?? The Old Testament is FILLED with examples such as those. Do you just not believe that cause its the old testament? Moses was far from perfect..in fact even He didn't get to the Promise Land...but the Lord got rid of thousands of those people who grumbled in their tents simply because they disobeyed, they got fed up and said ""who does Moses think he is"". Is it not the same thing? And you who were all so rough on born to serve..his or her verses were right on. Forms of godliness! Yes! there are forms...there are thousands of so called Christians out there. The Lord warned against this very thing! He was not so easy with the peopel. Paul did not go easy on the people!! There was no little nudge or tap going on. The Lord yes taught to love and to forgive..but He also held a hard line...like swallowing up families for example. Do you belive we serve the same God as the one in the Bible or not? I had lots of issues with leadership in my own church...and now i know how wrong I was. Now you can all attack me. But I want to give applause to born to serve..because often it's the people that don't want to serve the Lord that see things the clearest as opposed to those like the Pharisees who think they have it all right. I considered myself like that. Dangerous dangerous. more

Is this Norman James church ? more

I know that you say that you don't follow the Lord, but let me teach something that is core to what I, and many others, believe as a Christians. This is a verse from the Bible. ?Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;"" Luke 6:37 Don't get me wrong, some people here ARE condemning this church. Maybe even judging it. Do I think that's in line with this scripture? No. But let's be realistic...this is a site for reviews. And most here are relaying their experiences with this church, certainly with some emotion and personal bias sprinkled in. What is the difference between a ""good"" church and a bad ""church"" anyway? Well, in my experience, a good church leads you to God. It inspires you to chase after God and deepen your relationship with God. It lifts you up. Nudges you gently in the right direction. Encourages you to let your light shine. Corrects you when you get off track, but ultimately leaves you to make your decisions and respects the personal nature of the relationship between God and His children. I know that if I stumble in my church that I will have to answer to God. But I'm not going to get kicked out, punished or shunned by my pastor and the people who attend. From what I can see, alot of people here have not had that ""good"" experience at this church. They have experienced negativity, needless drama and chaos. It could even be said that this church has caused some to stumble, both members former and present, as well as family members, friends, etc. It is not a valid assumption that some people who are relaying their negative experiences here might not be actual Christians. In fact, that is a pretty dangerous leap on your part. Do you think that's really something you, a self-professed non-follower, should be deciding? I think that is God's place to decide, personally. As far as ""forms of godliness"" and ""versions of myself""...first of all, wow. I am not perfect. I sin. But I try. I love God and as He reveals Himself to me and His truths, I repent. I don't always make the right choices. Sometimes I'm just blind. But when God shows me the way, I change. That doesn't mean that I have a ""form of godliness."" That means I accept my sinful nature as a human. I listen. I'm humbled. I repent. That is God's plan. It is not your place to judge my walk with God, nor anyone else's. That is between God and myself. His plan, His way, His truth. Not man's. Also, I don't have ""versions of myself."" Frankly, I don't even really know what that means. I guess I do if ""old man"" and ""new man"" count. When people say the leadership is cruel, they mean that the leadership is arbitrary, controlling and judgmental. Maybe you shouldn't be commenting on this church and its leadership if you don't really have a personal experience with it? Seems very odd to me. Why would a person act like they have a dog in a fight if they don't even have a dog. Strange. I don't pretend to know everything. Or think that I am most definitely right on all counts. This church might be right for some people. Its not right for me, and that's all I have to say. more

to born to serve - every SINGLE ONE of these reviews are TRUE - 100% TRUE... i have no idea who you are but whoever the ""25 people"" and you who ""feel the same way"" should realize the trauma and pain this establishment has caused so many. Friends i grew up with have NOTHING to do with me - although i am more involved in a church now than i ever was there. for someone to even ""suggest"" that you should not have fellowship with friends or family who choose to worship somewhere else is unbelievably un-biblical. And if you were to stay and not follow their ""commands"" then you can kiss any calling you believe you have from God goodbye, because they only want the brainwashed in leadership positions. I pray for my friends and hopefully someday they will see the light. DO NOT GO HERE. there are plenty other wonderful main stream churches around that preach the Gospel in its fullest. Whatever good they ever had going for them has been horribly tainted by their man-made regulations more