1 /5 Ace of Praise: I arrived at the church event, expecting to find a Christian community and participate in open, honest conversations about life, faith, and meaning. This event was part of a series designed to create space for people to explore these topics together in a Christian environment.
The moment I walked into the church, I was immediately surprised. I was welcomed by staff who asked me to put on a name tag—nothing unusual.
Then, I was directed toward something unexpected—a stunning, well-stocked bar with spirits set up right inside the church. It featured an array of wines—whites, reds, and even some craft beers and seltzers. There was a bartender behind the counter, making lighthearted jokes and even asking me for my ID with a playful smile.
I’m not someone who drinks often, and I hadn’t planned on drinking at all that night. Yet, the whole experience gave me an underlying sense of anxiety. I accepted a glass of red wine, even though it felt out of place for a church event, and I did question everyone, wondering if this was a joke. I took a few sips, but I couldn’t shake the strangeness of it all.
As I sipped my wine, the church played a video—testimonies of people who had struggled with alcohol addiction, pouring their hearts out about their recovery. I stood there, holding a glass of wine in a place that was supposed to be about healing, while these brave souls shared their battles with addiction. The discomfort hit me like a tidal wave. It felt so wrong, so contradictory. Why was I drinking while listening to stories of people overcoming the very substance I was holding?
Then the atmosphere shifted. After the video ended, we were invited to join small groups, and once again, wine was generously offered. There was something almost hypnotic in the way it was presented, making it hard to decline, I ended up having two glasses. The setting—charming, relaxed, and elegant—seemed to gently encourage you to lower your defenses and indulge. But as I continued to take it all in, an unsettling feeling crept over me. Why was alcohol playing such a prominent role in this event? I began to feel uneasy, my thoughts spiraling. “Could something have been slipped into the wine?” I wondered, suddenly on edge. The idea crossed my mind that maybe this was something darker than it appeared. With this Church located on the bay, surrounded by fishing boats and yachts, I couldn’t shake the thought: “Could this be a cover for something more sinister?” My anxiety spiked. I’ve witnessed enough unusual situations in Orange County to know that danger can often hide behind seemingly good intentions.
As I joined my small group, the unease deepened. The staff and regular attendees had glassy eyes, slow movements, and slurred speech. It was unsettling—those meant to guide us seemed lost in their own fog. The darkness I’d felt earlier now hung over everyone. Something was deeply wrong and it was not just alcohol.
I sat next to a woman who, with tears in her eyes, revealed she was in Alcoholics Anonymous, battling her addiction to alcohol. And there I was, holding a glass of wine right next to her. The smell of the red wine from my cup was unmistakable, and I knew she could smell it too. The horror of that moment was overwhelming—like a punch to the gut. I could hardly breathe, paralyzed by the sheer wrongness of it. Every fiber of my being screamed, “Get out!” Yet, I was trapped in this twisted scene, horrified that I was part of it.
I left that night with a sense of unease that I couldn’t shake. I reached out to the church, seeking explanation. But no one responded. The silence left me with a haunting realization: Not every open door should be walked through, and not every place that claims to offer refuge is what it seems.
This wasn’t the first unsettling experience I’d had at a church in Orange County. I once attended a church where the leader, who led and hosted our prayer meetings and worship, was later charged with orchestrating a multi-million dollar fraud at the location of church.
AS A WARNING: DO NOT GO TO GARDEN CHURCH!!
