2 /5 Sonia Prosper: Good afternoon, everyone. I’m a newcomer to this church, and I’ve never experienced anything quite like this before. I arrived late, so I decided to head to the Grill to listen to the pastor’s sermon. Upon my arrival, two African-American girls greeted me and led me to my table. As I patiently waited for a server (well over 15 minutes) I noticed six servers walked by without acknowledging me. One gentleman asked if anyone had taken my order, and when I replied no, he simply walked away without offering any assistance. A few minutes later, a female server approached my table, speaking so softly that I could barely make out her words, "Welcome to the grill. May I take your order?" She seemed hesitant to serve me, which left me feeling uncomfortable in a church setting. However, Matthew checked on me several times to see if I was okay—he was the only one who truly seemed to care. When I asked one of the servers who delivered my food for some napkins, she took my thanks without returning the courtesy and had an unwelcoming attitude. My overall experience was quite disappointing. After requesting a to-go box for my leftovers and my check from Matthew, I settled my bill upon receiving my receipt. I left a generous tip for Matthew with a note that said, “Thank you for taking my order. You’re the best.” Intriguingly, I found out that Matthew was listed as my server, even though the young woman had been serving me. It was perplexing that they had switched servers without informing me. Throughout the week, I dedicate myself to saving lives, and on Sundays, I come to enjoy church, yet I felt like I didn’t belong. This was by far my worst experience, and I’m genuinely disappointed. While this is solely my personal experience, I’m not suggesting that others should shy away from this church due to what I went through, because ultimately, I’m not GOD.
