Prestonwood Baptist Church – Plano Campus

I am writing this review based solely on my personal experience in the hopes it will help someone with similar church preferences.
I’ve been to Prestonwood off and on for the past 8 years and have since settled into a different church. When I first visited Prestonwood, it seemed great. As a young single, they appeared to have a vibrant ministry with tons of Bible fellowship classes to attend, events etc. I do think this is well-​intentioned, and I admire that they are serious about wanting to share the good news of Jesus.
My first issue is specific to the worship services. I’m sure logistically it’s hard to offer every type of service on Sunday morning, but they did not offer a «contemporary» service on Sundays. If you wanted to go to the contemporary, you had to go on Saturday evening.
At first, I loved the Biblical teaching and how the pastor framed it in an applicable way. What I didn’t like is how over-​produced everything seemed. I know they have pure hearts, but because of the size, it came off as a professional concert or show. I just prefer a more worshipful setting where the focus is on the Lord and not on strobe lights aimed at the professional singers on the stage, bright lights in the worship center etc. it’s just hard to get into a place of surrender and worship in that setting sometimes.
Another thing that bothered me was the frequent plugs by their pastors for a staff member’s book or a Christian author they support. They would always mention picking up a copy in their bookstore, etc. Again, well-​intentioned, but just came off as a little too commercialized for me.
I also didn’t like how they’d do their altar calls at the end of the service. It came off as a little too pushy. I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable going down in that setting. I would prefer something more intimate, to be honest.
Even when I was attending the Bible fellowships, I also felt like things were very surface level. They always made such a big deal about community and getting «plugged in.» But when I did that, I felt people were nice the first couple times, then once you became a «regular» they moved on to paying attention to the next new person to draw them in. I never felt like a made any profound connection with anyone else to help me on my Christian walk, which was disappointing. I also wish the classes had been more interactive. It’s nice to have a dialogue to get people engaged and hear the opinions of people in the class on scripture or whatever topic is being discussed. However, it seemed the «leaders» of the Bible fellowship just talked at you the entire time, which wasn’t at beneficial for me.
At the end of the day, churches are run by humans and will never be perfect. However, I do believe there are churches you just «feel» are sincerely wanting to live out the Bible by ministering to the lost, feeding the needy with no strings attached, helping others in community etc without the emphasis on the bookstore, the singers, the athletes and famous figures coming in to speak etc. I just didn’t feel comfortable with it when there are other options in the area that are not all about entertainment and pushing their political and social agenda on you like Prestonwood does.

God is really here. Timely sermons and a vibrant community who truly knows and loves Jesus. Go one time and you’re guaranteed to become a regular.

This is absolutely the best church in Texas! The pastors are amazing and everyone here are the nicest people you’ll ever meet. Also the production quality is absolutely incredible. As well as the absolutely over the top amazing Christmas programs. If you are looking for a church you have to come here.

This is a popular Sunday destination, despite huge parking area, I find no parking again. Giving up and going home

The church is nice and modern and the music is amazing! I used to attend this church regularly. I started to get a little concerned when the sermon centered around how being gay goes against the Bible. This was in 1997 and I am straight, but I found this offensive.
The next red flag, to me, was when the preacher told everyone to support George W. Bush. I will not express my political views on this venue but I did not agree with this suggestion, at all!
Next, I was at the Christmas program, which IS phenomenal, I will admit. There were several ladies in fur coats. One of the preachers told a lady in a fur coat passing by that it is great that she is wearing fur because the Bible says we rule over the animals, or something like that. I do not understand how making an animal suffer goes along with what the Bible intends, which I thought was to be kind and loving to all.
Lastly, and this was the final draw for me, the church advertised a hunting club for young boys and their dads. Really?! You think it is okay to place a weapon in the hand of a child? No way!
This church had a lasting effect on me. I only recently stepped back into a church. I have been to Parkway Hills Baptist Church and the preacher there is kind and extremely positive. I have also enjoyed HP Methodist. These churches to not judge others, tell you who to vote for, or encourage hurting animals.

DISCLAIMER: My review is solely based on the appearance and production value of this church and service and not on any religious credibility or spiritual guidance it offers.
While I was visiting a friend in Dallas, I accompanied him to his Sunday church service. He had often referenced Prestonwood as the «church he grew up in» and I had this image in my mind of some small quaint chapel-​esque church in a small town of Texas.
Wrong. Prestonwood is the Radio City Music Hall of churches. You walk into an enormous lobby with signs to direct you to the «orchestra» or «balcony» seating. A 5 camera operation, complete with full orchestra and 2 giant LED screens, this service is nothing short of a 5 star production. The technical elements all appear to be the best technology available.
There are 8 solo praise singers, and a choir of like 200. There was also an «MC» and then the pastor. The musical numbers were beautiful– the singers are all very talented.
The sermon was very passionately delivered, complete with the referenced bible verses displayed on the giant screens.
If you’re a believer, you will love the sermon. If you’re not (like me), you can be mildly entertained by the production of it.
Minus one star for the length-​I think it ended up being over an hour and a half– and I mean, even the greatest Broadway shows give you an intermission after 80 minutes!

This church is a mega church with very cool lights and a heck of a sound system. The sermons are always very motivational and relate to today’s life situations.

Lovely church. A lot of activities for a family and the messages are always done well. It is large, but there is so many ways to connect to people here.

Great complex. I love attending various conferences here and listening to Godly Speakers.

The Gospel is proclaimed here and you are welcomed. Get plugged in and grow in the Lord with the community and family of the Prestonwood Baptist Church.

Giant church but feels smaller than it is because they break it down with lots of good small groups and bible studies. I didn’t grow up Baptist, but know a lot of good people who go to this church and the times I have gone and the events I have gone to have been really good.

Another of your big mega churches. This church campus looks and feels like a small university campus. Complete with all the «extras» that many of today’s worshippers are looking for. This is a really big business operation.

Love me some Pwood!