★★★★★ 5.0
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Christian Cultural Center - Brooklyn Campus
The year is 1978, and a banker named A.R. Bernard walks away from his ten-year career on Wall Street to start a tiny parish in a Williamsburg storefront with his wife Karen, who herself abandons her position at Queens County Supreme Court. Today, you're standing before the result of that extraordinary leap of faith - the largest Evangelical church in all of New York City, sprawling across 11.5 acres in Brooklyn's Starrett City. That magnificent structure before you houses a 5,000-seat auditorium that opened in the year 2000, where every single Sunday something remarkable happens... the sanctuary transforms into a college classroom. Dr. Bernard envisioned this as a fusion of cathedral, Smithsonian, and college campus, and he wasn't exaggerating - hidden within these walls is an actual gallery displaying ancient Biblical manuscripts and artifacts that rival any museum collection. But here's what will truly astonish you: this congregation has grown to over 32,000 members, making Bernard so influential that he once served as President of the Council of Churches representing 1.5 million Christians across the city. Right now, as you stand here, construction crews are working on a $270 million transformation that will create nearly 2,000 affordable apartments around this sacred space, turning this corner of Flatlands Avenue into an entirely new climate-friendly urban village. From one storefront to reshaping an entire neighborhood... now that's what I call divine expansion.
Did You Know?
- Founded in 1978 by Rev. A. R. Bernard, the Christian Cultural Center (CCC) began as a modest parish in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and has since grown into a sprawling 11.5-acre campus with over 32,000 members, making it one of the largest and most influential churches in New York City.
- The CCC Brooklyn Campus is described as a unique blend of cathedral, museum, and college campus—integrating sacred worship, cultural exhibitions (including original and ancient biblical manuscripts and artifacts), and intellectual enrichment through its Spiritual Life Institute and Center for Biblical Studies, offering a 'third place' for spiritual and communal growth beyond home and work.
- CCC is not only a spiritual hub but also a cultural destination, featuring a gallery that displays rare biblical literature and artifacts, and every Sunday, the sanctuary transforms into a dynamic classroom where people of all ages can engage in ongoing spiritual and educational renewal—a feature especially engaging for families and children seeking both worship and learning in one vibrant space.