I used to attend Berean Baptist Church in Orange Park. One likes to believe that when they get there, they have found a true church home. The people are very nice, even the staff is very freindly. But it is when someone has been there for a while, that things seem to change. Dr. Tom Neal or (Preacher) as the members call him, have absolute Veto powers in basically all matters, not only church, but personal matters outside of church. Things like Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Fundamental Forums, even church websites (1st Baptist in Hammond, Trinity, Central ect...) in which the Pastor is not at agreement with are banned, preached against, and members who go to these sites are scolded as well as preached against. The Students at college as well as the academy are taught absolute loyalty to the pastor. If you go to the pastor and and tell him about something you are considering doing, whether it be ministry, family, or personal he will give you an answer, and you MUST listen to that answer. If one is thinking of praying about the matter after his meeting with the pastor, well... there is no need to pray because he is the man of God and he gave you an answer. Everything is very controlled there, everything from dating to playing sports, at Berean it is controlled and to be in good standing with Dr. Neal, you must do everything he says and follow his guidelines. Many good, reliable, and faithful church members as well as pastoral staff have left that church in the last six months because of Legalistic views. Not only. Like one said in this forum before, every church member is STRESSED to give and sacrifice. I am all for tithing and giving. But this was preached about EVERY sunday and some sundays when offering was low he would threaten to check tithing records of members and he would say to the general congregation "you will not be a member of this church and 'milk' the ministies and not give" Many in that church sacrifice. There are many members without jobs as well as staff who does not get paid at all or regulary, barely hanging on, but Dr. Neal drives a 6 series BMW and a 5 series BMW, as well as all the fancy things and a very nice house in a rich part of town. The excuse that is told to the church members are "Well Dr. Neal has been here 28 years, and when someone has been at a church that long, he deserves it." I agree, but not at the expense of his church members, which pay for those things as well as they are tapped for the church debt. Do I Hate Dr. Neal? By all means no. But I do not think that his mentality follows absolute scriptures as well as I believe the way the church is run is not of God. I would recommend another church, because once you are IN, you will feel trapped.