LifeChurch.tv
Encyclopedia
LifeChurch.tv is an American evangelical
multi-site church
with multiple locations in five states
. Craig Groeschel
is the founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv.
As of May 2010, there were thirteen LifeChurch.tv "campuses" located across the United States (not including the internet campus or the "Second Life campus"). LifeChurch was listed in late 2011 as the second largest church in the United States with an attendance of 39,000.
with 40 congregants meeting together "in a two-car garage, equipped with just a borrowed overhead projector and two construction lights purchased at Lowe's for $19.99." From 1996 to 1999 the church membership grew rapidly. During this time, Life Church acquired its first facility (now known as the "Oklahoma City Campus").
In 2001, MetroChurch, a 25-year-old, nondenominational church in nearby Edmond, Oklahoma
joined with Life Church, effectively making it a multi-site church
. Following the success of the additional location, the church launched campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma
and Stillwater, Oklahoma
in 2002, and these new campuses began incorporating satellite
video teaching into their services.
In 2005, LifeChurch.tv opened two additional campuses: the South Oklahoma City
location in the spring, followed by the Mesa
and Gilbert
, Arizona campuses of the metro Phoenix, Arizona
area in September. After a few months of meeting in two high schools, LifeChurch.tv combined the two campuses into a single permanent facility and is now known as the Mesa campus.
In February 2006, LifeChurch.tv introduced a campus in Fort Worth, Texas
. In April, the church established its "Internet Campus," which broadcasts weekly, interactive worship services
live over the internet. In July, the church also launched a new campus in Hendersonville, Tennessee
.
LifeChurch.tv opened two new campuses in early 2007 in northwest Oklahoma City, and Wellington, Florida, for a total of 11 campuses.
Easter Sunday, 2007, LifeChurch.tv began broadcasting from their new campus in the online game Second Life
.
A twelfth campus, in Albany, NY, was announced on April 28, 2007.
In January 2008, LifeChurch.tv launched its second campus in the Tulsa area at Bixby North Elementary School in Bixby, OK.
In August 2008, Lifechurch.tv Mesa Campus moved back to one of their original locations in Gilbert, AZ, they are currently looking for a new building for the growing attendance.
LifeChurch.tv also decided to do away with "church membership", deciding instead to encourage people to become "partners" in helping lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. The church has developed a Bible application for mobile phones
, YouVersion. Introduced in 2008, it has been described as "[t]he world's most popular Bible program for mobile phones."
There are other churches that use LifeChurch.tv material.
(ECC). The ECC upholds the core evangelical Christian beliefs, while allowing believers the personal freedom to have varying interpretations on theological issues that are not clearly presented in Scripture.
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
multi-site church
Multi-site church
A multi-site church is one church that meets at multiple locations. Churches began to use the multi-site church model in the mid 1980s...
with multiple locations in five states
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. Craig Groeschel
Craig Groeschel
Craig Groeschel is the founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, a church with fourteen locations in five states. He is married with six children and lives in Edmond, Oklahoma, a suburb of Oklahoma City, where LifeChurch.tv is based....
is the founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv.
As of May 2010, there were thirteen LifeChurch.tv "campuses" located across the United States (not including the internet campus or the "Second Life campus"). LifeChurch was listed in late 2011 as the second largest church in the United States with an attendance of 39,000.
History
In January 1996, Life Church began in Oklahoma CityOklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
with 40 congregants meeting together "in a two-car garage, equipped with just a borrowed overhead projector and two construction lights purchased at Lowe's for $19.99." From 1996 to 1999 the church membership grew rapidly. During this time, Life Church acquired its first facility (now known as the "Oklahoma City Campus").
In 2001, MetroChurch, a 25-year-old, nondenominational church in nearby Edmond, Oklahoma
Edmond, Oklahoma
Edmond is a city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area in the central part of the state. As of the 2010 census, the population was 81,405, making it the sixth largest city in the state of Oklahoma....
joined with Life Church, effectively making it a multi-site church
Multi-site church
A multi-site church is one church that meets at multiple locations. Churches began to use the multi-site church model in the mid 1980s...
. Following the success of the additional location, the church launched campuses in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
and Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51. It is the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 45,688. Stillwater is the principal city of the Stillwater Micropolitan Statistical...
in 2002, and these new campuses began incorporating satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
video teaching into their services.
In 2005, LifeChurch.tv opened two additional campuses: the South Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
location in the spring, followed by the Mesa
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
and Gilbert
Gilbert, Arizona
-Demographics:As of July 1, 2009, Maricopa Association of Governments, Census 2000. United States Census Bureau. there were 217,521 people, 74,147 housing units, and 3.01 persons per household....
, Arizona campuses of the metro Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
area in September. After a few months of meeting in two high schools, LifeChurch.tv combined the two campuses into a single permanent facility and is now known as the Mesa campus.
In February 2006, LifeChurch.tv introduced a campus in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. In April, the church established its "Internet Campus," which broadcasts weekly, interactive worship services
Service of worship
In the Protestant denominations of Christianity, a service of worship is a meeting whose primary purpose is the worship of God. The phrase is normally shortened to service. It is also commonly called a worship service...
live over the internet. In July, the church also launched a new campus in Hendersonville, Tennessee
Hendersonville, Tennessee
Hendersonville is a city in Sumner County, Tennessee, United States, on Old Hickory Lake. The population was 51,372 at the 2010 census. Hendersonville is part of the Nashville Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located 18 miles northeast of downtown Nashville. The city was settled around 1784 by...
.
LifeChurch.tv opened two new campuses in early 2007 in northwest Oklahoma City, and Wellington, Florida, for a total of 11 campuses.
Easter Sunday, 2007, LifeChurch.tv began broadcasting from their new campus in the online game Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
.
A twelfth campus, in Albany, NY, was announced on April 28, 2007.
In January 2008, LifeChurch.tv launched its second campus in the Tulsa area at Bixby North Elementary School in Bixby, OK.
In August 2008, Lifechurch.tv Mesa Campus moved back to one of their original locations in Gilbert, AZ, they are currently looking for a new building for the growing attendance.
LifeChurch.tv also decided to do away with "church membership", deciding instead to encourage people to become "partners" in helping lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. The church has developed a Bible application for mobile phones
Mobile application development
Mobile application development is the process by which application software is developed for small low-power handheld devices such as personal digital assistants, enterprise digital assistants or mobile phones...
, YouVersion. Introduced in 2008, it has been described as "[t]he world's most popular Bible program for mobile phones."
Worship Style
Lifechurch features a casual dress code and most attendees wear jeans and casual clothing, the worship service includes refreshements before and after the services, music style is pop-rock and praise-worship, with the performances amplified concert style and lyrics shown on projector.Locations
There are currently fourteen LifeChurch.tv campuses in five different states, as well as an internet campus.- Albany, NY
- Edmond, OK
- Fort Worth, TX
- Hendersonville, TN
- Midwest City, OK
- Northwest Oklahoma City, OK
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Owasso, OK
- South Oklahoma City, OK
- South Tulsa, OK
- Stillwater, OK
- Tulsa, OK
- Wellington, FL
- Yukon, OK
- Midwest City, OK (second campus in Midwest City planned to open on 6/25/2011)
There are other churches that use LifeChurch.tv material.
Affiliation
LifeChurch.tv is part of the Evangelical Covenant ChurchEvangelical Covenant Church
The Evangelical Covenant Church is an evangelical Christian denomination of more than 800 congregations and an average worship attendance of 179,000 people in the United States and Canada with ministries on five continents. Founded in 1885 by Swedish immigrants, the church is now one of the most...
(ECC). The ECC upholds the core evangelical Christian beliefs, while allowing believers the personal freedom to have varying interpretations on theological issues that are not clearly presented in Scripture.
Articles
- "Featured Church" Vision magazine, Christmas 2004
- "5th most influential church in the US" ChurchReport.com, 2007
External links
- LifeChurch.tv LifeChurch.tv Official Website
- LifeChurch.tv:swerve Blog
- LifeChurch.tv Open: Free Church Resources