Real Life Ministries

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Real Life Ministries is a non-denominational, Evangelical Christian church in Post Falls, Idaho, situated in Kootenai County, Idaho. The church was planted in 1998 by four families, including now senior pastor and elder, Jim Putman. Since its founding, the church has grown to an average weekend attendance of over 7,000[1] and has become one of the fastest growing churches in the United States, ranking 13th in a recent report.[2] The church is a member of the Willow Creek Association[3] and Pastor Jim Putman is a speaker at the Exponential National New Church Conferences[4] sponsored by Stadia, the Willow Creek Association and many others.

Contents

History

The church began by meeting in private homes until their numbers became too great, at which time they were able to rent space in a movie theater. In 1999, Church Development Fund stepped in to buy 33 acres of land in Post Falls, Idaho, through their Advanced Land Purchase program, in order for the church to build a facility to serve the 400 in weekly attendance, at that time. The church moved into a 26,000 sq. ft. building on that property in 2001, but quickly outgrew it.

In 2004, the church built a 68,000 sq. ft. facility, featuring a multi-purpose 1700 seat auditorium, also on the same property. Real Life Ministries has purchased an additional 14 acres plus a home, for a total of 47 acres at their current site. The Church's master plan for the current site included a 3600 seat main building, a softball field and a youth center.[5] They have been a borrower of CDF, meeting all criteria of the loan process including the possession of certain characteristics of congregations and ministries that came to be identified with what historians have called the Restoration Movement, for land purchases and all phases of construction.[6]

With their congregation continuing to grow,[7][8][2] Real Life Ministries has purchased a 124 acre plot of land for a new site; again borrowing funds from the Church Development Fund.[9] Preliminary plans for the new property include an expandable 3500 seat auditorium, state-of-the-art children's facility, a 300-seat chapel, field house and six multi-use sports fields.[1] The property, however, has no water rights (according to the deed recorded at the county), no septic hook-up, and access roads have not been widened nor brought up to highway standards. According to the Conditional Use Permit Agreement[10], RLM will fund a traffic study and infrastructure improvements, including but not limited to reconstructing two adjacent roads, before receiving any building permits.

Boise Bible College - Post Falls

In 2004 Boise Bible College launched the Post Falls Center in cooperation with Real Life Ministries. The extension site combines the discipleship process developed by RLM with the Biblical training provided by BBC, resulting in an A.S. in Biblical Leadership.

References

  1. ^ a b How to grow a congregation. 2007 Spokesman Review. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  2. ^ a b 101 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches(#13). 2007 Outreach Magazine Report (2007-10-08). Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  3. ^ Real Life Ministries. Willow Creek Association. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  4. ^ Speaker Roster. Exponential 08. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  5. ^ "Miracle Growth" (2003-07-25). CDA Press. 
  6. ^ Church Development Fund Loan Criteria
  7. ^ 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches(2005)(#24). 2005 Outreach Magazine Report (2005-06-17). Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  8. ^ 100 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches(2006)(#35). 2006 Outreach Magazine Report (2006-07-15). Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
  9. ^ Kootenai County Recorder's Office #I 2126812000 (Recorded 10-15-2007)
  10. ^ Kootenai County Recorder's Office #I 2077525000 (Recorded 1-16-2007)

External links