| LifeChurch.tv | |
| Life Covenant Church | |
|---|---|
| Location | Edmond, OK based[1] with various physical campuses, Internet and Second Life campuses |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Evangelical Christian |
| Weekly attendance | 38,000 (2011) |
| Website | www.lifechurch.tv |
| History | |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder(s) | Craig Groeschel |
| Architecture | |
| Status | Active |
| Clergy | |
| Senior pastor(s) | Craig Groeschel |
LifeChurch.tv (also known as Life Covenant Church or simply "Life Church") is an American evangelical multi-site church with multiple locations in five states. Craig Groeschel is the founder and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv.[1]
As of May 2010, there were thirteen LifeChurch.tv "campuses" located across the United States[2] (not including the internet campus or the "Second Life campus").[3] LifeChurch was listed in late 2011 as the second largest church in the United States with an attendance of 39,000.[2]
Contents |
In January 1996, Life Church began in Oklahoma City 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."[4] 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.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7][8][9]
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.[10] 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."[11]
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.
There are currently fourteen LifeChurch.tv campuses in five different states, as well as an internet campus.[3]
There are other churches that use LifeChurch.tv material.[12]
LifeChurch.tv is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC).[13] 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.[13]
