Life.Church Stories - Episode 13

Living Out Love Beyond the Walls

Overview

Life Church exists to see real life-change, and this update showcases how generosity, service, and Scripture engagement are already transforming lives. Viewers travel from Tulsa streets—where the City Lights Foundation loves and restores the homeless—out to the West Coast octagon with MMA champion Michael Chandler, who draws his confidence from God’s word. The update finishes with concrete news on new campuses and building progress, all fueled by the church’s faithful giving.

Themes

City Lights Foundation: Hope on Tulsa Streets

• Life Church cameras join Destiny and Chad as they deliver a $50,000 grant check on-site.
• Mission: “loving individuals, giving hope, and touching souls.”
• The team stresses that relationship comes first; resources follow.
• Illustration: Volunteers from Life Church show up consistently, creating visible change in the neighborhood through friendship and dignity.
• The grant strengthens ongoing outreach to the homeless and inner-city families.

• “We love, love, love our Life Church volunteers… they give God their best by loving people.”

Inside the Cage: Michael Chandler’s Battle for Identity

• Known for brutal bouts in mixed martial arts, Chandler says the real fight is in the mind.
• He refuses to “listen to himself” (fears, doubts) and instead “talks to himself” with God’s truth.
• Practices mental discipline: repeats that he is “created in the image of an Almighty Savior.”
• Scripture through the Bible App anchors him daily; quick access keeps him “built up and encouraged.”
• Story: Pre-fight routine centers on guarding his heart, silencing lies, and rehearsing biblical identity rather than crowd noise or opponent hype.

• “If I sit in silence and listen to myself, I’m going to hear negativity… but if I talk to myself, I am in the driver’s seat.”

Building Projects & Campus Expansion

• Fort Worth campus moves into its permanent facility later this year.
• Shawnee breaks ground on a new building.
• Two brand-new locations announced: Norman, OK (opening later in 2017) and Northeast Tulsa, OK (groundbreaking in coming months).
• Every project is funded by the congregation’s giving, serving, and praying.
• Leadership frames buildings as tools to “help people find God and find life,” not ends in themselves.

Key Truths

• Generosity turns into real stories of restored dignity and hope.
• True battle for identity happens in the mind and is won by anchoring to Scripture.
• Technology like the Bible App places God’s word within instant reach for daily strength.
• Campus growth multiplies opportunities to lead people toward becoming fully devoted followers of Christ.

Response

• Continue giving faithfully so local partners and new campuses can flourish.
• Volunteer with outreach partners like City Lights Foundation to offer hands-on love.
• Engage Scripture daily—use the Bible App to “talk to yourself” with God’s truth.
• Pray for upcoming building projects and the people each future campus will reach.

Closing

Life Church celebrates visible, measurable impact: homeless neighbors finding friendship, a world-class fighter standing firm in Christ, and new buildings rising to house future stories of life-change. The update ends with gratitude and a call to keep the momentum:

“It’s the way you give, the way you serve, and the way you pray that God is allowing our church to make such a big difference in the world.”

Resources

• City Lights Foundation (Tulsa)
• YouVersion Bible App