Life.Church Stories - Episode 07

Leading People to Become Fully Devoted Followers of Christ

Overview

Life.Church pauses to celebrate a decade of “irrational generosity.” Consistent giving of time and resources has allowed the church to:

1. release millions of free tools to ministries worldwide,
2. build new permanent campuses in Kansas, Oklahoma, and New York, and
3. stage the yearly “At the Movies” experience that draws thousands of first-time guests. Every story highlights one conviction—generosity opens doors for people to meet Jesus.

“We exist to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.”

Themes

10 Years of Giving Away Resources

• Requests for messages, graphics, and curriculum in 2006 led the team to make everything free.
• Millions of downloads now include the Bible App, Bible App for Kids, Church Online Platform, and staff training tools.
• Pastors around the globe testify that these resources “revolutionized” their churches.
• Guiding belief: “God so loved the world that He gave… we’re never more like God than when we’re giving.”
• Rally phrase: “We will lead the way with irrational generosity because it is more blessed to give than to receive.”

Building for the Future

• 25 U.S. locations host in-person services; Church Online reaches worldwide.
• Three construction projects funded in cash:
  • Overland Park, KS – first permanent facility, poised to serve the greater Kansas City area.
  • Northwest Oklahoma City, OK – first permanent facility, only two blocks from the current meeting space.
  • Albany, NY – moving into a larger, higher-visibility space; crucial in “the number-one post-Christian city in America.”
• Purpose of each building: expand capacity to love unchurched people and “see lives changed for eternity.”

The Making of “At the Movies”

• Most-attended series every July: church services built around popular films.
• Four straight days of setup: carpenters, painters, and volunteers work late into the night transforming lobbies.
• Atmosphere includes elaborate sets, popcorn, and candy—designed so newcomers “are in utter disbelief at what they’re seeing.”
• Heart behind the effort: “It’s for that one person who has never experienced Jesus.”
• Expectation: entire families will arrive for the spectacle and stay for a relationship with Christ.

Key Truths

• Generosity mirrors God’s own nature and multiplies impact far beyond one congregation.
• Free, high-quality resources remove barriers for churches worldwide to preach the gospel.
• Debt-free construction lets campuses focus resources on ministry rather than mortgages.
• Creative, excellent environments can draw people who would never walk into a traditional service.
• Every project—digital or physical—is measured by one outcome: life change through Christ.

Response

• Continue giving consistently; every dollar and hour fuels global ministry.
• Pray for the Overland Park, Northwest OKC, and Albany campuses as they open their doors.
• Volunteer for “At the Movies” setup, greeting, or follow-up teams.
• Share the free Bible App and Church Online links with other churches and friends who need them.
• Invite someone far from God to attend an upcoming service or series.

Closing

Generosity, creativity, and strategic expansion are producing stories “too many to count,” yet each one represents a person discovering new life in Jesus. Life.Church pledges to keep giving everything possible so that the mission stays front-and-center.

“Whoever finds God finds life.”