Life.Church Stories - Episode 17

Making a Difference Together

Opening Moments

The host welcomed everyone with Life Church’s heartbeat: “We are meant to be spiritual contributors, not spiritual consumers.” From the first sentence the room felt charged with purpose—time, money, and service offered back to God so “people’s lives change through the power of Christ the same way that we have been changed.”

Testimonies

Rocco – Life Church Albany

• Setting: Downtown Albany harbor worker; wife brought him to church three years ago.
• Journey: First visit felt “great,” then skepticism set in. He “knew about God—I had the tattoos—but I didn’t really know Him.” Still, he chose to serve.
• Turning Point: Three years of steady volunteering opened his heart. “Now my relationship with Christ is very intimate. I talk to Him on a daily basis… it is amazing.”
• Emotions: Humble gratitude and surprise that obedience birthed closeness.

Jason Hines – Life Church Broadway (Britain)

• Calling clarified “two or three years ago: pouring into the lives of kids.”
• Step of Faith: Tried LifeKids “to see if I’m actually cut out for the whole kids thing—turned out to be a really, really great choice.”
• Impact: Watched children move from confusion to connection. “As they move up to second grade and third grade and fourth grade you see all the pieces being put together.”
• Beyond Sundays: Took kids to basketball games and arcades, partnered with parents, and “had the privilege to see several of my kids accept Christ as their Savior.”
• Insight: Passion-driven leaders make LifeKids “the perfect vehicle” for life-change.

Partner Representatives – Community Restoration

• Partnership: In June 2017, seven Christ-centered organizations received $70,000 in grants; overall giving now tops $25 million in the past decade.
• Fruit: Countless foster families served. One leader testified, “To partner with Life Church has been amazing… I don’t know how many kids have been served, but I can tell you it’s many.”
• Gratitude: “I’m thankful for you guys that give financially and of your time—it takes both.”

Holy-Spirit Highlights

• Obedience before certainty—Rocco served while still doubting and met Jesus deeply.
• Calling confirmed through action—Jason discovered purpose once he stepped into LifeKids.
• Generosity multiplies—thousands of foster children blessed because a church chose to give.
• Consistent theme: ordinary believers becoming “spiritual contributors” who transform lives.

Prayer Points & Next Steps

• Pray for Rocco’s continued growth and bold witness at the harbor.
• Ask God to raise more LifeKids leaders with Jason’s passion and stamina.
• Cover partner ministries: strength, resources, and divine favor as they restore communities.
• Personal action: examine where each of us can serve, give, or mentor the next generation this week.

Closing Blessing

“Thank you so much, Life Church, for living out what it means to be a spiritual contributor—both in how you give, how you serve, and how you pray. God truly is using you to make a difference around the world as you fulfill our mission of leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.”