The LIFE Church Story

A New Church is Born
Our First Year
Our New Facility
We Continue to Grow

In January of 2003, Co-Pastor's Jeff Crabtree and Johnny Square of Iasis Christ Fellowship in Fort Collins, CO. began to pray and discuss the future leadership of that church. After many months of prayer and discussion, a proposal to start a new church in Fort Collins was presented to the Iasis Eldership and to the Leadership Team of the Fort Collins Church Network.

In the fall of 2003, after more prayer and discussion, it was confirmed, approved and endorsed by both the Iasis Eldership and the Leadership of the FCCN, that Pastor Jeff Crabtree should be released to launch a new church in Fort Collins, CO. The Iasis congregation was informed of this decision in the middle of November of that year.

Various information meetings were soon held to cast the vision for the new church, provide time for questions and answers and to discuss the specifics of this new church. At the same time, a name was established, a logo was developed, informational brochures were printed, a leadership team began to be formed, initial legal documents were completed and a core group began to be developed.

There were 156 individuals who signed the LIFE Charter and became the first official members. Then on January 11th 2004, LIFE Church of Fort Collins had its first official Sunday morning service with 131 people in attendance.

Our First Year

The first year of LIFE Church was nothing less than remarkable and miraculous. In the calendar year of 2004 there were 23 recorded first time commitments to Christ, 15 babies dedicated, several marriages performed, numerous babies born, and three baptisms. The average attendance hovered around 140 and about $525,000 was donated to the church in its first year of existence.

Our New Facility

A church facility was then purchased and renovations started. Seven individuals from the church were selected to lead various ministries and became the first LIFE Key Leader Team. There was a lot of progress, foundation laying and advancement for the first year of a new church.

As the church entered the new year of 2005, everyone prepared to take on a new but very exciting challenge…a transition to a new and permanent facility. Actually, the transition went very well with a full house our first Sunday. That Sunday LIFE church also interviewed a potential new Worship/Youth Pastor (Pastor Dave Yauk). Pastor Dave was then hired and our second full-time pastor was on board.

Our spring went well as we adjusted and a good group of new visitors began attending. Our average attendance jumped to about 175 and the church then began developing some new ministries that were unable to begin previously because of our lack of facilities. The summer found us attracting still more visitors who seem to assimilate well into the life, vision and ministries we were providing. In the fall, a full time administrative person was hired and the full time staff grew to three individuals.

We Continue To Grow

In January of 2006 an Elder team was established to help Pastor Jeff and the staff lead, nurture and guide the church into the future. Then at the beginning of February 2006 the church's only service was overflowing with people so a second service was established. Average attendance jumped to about 215 per Sunday.

At the beginning of April a part time Children's Director was hired and the paid staff moved to four individuals. The Youth Group that started only a year earlier with 6-7 kids had now grown to 25. More space was purchased to begin developing a Youth Game/Outreach Center. As we continue to grow and enhance our LIFE message and ministry for the rest of 2006, we will continue to focus on leadership development, assimilating new visitors, developing a brochure for visitors, initiating some new ministries and completing some facility improvements.

We are very excited about the mission and ministry our Lord has given us to "Receive His LIFE and to freely share it with others" in our community and around the world! We are very excited to continue to see LIFE Church grow, reach new individuals, couple and families and fill Fort Collins and our world with His LIFE!