The year was 1978. Nearly two decades had passed since an Episcopalian priest named Dennis Bennett received the “baptism of the Holy Spirit” and, subsequently, the winds of renewal began to sweep through mainline Protestant and Roman Catholic churches in America. Leaders in this “charismatic movement” were generally encouraging participants to stay in their own churches and pray for continued renewal.

Two such leaders, Kevin McClure and Wally McGuire, were attending Lutheran Brethren Seminary in Fergus Falls.  McClure was also directing Christian Youth Ministries, a growing group of young people on the forefront of renewal and evangelism.

During one week in the spring of 1978, five individuals independently approached McClure to tell him he should prayerfully consider starting a charismatic church in Fergus Falls. McClure disliked the idea, but when McGuire, his half-brother, encouraged him to pray about it, he began to take the idea seriously.

 

Weeks later, after a good deal of prayer and discussion, Community Bible Church was born on the first Sunday in June, 1978. McClure and a handful of men involved in CYM became elders and McGuire became senior pastor in the fall of that year – a position he filled until his retirement in December 2000. Community Bible Church began meeting at the lecture hall of the Fergus Falls High School. Land was acquired on Meadowlark Lane and construction began on their first permanent building. Services were first held in the lower level of the church in May of 1982.

 

Following Pastor McGuire's retirement in 2000, Pastor Patrick Herzog became the senior pastor of the 22 year old congregation. As the elders, staff and congregation realized they were outgrowing their present facility, they began to seek the Lord for direction regarding building. After much research and study, they realized that adding on to their present site would not be feasible. 126 acres were purchased west of town and construction began in the summer of 2005. The first service was held at the new facility, now called "Life Church," on Sunday, May 20, 2006.

 

From the beginning, Life Church has celebrated freedom – the freedom of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer and in the life of the church, and the freedom of each believer under the lordship of Jesus Christ. While the church affirms the authority of Scripture and the truth of the essential doctrines expressed in the Nicene and Apostle’s Creeds, it has always recognized, along with the apostle Paul ( Romans 14 ) that Christians will differ in belief and practice in regard to “questionable matters.” It therefore affirms Augustine’s rule: “In essentials, unity; in doubtful questions, liberty; in all things, charity.”

 

As we’ve entered the new millennium and a new season of growth, Life Church remains steadfast to the principles on which it was founded while maintaining an attitude of openness to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The church sees itself as one small but essential member of the worldwide body of believers whose vision is to worship and glorify the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. On a smaller scale, it sees itself as a body consisting of diverse members, each of whom has a vital function.

 

The church is committed to nurturing, edifying and expanding the body of Christ – in Fergus Falls and surrounding communities and, by extension, throughout the world – through prayer, proclamation and the various ministries of the Holy Spirit. In keeping with the Protestant doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, the church believes every member, young and old, weak and strong, has a crucial role to play in its mission: to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, who offers freedom – of spirit, soul and body – to all captives.