Definition Life.Church is an American evangelical multi-site megachurch based in Edmond, Oklahoma. It is recognized for its significant influence in digital ministry and its development of the widely used YouVersion Bible App.
Overview Founded in 1996 by Craig Groeschel, Life.Church has grown from a single location to one of the largest churches in the United States, operating numerous physical campuses across multiple states. The church is particularly noted for its innovative approach to leveraging technology for ministry, including pioneering the multi-site model and sharing its resources freely with other churches through its Open Network initiative. Its mission is "to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ." The church's official name, including the ".Church" domain, reflects its early and sustained emphasis on digital presence and accessibility.
Etymology/Origin Life.Church was founded by Craig Groeschel and a small group of people in 1996 in Edmond, Oklahoma. Initially named "Life Church," the current branding "Life.Church" incorporates the top-level domain ".church," signaling its strong commitment to digital innovation and online presence from its early days. This adoption highlights its identity as a forward-thinking institution in the digital age of religious organizations.
Characteristics
- Multi-site Model: Life.Church operates dozens of physical campuses across several U.S. states, all teaching from the same weekly message delivered by its senior pastor, often via video.
- Digital Ministry Pioneer: The church is a leading innovator in digital ministry, developing and sharing a vast array of free resources, including sermon series, worship music, and children's curriculum, through its Open Network platform.
- YouVersion Bible App: Life.Church developed and maintains the YouVersion Bible App, a highly popular and free mobile application that provides access to the Bible in hundreds of languages and versions, along with reading plans and audio Bibles.
- Evangelical Theology: The church adheres to evangelical Christian doctrines, emphasizing personal conversion, the authority of the Bible, and evangelism.
- Contemporary Worship: Services typically feature modern worship music, engaging multimedia presentations, and relevant sermon topics designed to appeal to a broad audience.
- Emphasis on Technology: Technology is integral to Life.Church's operations, from live streaming services and online giving to advanced communication tools and resource development.
Related Topics
- Megachurches
- Evangelicalism
- Digital Ministry
- YouVersion Bible App
- Craig Groeschel
- Multi-site Churches
- Church Planting