New Life 20 Years of Changing Lives Memory Book

I n J anuary 200 1 , B i sh op D u d ley s h a re d a vision of be g i n ning a who listi c min is t ry to mee t the spi r i tual nee d s o f the O ' F a llo n a r e a a n d its s u rroundin g comm u nitie s w i t h th ose wh o G o d h a d bro ug h t to geth e r fo r s u c h a t im e a s th i s . S hor t l y t h er eafter, he b e g an teac hin g Bib le S tudy cla ss es in t he hom e o f He r m a n an d De b o rah W i lli a m s o f O' F all o n, Il l inois . Th i s gr o up of b e l i e vers b eca me k n o wn as t h e C ore G ro up.

In Se ptembe r 2001, t hey be gan pl a nn in g an d s owi n g fi nan c e s t o su ppor t t h e es t ab l i s hment o f th e m ini s tr y. The sa me yea r , G o d g av e B i sho p Ge off r ey V. Du d le y, Sr. , D.M in . the na m e o f t h e c h urc h, Ne w Li f e . In Ja nu a r y 20 0 2 , t he f o u ndin g Core Group h a d es t a bl i she d a Bu s in e ss Pla nn i n g Co mmit tee t o beg i n lay i ng t h e f o u n d a tion for t he v i s i o n. In Au gus t 200 2, B i sh o p Du d l ey and th e Core G r oup le as ed se v eral off ice sp ace s at 1 40 0 So u t h L i n co ln Aven ue , O 'Fallon, Il l i n o i s to s er v e a s an offi ce and tea ch in g /lea r n i n g f ac i l ity. Wi t h t he h e l p o f the Lo r d , in N ov e m b er 2 0 02 N LC p ur c h as e d 1 1 .5 acre s o f la n d ( W est o f Tr oy - S c o t t R o ad O'F allo n , I l lino is ) f or $ 4 4 6 , 0 0 0. 00 to serve as t h e futu r e ho me of N LC. Bi sh o p D u d le y op en ed th e B i ble S tudi es to th e p u blic in Ja nu a r y 20 03. B y A p ri l 6 , 2 00 3 , ap p r o xi ma t e l y 2 2 5 L if e Chang er Covena n t Part n er s were ali gne d wi th the v isio n o f NLC.

On Ap ril 20, 2 0 0 3 (Res ur rec tion Sun d a y) , N LC h e ld it f i r s t worship ser vic e a t th e F our Po i n t s Sh er a ton Hote l in F ai r vi ew H e i g h ts, I ll i no is. Over 8 1 2 ind i vi d ua l s we r e the re to wi t ne s s t he beg in nin g o f God ' s wo rk.

By Jan u a ry 2 00 4 , t h er e we re ove r 1000 L i fe C han g e r Cov e n a n t P art ner s ( a d ults a nd c hild r en ) . G oo d Fr i da y , A p r i l 9 , 2004 N LC cele b r ated a G roundbr ea king C e r e m o n y to b u ild the c hurc h . As o f 20 0 5 , t h e re wer e 1 5 00 L i fe C ha ng e r Cov e na n t P a r tne rs an d t h e c hu r c h was p repa ri ng t o mar c h-i n t o th e n e w c h urch b ui ld i ng . Ju ne 25, 20 0 5 w a s t he f i rs t w o rshi p in N e w L if e Ch ur c h a t it s new ho m e o n 6 8 9 S co tt -Tro y Ro a d w hi ch is a $ 4. 3 Mi ll i o n Facil i t y ( 30, 0 0 0 sq u a re fe e t wit h a 45 0- s e at sa n ctuar y , g ym , C hris t ian E ducat io n c la ss r oom s , admini s trativ e off i c e s a n d chil d ca r e cen te r ).

Sen io r P a stor D udle y w as c o ns ec r a ted as a Bi s ho p i n t h e L ord' s churc h i n O c t ob er 2 009. N e w Li f e co n tinue s t o g r o w th e kin gdo m t h ro ugh wi nning so u l s fo r Chr is t ; m e n t oring you ng pe o pl e ; mi n isterin g t o y o un g famili e s ; be co mi n g m o r e di ve rse and 5 0% m al e . Th e chu rc h co nt i n u es con s t r u cti o n o f C harle s & D ea nn e Ra y fo rd C D C (Tee n Ci ty ) . L ife Ch a n g e r s at NL C are co m mi tt ed t o l ayin g th e f o un d ati o n for t h e Ne w L ife Co mm uni t y C ampus i n or d er to me et i t s o b li g ati on to th i s gene r a ti on and gene ra tio n s to com e.

As of tod ay t h e re ar e o ve r 2 50 0 Li f e C h ang er C o ve n an t Part n e rs c o n ne c te d a t t h e mai n c a m p u s . N e w L if e c ha nged t h e name to s im p ly N ew L ife in 2020. T h e re a r e t w o c h u rch p l ants in Afr i c a ; I vory Co ast and Mo n r o v i a, Li b eria a nd one c hu r ch pla n t in C olum bus, GA - N ew Life C o l um b us. W ha t a Mig h ty G o d we Se r ve!