What to Expect

Here’s what you can expect when visiting New Life Church:

Variety

You will find true diversity when you visit our services. Our family atmosphere is personal and welcoming for all guests. The worship environment is an uplifting experience and the services are designed for participation. We typically worship as we live, with enthusiasm.

Bible instruction for all ages

Along with our two main worship services, on Sundays we offer a variety of Christian education experiences. Personalized classes tailored by age, grade and interests serve individuals from infants through senior adults.

Child care

A nursery is provided for infants and toddlers. This loving, safe, comfortable atmosphere helps show children at the earliest ages that church is a good place to be. Child care also frees parents for worship and reduces distractions. Read more about children’s ministry.

Children’s worship

Bible-oriented activities are provided for preschool and elementary-age children. At this level, young children are taught to sing, pray, memorize Scripture, and learn important Bible truths. They are instructed and led in worship at their own levels. Read more about children’s ministry.

Facilities

New Life facilities are highly functional and practical, in keeping with our mission. We utilize platforms and modern technology (sound, lighting and projection systems) with creativity. Our services and events incorporate responsible, loving governance of worship, the sharing of God’s Word and times at altars meeting with God.

Music

Music is a major feature of our worship, before, during and even after the service itself. New Life incorporates the use of modern technology to enhance the worshipers’ experience. We work hard to make sure that all guests can hear, see, and respond easily to the worship environment. We also use a wide variety of musical instruments in our worship services; piano, synthesized keyboard, guitars, violin and drums to mention a few. Whatever the accompaniment, inspired singing is the order of the day. Any given service may include traditional hymns, hand-clapping gospel songs, contemporary compositions or reverent worshipful choruses. Music will include both congregational and special ministries — duets, ensembles, choirs, instrumentals. At New Life music is always more than a performance; it’s the music of worship. 

Worship Experience

The service may include quiet times of waiting in God’s presence, spiritually savoring the sacred atmosphere. Other times may be vocal with collective praise as worshipers are invited to spontaneously express love and adoration to God. In everything, a flow of worship should be evident and, despite the spontaneity and excitement, there is a healthy prevailing nature of honor and order. Worship styles will reflect the spectrum of personalities. Some are quiet and reserved; some shout with joy; others are simply tender and openly emotional during times of praise or preaching. No sincere worshiper need feel out of place in New Life Church.

Prayer

There are times and seasons in every service that invite the worshipers to participate in meaningful prayer. Needs from inside and outside the church family are frequently made known. The congregation prays together. At times, all may pray aloud but these times are always governed in a healthy manner by pastoral leadership.

Altar Ministry

As in the New Testament, specific prayer is always offered for those dealing with sickness or other life issues. People will be invited forward to have the pastors or respected leadership lay hands on them and pray (Mark 16:18). This is always done in a kind, safe and considerate manner. Only those individuals who are well known, well trained and highly respected by Pastoral leadership are released to pray with individuals who have come to the altar in specific response to an invitation.

Giving

During the service, tithes and offerings will be received. More than a collection to pay church bills, this too is worship. Our members feel giving the tithe (the first tenth of income) and offerings declares that God comes first. It recognizes His blessing, expresses faith and seeks His guidance in every matter in life. The ministries of the local church and globe-encircling work of New Life and the Assemblies of God are supported solely by free-will giving. However, visitors need not feel obligated to give. Read more about giving.

Spiritual gifts

New Life is a full Gospel family of believers. We believe in, and operate in, the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are governed by the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This means that all expressions of charismatic gifts will be governed by love and the other healthy attributes listed in Galatians 5:22-23. The planned service order may be suspended as individuals speak or share as prompted by the Holy Spirit, under the supervision of the pastor (1 Corinthians 12-14). One may speak out in an unknown tongue, a Spirit-guided language other than that of the congregation. Another individual, or perhaps the same one, will then give the interpretation. On occasion, the Spirit may prompt someone to speak out, to prophesy, in the language of the congregation. The gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation, and other spiritual gifts bring the church immediate challenge and confirm Bible truths. Once again, honor and order are important spiritual guidelines for us in governing the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Challenging messages

The climax of the service comes with the preaching of God’s Word, the Bible, and an invitation for hearers to respond. The messages are fervent, inspiring and practical. The pastor or speaker may close with an invitation for those who need forgiveness in their lives to come forward and accept Christ as Savior. Those who feel a need to rededicate their lives to Christ or to pray about other concerns are also invited to come. Believers are urged to ask God for the baptism in the Holy Spirit to further empower them for Christian service. Often everyone is invited to come pray during the altar service. Deep emotion and excitement may or may not be demonstrated at the altars, but everyone who calls on God in faith receives something. If you have wondered what a Pentecostal service is like, we invite you to observe and experience God’s joy and peace that defy description. When you visit again, come expecting. Expect a move of God not only in the service, but also in your life. We think you will agree that the comfort, help and strength He gives are better experienced than explained.