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Oklahoma Church Builds Innovative Kids' Facility
EDMOND, OK (July 25, 2003) - Life Church has grown into a congregation of more
than 6,500 during its initial seven years of ministry by using cutting
edge worship and taking risks every step of the way.
The largest Covenant church in North America is now taking another risk
in its children's ministry program - and has committed to raising $1
million to make it one of the more unique spiritual play experiences
around.
Life Church is hosting a grand opening for its new LifeKIDS Experience -
new facilities for its children's ministry - on August 9. It culminates
a $1 million Building Blocks fundraising campaign that began last
winter. Thus far, according to the church's website, 739 pledges have
been given, totaling $640,359 for Building Blocks. Of that amount,
$318,774 has already been received.
LifeKIDS pastor Scott Werner said that the changes in children's
ministry at Life Church are in part because of the sheer number of kids
that are involved - 1,100 children from zero through fifth grade during
an average week. But the new facilities, including interactive gaming
areas, life-sized kids' towns and soft play toys, moon bounces, and a
talking tree, isn't just about keeping kids occupied during adult
worship services. Life Church wants its LifeKIDS ministry areas to be
'the place to be' for kids living in and around Oklahoma City.
"We were doing the same old thing (in children's ministry) like
everybody else and that was not in line with the vision of Life Church,"
said Werner, who was called to his current ministry position in January
2002. "Through the call God put in me, he put a vision that said to me
that it could be so much more. And we came to believe we could create an
experience that, when kids are asked 'Where do you want to go?' they
say, 'We want to be at LifeKIDS.' "
Life Church evolved quickly after being started by pastor Craig
Groeschel in January 1996. The church began with 20 people worshiping in
a garage and grew to 1,250 in average worship attendance by 1999. A year
later, it had more than doubled and - after a merger with another area
congregation - it has grown to become a megachurch with seven different
weekend services.
The church has taken its fair share of criticism for using video sermons
to help grow his church and satellite congregations in Tulsa and
Stillwater, but Groeschel has stated that he doesn't mind taking a few
risks to further the gospel. He did so with Werner, a former hair
stylist who sold real estate and was a marketing director before being
called to ministry.
Werner dreamed about how Life Church's children's ministries could
expand and he told Groeschel about it. Groeschel had also dreamed of
starting an innovative children's ministry and Werner and Life Church
have scoured the country trying to brainstorm how to get the project off
the ground.
In June 2002, the church contacted Bruce Barry's Wacky World Studios,
based in Tampa, Florida, which has designed innovative children's
ministries for several other churches. Barry had become a Christian
while designing a children's ministry site at a church several years
ago. He and Werner began to talk about the possibilities of working on
LifeKIDS Experience and the two hit it off. The result? Five different
types of spiritual experience rooms, including:
- In the Beginning, which will reach those from birth to three years
old and includes a Tree of Life, a life-sized animatronic interactive
character, along with a garden, jungle, and an under-the-sea area for
various ages.
- The Ark, which allows four-year-olds to build and design a structure
in a hands-on area.
- Crosstown, which is centered on five-year-olds and includes
three-dimensional sets including a museum and a school, among other things.
- Toon Town, which is made for those age six through third grade and
includes large play sets, animatronic characters and a game show.
- Studio 45, geared for those in fourth and fifth grade and equipped
with numerous modes of learning opportunities in an interactive format.
For photos click
here
"LifeKIDS is like no other in the nation," said Werner of the new
facilities. "It is the reality of the hard work of hundreds of people,
God-given talents and abilities, the generosity of so many and the
blessing of a pastor who believes that when you empower people to
fulfill the call of God on their lives, God will bring it to pass. I am
eternally grateful that I have been called to stand in the position I
now stand in. And I know this is only the beginning."
For more information on the Building Blocks campaign or LifeKIDS, please
contact LifeKIDS pastor Scott Werner at 405-680-5433 or email
scottw@lifechurch.tv. More about the church can be found on the church
website, www.lifechurch.tv.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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