Our Beginnings

It’s impossible to talk about the origins of New Life Christian Church and not also discuss New Friends New Life.

New Friends New Life is a faith-based not for profit organization in Dallas, Texas that helps women leave sexually oriented businesses. The ministry provides financial resources, supportive counseling, referral services, financial management training, career and vocational counseling, a children’s program, and spiritual support through Bible study groups. To put it mildly, New Friends New Life ministers to every aspect of a woman’s life in order to assist her to become both independent and interdependent, giving her the ability to self-actualize, contribute to society, and to experience a life that is truly life.

I began working with New Friends New Life in May 2003. Just a month prior to my employment I made the now famous statement, “I don’t want to work with prostitutes.” Now, this statement wasn’t made because of any self-righteous or judgmental posturing on my part but because I didn’t think I had what it took to adequately serve such a needy group of women. It was only out of shear desperation that I went in for the interview with New Friends. It was my second semester of Seminary at Brite Divinity School and I needed a job.

Since that time I’ve grown in ways I could have never imagined both spiritually and emotionally. I’ve learned not to put God in a box but to simply be open to where and to whom God might lead me. It is because of that openness that New Life Christian Church was planted in the fall of 2006.

Through the ministry of New Friends New Life and my teaching a Bible Class called “Newcomers”, I discovered the deep spiritual needs of the women, and their longing to be apart of a faith community that was non-judgmental, accepting, welcoming and real. In fact, on one occasion in preparation to present a lecture on “Ministering to Marginalized Women” I asked the women of the Newcomers class the following question, “What observable qualities and characteristics would attract them to a faith community?”

For a church to be compelling the women said, “it would have to be non-judgmental; a community where their voices were considered valid; women should be able to see themselves and their experiences in Scripture; there should be a respect for different perspectives; the Bible should be presented as more than informational; they should discover a redemptive quality in regard to their pain and suffering; the preaching and teaching should be passionate and compelling; the members should have a concern for building community; and they should be free to question and critique.” Most of the women stated that to date, they had not discovered such a community of faith. Instead most of the women considered New Friends New Life their church.

However, as a pastor, I knew the women and their families needed something more. They needed to know what it was to be a part of the church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A loving community with Christ as the center reaching out in love to those considered “outsiders.” Consequently, New Life Christian Church was born. With eight women including myself as core members, we conducted out first service on October 15, 2006. Our first service attracted over thirty people. Three un-churched people joined our church that first service. Since that time we have been faithfully reaching out, loving, and providing a safe place for people to experience the transforming power of the love of Christ.


Mission --Vision -- Values

The Vision
To build a Christian Community where the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, taught, and lived out in the daily lives of believers: and where all people can discover a radically new life of love for God and of humble service to the world.

The Mission
By the authority of Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit New Life Christian Church seeks to: Transform lives that transform the world.

We Value
Neighbor – (Luke 10:25-37) (Genesis 1:26-27)
Evangelism – (Matthew 28:18)
Worship and the Word - (John 21:26) (Romans 12:1)

Love as our identifying mark - (Matthew 22:37-40)
Inclusiveness - (Galatians 3:28)
Freedom to grow and mature in Christ - (Galatians 5:1)
Equipping believers for the work of ministry - (Ephesians 4:12)

Core Beliefs

• We believe in the centrality of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

• We believe the power of the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ makes all things new.

• We believe all human beings as created in the image of God and therefore, we acknowledge our responsibility to embody God’s love and forgiveness toward all humanity.

• We believe in the priesthood of all believers—the conviction that every confessing disciple of Christ has a vocation of servant hood.

• We value the centrality of the Lord’s Supper—this rich weekly celebration whose nature reminds us of the hospitality we are called to show to everyone of God’s children.

• We are committed to following the example of Jesus who defined the purpose of his ministry in Luke 4:18, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

• We believe that because Jesus had a special concern for those considered the last, the least and the lost that our primary goal is ministry in the margins—the un-churched and those marginalized by society.

What you may expect from the Church…

Once you make the decision to unite with New Life Christian Church you will then belong to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and to the universal people of God who are united together in a common faith. Upon uniting with any community of believers you ought to have certain expectations. We are no different.

Therefore, from New Life Christian Church and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) you may expect the following: to receive in the presence of the people of God the grace of God through baptism; a community of believers who join together at the Lord ’s Table each Sunday for renewal and remembrance through the breaking of bread, partaking of the cup, and worship of our Lord; a commitment to provide a loving and caring community while you grow and mature in Christ; to be present and accounted for during the critical events of your family life; and opportunities for biblical study and discipleship whereby you can channel your witness and service to Christ.

What the church expects from you...
On becoming a member of New Life Christian Church, each one covenants to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God by being learners seeking to know and carry out the will of God in it’s various forms; to love and respect each member thereby acknowledging the humanity and divinity in us all; to be diligent in prayer, confession, and reconciliation—always pursuing right relationships with one another; to respect, love, and honor the Pastor; to pray for her (and her daughter) and recognize her authority and pastoral leadership in spiritual affairs of the church; to support the church in prayer, regular giving of tithes and offerings, regular church attendance, and with other financial support as the Lord enables for ministry advancement such as outreach, spreading the gospel, feeding the poor, etc., and to prepare spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually to be equipped for the work of ministry.