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In 2009, the Lord led Terence Merritt, M.D. to establish a ministry in Atlanta. The ministry was to be called the LIFE Church (John 10:10b “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”). Without any outside financial support and without any initial members, Dr. Merritt leased a building in the Candler Park neighborhood and began renovating it. This location, 344 Candler Park Drive, NE, became the birth place of LIFE Church. Dr. Merritt spent many hours in prayer in the building, before any services were held. LIFE began as a house of prayer, and continues to be so today.
On January 20, 2010, Dr. Merritt began leading weekly Wednesday evening Bible Study, and in February, he began having Sunday services. On March 7, 2010, the doors of LIFE were opened for the first time, and seven persons joined the new ministry. For the first year, LIFE gathered for worship every Wednesday evening and every Sunday afternoon. |
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In May 2010, Citadel of Hope COGIC was displaced by an electrical fire. Pastor Merritt agreed to sublease the LIFE Church building to Citadel. This generated additional income, allowing LIFE to finish renovating the facility. At the end of 2010, God instructed Pastor Merritt to move LIFE’s service to Sunday morning, beginning the first Sunday of 2011. Obedience to this instruction would terminate the sublease agreement with Citadel, causing immediate and significant revenue loss for the new ministry. This act of obedience, however, would serve as a pivotal point in the history and in the growth of LIFE. Beginning the first Sunday in January and every Sunday thereafter, the tithes and offerings exceeded the combined total of the sublease rental income and LIFE’s previous regular income. LIFE never suffered financially, as a result of making the change, but significantly benefited from it.
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The church continued to grow, and ministries were added, causing Dr. Merritt to begin to look for a permanent home for LIFE. The decision was made not to purchase the Candler Park property, due to the limited size of the sanctuary and to the lack of parking.
In December 2012, Pastor Merritt prophesied that 2013 would be a year of swift, sudden transitions for better, and in July, Dr. Merritt found what would become LIFE’s new home in Southwest Atlanta. In August, LIFE closed on the facility, and in September, LIFE moved into its new home. The Father favored the three year old ministry to purchase the 25,000 square foot facility and to obtain a mortgage for over $1 Million. The entire time LIFE leased the property in Candler Park, it remained an active listing on the MLS for sell, but there was not a single contract placed on the property, until after LIFE finalized the contract on its new facility. |
In January 2016, LIFE officially closed on the property directly across the street from the main campus, and called it LIFE Plaza. This is the second acquisition of LIFE church. The Plaza required renovations and much needed clean up. Immediately after its purchase, LIFERS took to the campus to clean, paint and beautify the property. The Plaza is currently undergoing renovations and has already received a brand new roof. This property will house the LIFE Community Development Corporation and so much more. We've been blessed to do all of this in just 8 years of ministry.
God has tremendously blessed and favored LIFE. LIFE’s ministries, which include the intercessory ministry, the children’s ministry, teen mentorship, the prison ministry, feeding and clothing of the needy, an employment network, and benevolent assistance, reach and impact beyond the walls of LIFE.
LIFE Church is a place where "miracles are common". Since the inception of the ministry, there have been many reported miracles and deliverances. Testimonies of healing are prevalent throughout LIFE. Lives are being radically transformed for the better, and to date, the church is growing by leaps and bounds. 8 years later, we are still holding to our original mission "Passionately Loving God and Intentionally Loving People.”
God has tremendously blessed and favored LIFE. LIFE’s ministries, which include the intercessory ministry, the children’s ministry, teen mentorship, the prison ministry, feeding and clothing of the needy, an employment network, and benevolent assistance, reach and impact beyond the walls of LIFE.
LIFE Church is a place where "miracles are common". Since the inception of the ministry, there have been many reported miracles and deliverances. Testimonies of healing are prevalent throughout LIFE. Lives are being radically transformed for the better, and to date, the church is growing by leaps and bounds. 8 years later, we are still holding to our original mission "Passionately Loving God and Intentionally Loving People.”