New Life Café
atmosphere, but one where the ministries and gifts of the Holy Spirit are eagerly anticipated, and where freedom of worship expression is encouraged. Two Sunday worship services—9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.—are conducted in order to care for more than 1,400 people who now call New Life Tyler their church home. On the Sunday that this writer spoke there, both services ended with dynamic Pentecostal altar services where people were changed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
But to classify New Life Tyler as a “worship center” alone would be a mischaracterization. Multigenerational, multicul- tural, and multiracial worship services are supplemented by vari- ous well-defined ministries, which include Faith Arena for chil- dren, Engage student ministry, and a college-age ministry called Elevate. Pastor C. J. directs Women of Life, and there is a special outreach called Solo Moms. LifeBuilders provides ministry and service opportunities for men and boys, and Bridge Builders is designed around the unique needs of senior adults. A fully- staffed children’s ministry center, housed in the new annex that was dedicated in 2009, accommodates the Faith Arena on Sun- days, as well as the weekday Kidz R Life Daycare that ministers to both the church and community. A well-trained staff minis- ters alongside Pastors Rudy and C. J. in providing leadership and care for the church.
Pastor Bond and the congregation believe that prayer is the key for successful living, and the practice of prayer is a vital part of their ministry. There are preservice prayer times before each worship service, 6:33 a.m. Tuesday prayer time (see Matthew
6:33), and dedicated seasons of prayer and fasting throughout the calendar year. Testimonies of miraculous healings, experi- ences of salvation and deliverance, and otherwise unexplainable blessings have come forth from this emphasis on prayer. To supplement this emphasis, a prayer-request link is available 24/7 on the church website at
www.newlifetyler.com. Recently, a Hispanic pastoral team has been added, resulting in the establishment of a regular weekly Sunday night Hispanic worship service. The words of an old children’s chorus—“Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight”—is reflective of the vision and the composition of New Life Tyler. New Life Outreach provides a multidimensional jail and pris- on ministry. With the Word of God as a primary tool and text, New Life provides in-house care for the incarcerated, exit assis- tance upon release, and aftercare programs for those seeking to reenter society following imprisonment. New Life also provides ongoing recovery opportunities for the formerly incarcerated to overcome addictions and anger issues.
Michael’s House of Hope is a residential reentry campus that works in partnership with Teen Challenge and other ministries in providing transition assistance for people dealing with addic- tions. This ministry provides professional therapy, treatment, and counseling, including cognitive restructuring, individual and family therapy, anger resolution, and job placement, all from a faith-based perspective.
Is Pastor Rudy Bond surprised at the phenomenal growth of New Life Tyler? Not really. Is he humbled and appreciative? Yes, but he believes there is a difference between a good thing and a God thing. He and the congregation believe that New Life Wor- ship Center was and is a God thing, and that “He who has begun a good work in [them] will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV).
CHRIST CENTRAL CHURCH OF GOD— LINDALE, TEXAS
James Dill, a veteran pastor, began Christ Central Church a little more than three years ago. In a community of less than 3,000 people, Christ Central is approximately 20 miles from the heart of Tyler.
Christ Central Church
EVANGEL • JULY 2010 11
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