Our History
1983
- New Life Church forms; meets in a home
1985
- Church grows; begins to meet in a rented hall at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in West Orange
1991
- Terry A. Smith is elected as pastor by 54 members
- Church begins to meet in the Washington Street School gymnasium
- Church offices set up in the basement of Pastor & Sharon Smith’s home
- Pastor introduces the concept of small groups, called LIFE (Life In a Family Environment) groups
1993
- The New Life Church begins to meet in the West Orange Community House on Main Street and rents office space at 91 Main Street
- Active search to purchase a worship property begins
1995
- 106 Harrison Avenue property purchased
- 106 Harrison Avenue turns from a printing factory into an amazing worship center
- First Weekend Celebration held in July
- Church renamed “The Life Christian Church”
1999
- TLCC members vote unanimously to purchase 55-57 Ridgeway Avenue in West Orange as a potential site for a new worship center.
- TLCC Ministry Offices and Family Life Center moves from 106 Harrison Avenue to the Ridgeway Campus
2000
- Fellowship area at 106 Harrison Avenue remodeled into KidZone
2002
- Pastor Terry begins negotiating with the town of West Orange and developer Larry Pantirer for the exchange of the Ridgeway Campus with undeveloped Metzger farm on Northfield Avenue
- TLCC members vote unanimously to pursue the opportunity to exchange the properties and develop a worship center on the Northfield property.
2004
- Town of West Orange approves Northfield deal for TLCC
- TLCC hires architect David Price who consults with Master Site Team in designing our Northfield Campus
2005
- Master Site Plane for Northfield facility is revealed to TLCC congregation in February
2006
- Northfield lot officially becomes 747 Northfield Avenue and is dedicated during our “From Dirt to Destiny” Event
2008
- TLCC completes construction of temporary office complex at 747 Northfield Avenue
2009
- Begin preparing Northfield site for construction