Church Asks Members to Recommit Each Year

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (March 8, 2005) - Followers of God are called to commitment in a variety of ways.

At the largest congregation in the Evangelical Covenant Church, the call to commitment comes in the form of a December letter with commitment reminders posted on the church's website.

Life Covenant Church is one of the largest and fastest growing congregations in the United States, but founding pastor Craig Groeschel is more concerned about how invested his parishioners are in the work of the Kingdom than in mere growth statistics. Life Covenant Church members are required to invest themselves in a small group, use their talents in some form of ministry, take part in discipleship training (called the Life Development Plan) and agree in writing to give 10 percent of their income to the church.

At the beginning of each year, his church effectively eliminates the membership roster, asking instead that "former" members re-commit themselves to being members for the coming year while encouraging newcomers to pursue membership and increase their involvement. In an age when many churches seem loathe to drop less-committed members from their rosters, Groeschel's congregation hopes that the unique membership concept will encourage parishioners to examine their motives and discern whether or not being at Life Covenant Church is where God is truly wants them to be.

"The church that I previously came from had a lot more members than people actually engaged in the church," said Groeschel, who celebrated nine years at Life Covenant Church in January. "A lot of the members had died or had moved away or weren't involved in any way. That just didn't seem healthy to me. We are a high-commitment, high-expectation church. The idea (of an annual membership recommitment) was to raise the bar and make membership more than just signing a piece of paper.

"We ask that people don't sign a covenant (membership agreement) unless they can keep it," Groeschel continued. "I believe that whatever our church's philosophy is, we need to be intentional. When Christ asked for followers, he asked for everything."

Each December, Life Covenant Church sends letters to those who are currently on the membership roster, asking them to prayerfully consider whether they desire to recommit to membership. It gives those who are considering another church home an opportunity to gracefully bow out of congregational life at Life Covenant Church. And for others, it provides a viable opportunity to think about whether they can commit to all they are being asked to do at their church.

While Groeschel understands that his congregation's concept is not for everyone, he believes that asking for high levels of commitment has helped the church to grow. Last year's membership total was around 4,000. Life Covenant's pastor estimates that membership will increase to 5,000 out of a worship base of around 14,000 attenders.

"At my previous church, if anyone ever left the church, it was generally a very painful experience for everyone," Groeschel said. "People were sort of considered traitors when it really shouldn't have been that way. For example, someone who had served at our church for 10 years might have felt their gifts no longer matched the direction of the church. For those who may have investigated other churches, we give them our blessing. And when some people have left, they've sent us thank you notes for the way we've ministered to them.

"It's a witness to the community," Groeschel adds. "We'd rather see people committed to ministry than flaunt inflated numbers in ministry."

Started in 1996, Life Covenant Church began with 20 people worshiping in a garage. The congregation grew to 1,250 in average worship attendance by 1999. According to 2003 Covenant Yearbook statistics, the church had an average worship attendance of 8,382, up from 5,899 the previous year.

Groeschel says the congregation's current average worship attendance is just over 13,000 – that includes 18 worship services at four worship sites in Oklahoma City, Edmond, Tulsa and Stillwater. Those numbers will most likely grow once a new 35,000-square-foot facility is in operation. The grand opening for the new satellite facility (bought last year) was held last Sunday.

Many ministries stand out at Life Covenant Church, but a multifaceted program for children – LifeKIDS - has been especially significant. In January, LifeKIDS recently completed "In the Beginning," a new interactive curriculum for children up to age five. To read more about the LifeKIDS ministry, visit the news archive at the Evangelical Covenant Church website (www.covchurch.org) and read the July 25, 2003, article.

To learn more about the church and its other ministries, call Sarah McLean at 405-216-7048 or call the main office number at 405-680-5433.

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