Technology and religion, together at last. And I mean up to date technology!
LifeChurch.tv have a very modern, Web 2.0 designed-in-mind site. The site contains many dynamic functions, and the layout looks like it would belong to the latest upload of even the smartest spotty-faced web-geek. It's all very well done.
Who Are They?
LifeChurch was started (offline) in 1996 by Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel in a rented dance studio in Edmond, Oklahoma. From having only around 30 people at their first couple of services, Life (as it was known back then) was reaching 3000 people a week by the end of 2000.
It wasn't until April 2006 that the LifeChurch.tv web site was launched and services from the Oklahoma City Campus church could be broadcast via satellite uplink. The number of churches associated with LifeChurch has increased to 13, and are dotted around the United States of America.
What Do They Offer?
The web site offers a number of up-to-date communication mediums such as their live streamed video service (which is even available in high definition!), they have a blog, a podcast, and they have even released a Facebook application (which was a little dull to be honest. Let's just say it's no Jetman).
What Do I Think?
LifeChurch has had much criticism for it's focus on making money and less on teaching Christianity, it has been labelled by some as a 'franchise church'. One Facebook user commented that the site was like "Jesus Christ meets McDonald's." If you read their full history it does seem like they went from town-to-town taking over churches and putting their name on it.
However, I am impressed with their community - both online and offline. Offline communities, know as LifeGroups, regularly meet in order to try and make a difference for the community.
I can see how the web site would appeal to a younger, more tech-savvy generation. Those who wish to attend some form of church but prefer to communicate over the web, for whatever reason, will feel very comfortable on this web site.
I could not find anything about whether the church had a particular denomination, or what their theological beliefs were. I would have though that sort of information would be the first thing to go up on a new web site. However, they do offer their mission statement:
The mission of LifeChurch.tv is to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Whether they are succeeding in their mission is hard to tell. One thing is for sure though, they aren't short of ideas, or technological know-how.