History
In the 1960's and following, a spiritual phenomenon known as the Charismatic Renewal
was rapidly sweeping the United States and other countries of the world. A divinely orchestrated hunger and thirst for a more supernatural encounter with God caused many born again believers and many unbelievers to seek God in a way very similar to that of the early Church as recorded in the book of Acts.
A schoolteacher and coach by the name of Gary King and his wife, Paulette, were born again and later baptized in the Holy Spirit in the late 1960's. Teaching and coaching afforded Gary many opportunities to share his faith and minister to many of his students. A bible study in his classroom after school hours led to a weekly meeting at his home. As the meetings grew, they moved from the living room to his two-car garage. In 1972, as the meetings continued to grow, they rented an empty church building on Main Street in Celina, Ohio and formed the church known as " Church at Celina".
In 1985, the church merged with another small charismatic group and changed the name to New Life Christian Center. The church sold the building on Main Street and moved into a church building located on the corner of Walnut Street and Blake Street in Celina, Ohio. In 1993, the church began new construction for a Worship Center located at 7015 Havemann Road just off US Rte 29 east of Celina. The old building located at 529 N. Walnut Street is being used presently to house the NLCC Family Center, the NLCC offices and the offices of Apostolic Team Ministries, Intl.
NLCC is an affiliated church of Apostolic Team Ministries, Intl, a growing network of churches and church planting, mission-focused organization with approximately sixty churches and ministries located nationally and internationally.
Today, NLCC continues to reflect its founding vision of mobilizing the church to engage in The Great Commission as stated by Jesus in Matthew 28:19,20 and Acts 1:8. NLCC is a thriving congregation of approximately 175 people. NLCC offers many opportunities for spiritual growth and service. In addition to regular services, NLCC offers extensive discipleship training, opportunities to serve on teams, and participation on short-term mission trips.
From its inception, NLCC has practiced team government or eldership. In 1999, NLCC sent out one of its elders by the name of Jerry Westerfield and his family to plant a church in Florianopolis, Brazil. At the present, a leadership team of five elders, of which two are supported as full-time staff, governs NLCC.
