Established in 1948 in Roanoke, Virginia, Glad Tidings Church has consistently been a source of good news for its community, the valley, and the world beyond. Although originally started as an independent Full Gospel Church, in 1961 Glad Tidings became officially affiliated with the Assemblies of God. In 1964 the church property, located at 13th Street and Moorman Road, was sold and the church moved to a larger facility located on Maple Avenue. In 1982, under the visionary leadership of Rev. Troy B. Webb, the church moved to its current location at 7422 Deer Branch Road. After a period of rapid growth, the existing sanctuary was added in 1984. As a further outreach to the community, the church began to operate a daycare in 1987, which has ultimately grown to become Life Academy and Little Ones Learning Center. In an effort to accommodate further growth of the church and its ministries, The Webb Family Life Center was built in 1995 and Holdren Hall was added in 2002. In February 2006, the church overwhelmingly chose to change their name to Life Church effective April 16, 2006. Today Life Church continues to proclaim the good news and works to make Life...Your Life...Happen Here!

Our Fundamental Beliefs

The Salvation of Mankind

Salvation is deliverance from spiritual death and enslavement by sin. God provides salvation for all who believe and accept His free offer of forgiveness. Salvation is received as a person (1) repents before God for his sins and sinful nature or inclinations, and (2) believes or has faith in the fact that the death and resurrection (supernatural restoration to life) of Jesus Christ removes and brings forgiveness for his sin. The inner evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit giving one the assurance that God has accepted him (Romans 8: 16). The outward evidence, visible to others, is a life of righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 4:24, Titus 2:12). In other words, it is living a life totally committed and pleasing to God.

The Baptism in the Holy Spirit

All believers are entitled to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and therefore should expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. With the experience comes the provision of power for victorious Christian living and productive service. It also provides believers with specific spiritual gifts for more effective ministry (Luke 24:49, Acts 1 :4,8; 1 Corinthians 12: 1-31). The baptism in the Holy Spirit is separate from salvation, and follows the new birth experience (Acts 8: 12-17, 10:44-46,11:14-16,15:7-9).

Divine Healing

Divine healing from God is an integral part of the gospel. Deliverance from sickness is provided in the Atonement (Christ's suffering and death for our reconciliation with God). Healing is a privilege of all believers (Isaiah 53:4-5, Matthew 8:16-17; James 5:14-16).

The Blessed Hope

All Christians who have died will one day rise from their graves and will meet the Lord in the air. Christians who have not yet died will be raptured or caught up with them, to be with the Lord. Then Christians of all ages vyililive with God forever. The scriptural truth of the Lord's soon return is "the blessed hope" (Romans 8:23; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-17; Titus 2:13).

The Assemblies of God

Assemblies of God Perspectives

A list of statements and common understanding of scriptural teaching from the Assemblies of God.

16 Fundamental Truths

These are nonnegotiable tenets of faith that all Assemblies of God churches adhere to. This list is derived from the official Statement of Fundamental Truths.

AG Position Papers

As the need arises to make a statement on a controversial issue, a study is done and a report given to the General Presbytery for approval as an official statement of The General Council of the Assemblies of God.