HISTORY

In August of 2003, a small group of believers met to pray in Portlaoise with the vision of seeing a “spirit-filled” church planted in the area. By December, things took form as James & Rachel Krechnyak, founding pastors of Portlaoise Family Worship Centre (PFWC), along with Pastor PJ and Elizabeth Booth (pastors of Open Arms Community Church in Newbridge), and missionaries David and Brigid Cammack, met with three people from the local community to seek God for what He wanted to do. After nearly 10 months of outreaches, Bible Studies, and planning, on October 10th, 2004, the church was launched.

Over its nearly 4 years of existence, PFWC has seen growth and changes in its community. Within the church, there is a strong emphasis on personal relationship with God, as well as in developing healthy God-centred relationships within the church and into the community. In 2005, the church launched LifeCycle in order to help fulfil its mission. This included a great emphasis on “one on one” discipleship, home groups, and the introduction of a leadership training course that would have trained nearly 25 leaders at different levels of leadership and church planting upon its completion in 2009.

Over the years, a variety of events have been run, from concerts; to outdoor barbecues with clowns, face painting, balloons and other entertainment; Christmas carolling at the local shopping centre; Easter programs; Nursing home ministry; and other types of relational evangelism. It is the desire of the church to raise up end-time disciples who know God and His Word, and who would be committed to fulfilling the Great Commission. As well as regularly supporting several missionaries monthly and giving to a number of mission projects, since its existence PFWC has sent out short term missionaries to New Zealand, Fiji, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Peru, and Ghana.

In June of 2008, the church received the keys to its own building, an empty warehouse that will be converted to the churches use (if you would like to give financially or get involved in the building process, you can contact us). In the Autumn, the church will launch its internship program, receiving its first intern from the USA.

In January of 2012 Portlaoise Family Worship Centre changed its name to ‘Life Church’. This name change is simply a response to a more focused vision and the new season we are in as group of believers. In September of 2012 Life Church Carlow began weekly Sunday evening meetings.