Our Story

Life360 Church is a multi-site church dedicated to impacting our community for Jesus Christ.  Here is our story, followed by a history of the original two main campuses.

Our story begins in 2003, when Rev. Ted Cederblom became pastor of Park Crest Assembly of God. At his commissioning service, September 7, 2003, Pastor Ted presented to the congregation a 30-year Vision Statement and strategy to win the Springfield area for Christ. In this faith-filled service Pastor Ted outlined what God would do through our church to reach the unreached in our community. Our dream was so big only God could make it happen – multiple sites around the metro area and beyond, a 120 acre main campus, senior housing community, 24-hour prayer center, 250 ministries, 22,000 touched weekly, foster care agency, missionary homes on our campuses – and already God is bringing to reality these dreams.

In the years since 2003, our church has doubled in attendance, in missions giving, and in outreaches. Each year we have prayerfully selected ten important goals for God to achieve in us. As the Lord performed miracle after miracle, we have moved forward as a church into new uncharted territory.

In 2005, Pastor Alan Bixler of Calvary Temple Assembly of God approached Pastor Ted with a dream God had planted in his heart. What if our two churches could do more for the Kingdom of God together than we could separately? Would Park Crest Assembly of God be interested in becoming one church in two locations? From this beginning the leadership developed a strategy for winning the lost of Springfield and the surrounding metro through a multi-site approach. The church now meets in various locations and at various times, with plans for more locations as leaders are trained. As a multi-site church, we have plans for many more church sites, located around our county and surrounding counties.  We want to go where needy people are, not expect them to come to us.

In 2006 God helped us to acquire our future main campus, accomplishing one of our Top Ten Goals (and one of our goals within our 30-year strategy). Our multi-site church locations will need to be served by a central campus, much as the spokes of a wheel meet at the hub.  In the summer of 2006 we took a step of faith and purchased 136 acres for this future main campus. This land came as an answer to specific prayer – our 30-year strategy statement, developed in 2003, called for a main campus of 120 acres.  In 2004 and 2005 we prayerfully searched for available land in our metro area.  The church family claimed God’s Word, which says in Joshua 1:3, “I will give you every place you set your foot.”  Real estate experts claimed that we would never find that much land in the Springfield metro area, but the Lord decided to ignore their opinion and gave us our land for $15,000 an acre!

Our dreams for this land include:

» Community sports complex
»  Seniors community
» 24-hour prayer center
» Minister training institute and dormitories
» Performing arts center sanctuary
» Youth and children’s centers
» Pentecostal museum
» Secluded, wooded Royal Rangers campground
» Park-like setting with walking trails, fountains, and meditation points

These facilities will be clustered around an eight-acre lake as the centerpiece of our campus.  In addition, our master plan includes 1- and 2-acre parcels that will be our joy to give, as the Lord directs, to other ministries and para-church organizations.  How wonderful it will be to see multiple ministries impacting on a regional, national, and international basis right from our campus!  Our dream is to develop a church family – on many locations – that impacts our world, our metro, and our community.

God is moving us toward the development of our future main campus.  In the meantime, we have plenty of ministry right here on our present campuses!  Our plan is to continue to add new locations that minister to the lost right where they live.  We are committed to a Spirit-led strategy to evangelize and disciple pre-believers and open more and more opportunities for believers to step out in faith-filled ministry.  Why don’t you join us and become a part of God’s mighty move?  Just click on one of the campus buttons above to start on your journey.

Heritage of Park Crest

Park Crest Assembly of God, then known as Kansas Avenue Assembly, was organized in April 1968 as a result of the vision of a few families and of the Southern Missouri District Council of the Assemblies of God. These early leaders recognized the potential for harvest in the southwest section of Springfield. After a few preliminary meetings in early April, the first service was held April 21, 1968, in the Park Crest Water Department Building. Rev. Alan Phillips led this new congregation. The first two deacons of the new church were Cecil White and Jerry Corbett. Kansas Avenue Assembly of God became a growing reality, and, in August, they were able to move into a store front building in the Park Crest Shopping Center.

At this time Rev. A. A. Wilson became pastor of the growing congregation. Under his leadership, the congregation began a building program, the first of several. This first permanent structure was built on a ten-acre tract of land which had been purchased by the Southern Missouri District Council. Located at 3581 S. Kansas, the church was now known as Park Crest Village Assembly of God. Its new building, with a seating capacity of 175, was dedicated April 27, 1969. As a result of growth, a further expansion of the facilities was necessary. This second unit, known as the A. A. Wilson Annex, was completed and dedicated to the Lord in August, 1970.

In December of 1971, Brother Wilson was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Paul Witten, and a multi-purpose fellowship hall was completed in 1972.   Brother Witten was succeeded in March of 1976 by Rev. David Boykin. In November of that year, the church voted to expand its building program once more, and ground was broken for a new sanctuary and office complex. This new structure was dedicated to the Lord April 16, 1978. The new sanctuary contains 9052 square feet and has a seating capacity of 1060. More classroom space and a gymnasium and kitchen were also added. In addition, Park Crest Assembly started a Day Care program in August 1977.

Brother Boykin was succeeded as pastor in January of 1979 by Rev. Clare Rose. Under his guidance and leadership, the Family Life Center was completed and dedicated October 19, 1980. In May 1982 Brother Rose was succeeded by Rev. J. Albert Calaway.  Rev. J. W. Ellsworth succeeded Brother Calaway in March 1987. Rev. Boykin returned to serve for one year in 1989. Rev. Robert Strand became pastor in 1990, and served until 1997. Rev. Scott Temple became pastor in 1997 and served until 2003. During his pastorate, the church mortgage was paid off.

In July, 2003, Rev. Ted Cederblom was elected pastor. With a renewed emphasis on outreach, the church family has grown, the giving base has enlarged, and missions giving has more than doubled. With a vision for the future, Park Crest is positioned to touch lives and harvest souls for the Kingdom over the next thirty years, until the Lord returns.

Heritage of Calvary Temple

Calvary Temple Assembly of God church began in 1929 in an open-air revival meeting held by Rev. W.E. Atkinson, located on Mt. Vernon Street, west of Broadway. Another tent revival was held in July of 1930, during which time the lot was sold. As a result, prayer meetings were held in homes until November 1933, when Rev. and Mrs. Atkinson rented the building on the corner of Newton and State streets.

Southside Assembly of God was set in order with 30 charter members, December 1, 1933. S.L. Johnson was District Superintendent; Jack Burk was in charge of the services, assisted by students from Central Bible Institute until Rev. Chelsea Melvin accepted the pastorate in 1934, serving until 1937. The church moved to a store building at State and New streets, then to Market and Mt. Vernon. During 1937, Rev. Ira Sanphill served as pastor for some nine months, followed by Rev. Max Davis, and Rev. E.K. Ramsey. During this time, a new site was purchased at Broadway and Elm streets. A basement was first built and services were conducted there until the superstructure was erected.

Rev. David Hastie became pastor in 1947, and served until 1951. During his ministry, additions were made to the building, and a parsonage was purchased. Rev. Jack West became pastor in January of 1952, and served until 1963. During his ministry, the present church site, in excess of five acres on Grand street, was purchased.

The name of the church was changed to Calvary Temple Assembly of God, September 16, 1959. The present church building was erected in 1960. Rev. Everett Ewing served as pastor from October 1963 until June 1965. Rev. Stewart Robinson became pastor in 1965 and served until 1977. During his ministry the east wing and the Stewart Robinson Gymnasium were added. Rev. Melvin Brewer became pastor in 1978 and served until 1979. Rev. Philip Hastie became pastor in 1979 and served until 1989. Rev. Larry Meeks became pastor in 1989 and served until 1998. Rev. Earl Crepps became pastor in 1998 and served until 2000.

On April 8, 2001, Rev. Alan Bixler was elected pastor. Under his leadership, Calvary Temple has paid off the church mortgage in 2002, and the church property has been increased with three residential homes adjacent to the campus. Pastor Bixler has broadened the church’s ministries into the center-city area, and in 2001 launched Master’s Commission to facilitate the training of disciples and future ministers. With outreaches such as Adopt-a-Block, MannaFest, King’s Closet, and Feeding in the Park, the church has expanded its ministries to those in need and hurting.

In 2006, Park Crest Assembly of God and Calvary Temple Assembly of God merged to become a multi-site church.  There are multiple Sunday services in multiple locations and different languages.  Plans are underway to plant other sites around the Springfield area.  2006 also saw the acquisition of 136 acres for our future main campus at James River Freeway and MM Highway.

If you would like to view our 30-year Vision Statement, click <here>.
If you would like to view our Core Values and Doctrines, click <here>.
If you would like to view our Top Ten Goals, click <here>.
For more links, click on “About Us” Drop-down Menu.