Life Church Story.
1990 (March 4th) Garry Faull started a home church in his living room. It was called 'Grace Centre' and it was linked to “Life and Aid” a Missional Bible School which Garry had been running since 1988.
1991 The 'Grace Centre' moved to Charlestown Library.
1992 Due to increased numbers the 'Grace Centre' moved again, this time to Charlestown Hilltop Plaza in the old BiLo supermarket.
1993 The Hilltop Plaza was leased commercially so 'Grace Centre' moved again this time to the Charlestown Community Centre.
1994 Saw a move to the Royal Theatre where 'Grace Centre' joined with 'Fountaingate Church' (Paul & Bunty Collins). At this time Garry Faull passed the leadership of 'Grace Centre' to Steve & Louise Sutton.
1995 The church was renamed to 'Celebration City Church International' and its Mission captured by the words “Hearts toward heaven, Hands toward humanity.”
1997 'Celebration City Church International' moved from the Royal Theatre and started meeting at Newcastle City Mission, 15 Denison Street, Newcastle. The church office & children’s church were in the Wood St part of the complex.
1998 'Lifeshapers Family Services' was established as the social arm of 'Celebration City Church International' to provide relief for traumatized adolescents & their families. Fundraisers were held to install a commercial kitchen.
2000 “The Praise Factory”, a recording studio, commenced, as too was “Soapbox”, a night of light music, and poetry with finger food.
2003 The church left its association with 'New Covenant Ministries' & instead linked to 'Ozreach Australia' (Kev Wilcock). 'Manor House' in conjunction with the Salvation Army started to provide meals to the less fortunate. After 1 year the Salvation Army withdrew as it lost its funding.
2004 'Manor House' changed its name to 'Soul Café'. Bill Elkington and Max Barrett ran the Soul Cafe Breakfast. Ken Gibson took on the role of Pastor to Soul Cafe clients. 'Soapbox' expanded to become a more musical event with top Jazz musicians. The Elders at this time included David Collins, Phil Tweed, Helen McDonald, Steve and Louise Sutton.
2005 Kev Wilcock became the Senior Leader and the church name changed to 'Life Church', “It’s about Life.” Steve & Louise Sutton moved to Cronulla to take over 'Corroboree Church'.
In March 2005 three bars of gold (15 ozs) were received from another church that had closed. The gold had been buried - "I will give you treasures out of darkness and riches stored in secret places." Is 45:3. The gold was cashed in at $7,770 and a third of which was given to 'Church on the Bay'. This was the start of provisional blessing that has flowed from beyond the church members.
Thursday Church for Soul Cafe guests began with numbers reaching around 40 people each week.
2006 Howard Mole was appointed as Director/Elder and Life Houses started with the first house in Hillsborough. Church numbers double, from approximately 150 to 300 over 3 services.
2007 The 'Life House' at Hillsborough closed and a new 'Life House' at Lambton opened. Alcoholics Anonymous commenced under the leadership of Ted Mayo, 7 days a week. Church Elders at this time were Kevin Wilcock, Steve Gentle, Howard Mole, Mark Ramsland, Sheldon Maurer and Hannah Wellham. Garry Allthorpe came onto staff as assistant pastor.
2011 The lease was not renewed by Newcastle City Mission for Denison St Newcastle West and church services moved to Mayfield Sport & Rec Club with offices & Soul Café operating out of a Carrington warehouse on the corner of Cowper st South and Denison St.
2012 Westpac Bank invited Life Church and Soul Cafe to relocate in to the top two floors of the Westpac Building on the Cnr of Hunter and Watts St for a rent of $1 per year. The Elders at this time were Kevin and Tracey Wilcock, Mark and Donna McCann and Howard Mole.
2015 In May Rick and Sue Prosser accepted the invitation to be caretaker pastors while Kevin and Tracey Wilcock took 3 months sabbatical for family reasons. This caretaker role was extended to 12 months.
2016 Kevin Wilcock resigned as Senior Leader and Rick and Sue Prosser were inducted as the Senior Leaders of Life Church on June 19th 2016.
2017 Saw the establishment of new Eldership consisting of Rick and Sue Prosser, Kevin and Liz Berger, Kathryn Copping, David Zammit and Howard Mole. A new Church Board was also established consisting of Rick Prosser, Howard Mole, Kevin Berger, David Zammit and Sue Irwin.
The leadership and people of Life Church continued to have their 'Hearts toward heaven... and Hands toward humanity' feeding and caring for hundreds of people every week. Daily the Church in partnership with the community responded to the pain of the city providing 31,450 meals / food care packages and other services that helped the homeless, sick and needy. We saw an unprecedented community response towards the charity that carried with it many miracles of provision and favour. The inaugural Coates 500 V8 race in Newcastle saw Life Church (situated track-side on Watt St) hosting 'Soul Super-cars Thank You Functions' for 300 Soul Cafe volunteers and supporters - to say thank you for partnering with Soul Cafe.
2018 March saw the initiation of Dare to Dream month to celebrate the church birthday.
2019 The Pandermann family were supported to Myanmar. Matt Ortiger was appointed General Manager of Soul Café. Our Dare to Dream Offering raised $6450 for local ministries.
2020 The Pandermann family returned due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. In October we began a 24 month transitional period in the leadership of the church. Rick Prosser was released into a greater city calling and Howard Mole became the interim Life Church Pastor. Chris Gaffney came on team in a pastoral care role, and Chris Bathgate from The Grainery Church as Worship Team Coach for a 2 year period.
2021 Dare to Dream offering $5357 to support other ministries in the city.
2022 On the 9th October Jake and Meg Pandermann were commissioned as the Senior Leaders for Life Church, alongside pastors Rick Prosser and Howard Mole. Dare to Dream offering gave $10,500 to support other ministries in the region.
2023 ‘Soul Cafe’ becomes ‘Soul Hub’, with the name change reflecting the wide variety of services offered to the city’s poor and vulnerable. Soul Hub - more than a meal!
2023 The Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation provide a building at 437 Hunter St for the ongoing work of Soul Hub and Life Church, giving us 10 years rent free! ‘The Big Ask’ fundraising campaign launches, raising $1.8M to custom fit out the building to serve the vulnerable of the city. Life Church has its first service in the building, on the 10th December.
Footnote: Due to the difficulty in validating some of the history we accept that there may be some errors in dates or specific details.