"Welcome Home" on Lincoln Avenue
Christian Life Center sits at 1780 Lincoln Avenue SE in Port Orchard, on the Kitsap Peninsula west of Puget Sound. From the parking lot to the lobby to the Auditorium, the greeting is the same: a smiling face, a wave, and the words "Welcome Home." That phrase is the heartbeat of the church, repeated in its logo and on its signs, and it captures what Lead Pastor Virgil Brown and his wife Angela have built since taking the helm in 2016.
Brown arrived in Port Orchard after nearly thirty years in the Pacific Northwest, and under his leadership the church has more than doubled in size. He is known for straightforward Biblical teaching, personal growth, and a desire to reach people who are checking out Jesus for the first time. The Browns unplug every Friday to honor the sabbath, often hiking or spending time outdoors when the weather cooperates, a rhythm the rest of the staff encourages.
CLC is affiliated with the Northwest Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God and partners with more than fifty local and global missionaries through that network. The church runs three Sunday gatherings, a mid-week youth movement, a full preschool and daycare, and a wide range of care ministries. Visitors are a regular part of the weekend, and the staff has built an entire Plan A Visit pathway to help first-timers feel at home.
Three Sunday Gatherings Under One Roof
Services run at 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, and 11:30 AM each Sunday in the Auditorium. Each gathering lasts about sixty to seventy-five minutes and follows the same pattern: energetic worship led by a band, a live message from the teaching pastor, prayer, and a response time. The music is contemporary and uplifting, and the preaching is rooted in the conviction that God's word applies to daily life.
There is no dress code. Jeans and t-shirts are welcome, as are suits and dresses. Free coffee is available in the lobby, and a team wearing blue lanyards roams the parking lot and hallways ready to answer questions. Visitors who fill out a Connection Card and stop by the Guest Stop on their way out receive a small gift and a personal welcome.
Services are livestreamed online and also broadcast on YouTube, so anyone who cannot attend in person can still gather with the church body. The current or most recent message series can be watched on demand through the CLC app, and a Spotify podcast carries the same teaching for those who prefer to listen on the go.
CLCKids: Birth Through Fifth Grade
Children from three months old through fifth grade have a place designed just for them every Sunday morning at all three services. CLCKids meets in age-appropriate rooms where background-checked and safety-trained volunteers lead games, crafts, Bible lessons, and worship designed for each stage of development.
The check-in table sits in the Lobby, and a member of the Kids Team greets each family. Parents can drop off infants through preschoolers for nursery care, while elementary students move through a curriculum that walks them through the gospel story. The preschool rooms focus on simple truths such as God made me, God loves me, and Jesus wants to be my friend forever, while the elementary rooms build on that foundation with a fuller walk through the Bible.
For families with older children, LIFE Youth picks up the next step on Wednesday nights.
LIFE Youth on Wednesday Nights
LIFE Youth is CLC's mid-week movement for middle and high school students from the Port Orchard area. It meets every Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:30 PM in the NextGen Auditorium.
The night follows a steady rhythm. Students arrive and head to the Game Room with Nintendo Switch, Xbox, ping pong, foosball, air hockey, giant chess, cards, and board games. After the games, the room transitions into upbeat and youthful worship, followed by a message built for real life. Small groups break out for community and conversation, and the night always ends with high-energy games and snacks.
Every student is welcome, and bringing a friend is encouraged. The motto is Loved, Invited, Found, Eternally Changed, and the team aims to make every student feel like they belong before anything else is asked of them. Youth Pastor Tyler Secrest leads the ministry and can be reached at tylers@clcpo.org.
Straightforward Biblical Teaching
CLC describes itself as a church for Jesus people, not religious people. The statement of beliefs covers the core doctrines of the Christian faith in clear, accessible language, and the church practices two ordinances instituted by Christ himself: water baptism and Holy Communion.
On God, the church confesses one Creator existing eternally in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. On Jesus, it affirms the virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, bodily resurrection, exaltation to the Father's right hand, and promised return as Lord of lords. On salvation, it teaches that forgiveness comes only through faith in Christ's death and resurrection, received by grace alone and not earned by works.
On the Holy Spirit, the church believes in the indwelling presence that empowers Christians to live godly lives and cultivates an ongoing filling of the Spirit for power, understanding, guidance, and spiritual gifts such as encouragement, serving, teaching, healing, and prophecy. On the Bible, it holds the entire Scriptures to be the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God, written by men moved by the Holy Spirit. The church also believes in divine healing through prayer and the laying on of hands, and it looks forward to the second coming of Christ, the millennial reign, final judgment, and the new heaven and new earth.
Small Groups and the Dream Team
While hundreds gather on weekends, the heart of CLC is found in Small Groups: two or more people who meet weekly in a home, workplace, or public space to grow, laugh, and serve together. Some groups are built around a Bible study video, others around shared interests or life stages. The easiest way to join is to host one: invite a few friends, pick a place, and press play on the study.
For those who want to serve, the Dream Team gathers the volunteers who keep the church running each week. From greeting in the parking lot to teaching CLCKids to running the production booth, there is a place for nearly every gift and talent. New volunteers fill out a form and are paired with a team that fits their strengths and schedule.
Discover 101 and the Eight Next Steps
Discover 101 is the church's introduction to life at CLC. It is a fun and relaxed evening where newcomers meet other newcomers, hear the pastor's vision, and learn the practical ways to plug in. Childcare is provided and refreshments are served.
For those who have just decided to follow Jesus, the church outlines eight next steps: attend weekend services, read the Bible daily starting with the Gospel of John, talk with God through prayer, get baptized, attend Discover 101, join the Dream Team, join a Small Group, and share your story. Prayer team members are ready to follow up with anyone who has said yes to Christ, and a baptism sign-up form walks new believers through the process.
Baptism and Communion
Baptism at CLC is described as an outward expression of an inward, personal decision to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life. Baptisms are scheduled periodically, and those interested sign up through an online form; a team member follows up with the next available dates. Holy Communion is observed regularly as the second ordinance Christ instituted for the church.
STORM Trips and Mission Partners
Missions is one of CLC's core values. Through its partnership with the Northwest Ministry Network, the church provides monthly support for more than fifty local and global missionaries. Each month, missionaries are invited to share a Missions Moment during a weekend service, updating the church on their work and any special financial needs.
For those who want to go rather than give, STORM Trips (Short Term Out-Reach Missions) offer youth and adults the chance to travel to another country and assist the missionaries CLC financially supports. Trips typically include construction projects and outreach events, all aimed at building relationships with the communities being served. A printed missions handout lists the full network of supported partners.
Care, Counseling, and Benevolence
CLC's care ministry is built around four practical expressions of support. The prayer team receives requests through an online form and prays for each one. The benevolence fund offers financial assistance for those in the church who need help with bills or food, accessed through an application that can be downloaded and brought to the church office. A Kitsap County Resource Guide points people to local services for needs beyond what the church can provide directly.
Memorial support is available for those mourning a loss; the Care Pastor walks alongside families during funeral planning and the weeks that follow. Individual, marriage, and family counseling is also offered, with the stated goal of bringing hope, new life, and healing to hurting people. Appointments can be scheduled by emailing the Care Pastor through the church's connection page.
Giving and the CLC App
Tithing, giving the first ten percent of one's income back to God through the local church, is taught as an act of worship and trust. CLC offers four ways to give: text GIVE to 98366 to receive a link to the giving portal; give online through the secure giving page; download the CLCPO app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and give from a phone; or mail a check or cash to the church office. Giving envelopes are available upon request.
The CLCPO app keeps the whole church in one place: current and past message series, upcoming events, small group sign-ups, baptism forms, prayer requests, and the giving portal. It is the simplest way to stay connected between Sundays.
WeeCare Preschool and Daycare
Operating out of the same campus on Lincoln Avenue is WeeCare, CLC's preschool and daycare program. WeeCare serves families in Port Orchard and the surrounding Kitsap Peninsula with full-day care and early childhood education, giving the church a daily presence in the lives of local families with young children.