A Church Plant That Grew Up in La Porte
Life Community Church has called the same property on the south side of La Porte home for over thirty years. Pastor Alan Neel and his wife Shelley planted the church in 1993 with a vision for people to be saved, healed, set free, discipled, equipped, empowered, and serving. What began as a single Bible study grew into a multi-generational congregation that still carries that same heartbeat. Pastor Alan now oversees and supports several congregations across the United States and around the globe, but the heart of the ministry remains local: families in La Porte and the surrounding Bay Area communities.
Three Sunday Mornings on Fairmont Parkway
Worship services are held at 9529 W. Fairmont Parkway on Sundays at 8:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. The first-time guest is treated as an honored guest of the family. A trained guest experience team greets people from the parking lot through the doors of the auditorium, answering questions and helping with anything a visitor might need.
The worship style is contemporary. Music draws from artists such as Bethel, Elevation Worship, North Point, New Life, Desperation Band, Kari Jobe, Chris Tomlin, and Cody Carnes. The teaching is Bible-based, with a goal that everyone leaves not just having heard what Scripture says but having heard the Lord speak into their week.
Services are livestreamed on YouTube at 10:00 a.m. for those unable to attend in person. Messages are also available online and can be found through the church's mobile app, available by searching "LifeCC La Porte" in the app store.
Life Kids: Birth Through Fourth Grade
Life Kids is the children's wing of the church and serves children from newborn through fourth grade. The goal at each phase is to introduce children to Jesus in ways that fit their age and curiosity:
- Nursery (newborn to 23 months) - a peaceful atmosphere that cares for physical needs and gives a child a positive first impression of church.
- Tots (2 to 3 years) - a nurturing, secure environment where children begin learning about God in fun and creative ways.
- PreK - Kinder (4 years to kindergarten) - Bible-based, interactive activities that guide curiosity and help children discover who Jesus is.
- Elementary (1st to 4th grade) - high-energy services and small group time that promote a personal interest in God.
Every adult working in Life Kids classrooms has been interviewed, carefully trained, and holds a current background check. Trained security officers and law enforcement are present at each service. A unique claim check code is used at check-in for added safety at pickup. Parents of children with special needs are encouraged to contact the church ahead of a Sunday so the team can prepare to serve their family.
YNG Life: Students From Fifth Through Twelfth Grade
YNG Life is the student movement of Life Community Church, built on passion, energy, and a bold pursuit of Jesus. Three core values shape the ministry: Worship, the Word, and Relationships. The student ministry meets in two age groups:
- 5th to 6th grade - Sundays at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., following worship in the main service.
- 7th to 12th grade - Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Students are encouraged to encounter Jesus, be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and shine His light in their schools, homes, and communities. The motto "Live Bold. Love Big. Lead Well." is posted across the student ministry pages. Parents can text the church office line to receive essential updates and stay current on student ministry events. Supporters can also serve at YNG Life services, sponsor a student to attend camp, or give financially to the student ministry.
Young Adults on Thursday Nights
A gathering for people between the ages of 18 and 25 meets on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Young Adults is a place to reconnect with old friends, make new ones, drink coffee, share music, talk about God, and develop meaningful relationships. The group keeps an active presence on Instagram and Facebook.
Life Groups for Men, Women, and Married Couples
Life Community believes that healthy spiritual growth happens in relationship, not isolation. Life Groups meet in homes around the area and are designed for men, women, and married couples. Each group builds meaningful friendships, connects people with a mentor, encourages growth in faith, and creates a shared pathway to serve the community together. New participants attend an orientation session before joining a group, and groups walk through study material together with a mentor over several weeks.
Men's Ministry and Women of Worth
The men's ministry at Life Community is committed to helping men grow in Christ and make an eternal difference. The ministry calls men to a higher standard by shaping their character and grounding their identity in Jesus, with the conviction that godly men transform the lives of those around them.
Women of Worth, also called WOW, is an outreach and fellowship for women of all ages. The group gathers women around the purpose of passionately knowing Christ, discovering their God-given purpose, and becoming women of influence. WOW hosts two outreach events each year, one in the spring and one in the fall, designed for inviting girlfriends and featuring worship, teaching, fellowship, and opportunities to support ministries such as the A21 Campaign, Teen Challenge, The Bridge, and overseas missions.
Trail Life for Boys and Their Fathers
Trail Life is one of the ministries offered at Life Community. Trail Life is a Christ-centered character and adventure program for boys and their fathers, combining character development, leadership training, and outdoor activities through regular troop meetings.
Celebrate Recovery on Tuesday Nights
Celebrate Recovery meets every Tuesday evening in the Mueck Building, the smaller building behind the main sanctuary. The evening follows a steady rhythm:
- 6:30 p.m. - Doors open
- 7:00 p.m. - Large Group
- 8:00 p.m. - Open Share Groups (separated by gender)
- 9:00 p.m. - Solid Rock Cafe
Celebrate Recovery is a Christian twelve-step program designed to facilitate recovery from hurts, hang-ups, and habits. Topics covered include chemical addiction, anger, co-dependency, food and body image issues, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, mental health, love and relationship addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder, divorce, and grief. The program guides participants toward new, healthy truths and life-giving habits through eight principles based on the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.
What the Church Believes
Life Community describes itself as a Bible-based, evangelistic, Spirit-empowered church. The statement of faith affirms the following doctrines:
- The Scriptures - Both Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and are the authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
- The deity of Jesus Christ - His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, substitutionary work on the cross, bodily resurrection, and exaltation to the right hand of the Father.
- The fall of man - Humanity was created good but fell by voluntary transgression, incurring both physical and spiritual death.
- The salvation of man - Received through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by grace through faith.
- The ordinances of the church - Water baptism by immersion for those who have repented and believed, and Holy Communion as a memorial of Christ's suffering and death and a prophecy of His second coming.
- The baptism of the Holy Spirit - A distinct experience subsequent to the new birth, with the endowment of power for life and service and the use of spiritual gifts.
- Sanctification, divine healing, the blessed hope of Christ's return, the millennial reign of Christ, and the final judgment - the closing points of the doctrinal statement.
Welcome Home, Baptism, and Baby Dedication
Welcome Home is the church's introductory class for anyone curious about making Life Community their church home. The two-week class covers church history, beliefs, heart, and vision, and is open to everyone regardless of whether they plan to join. Joining the church family after the class is available but not mandatory.
Baptism by immersion is offered to anyone who has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. The church waits until children are old enough to understand the meaning before baptizing them. For younger children, a baby dedication ceremony is offered where parents commit to raising their child in the faith. Both sign-ups are available through the church office.
Giving and Staying in Touch
Giving to the church can be done by mail to the La Porte address, online through Pushpay, or by texting "lifecctv" to 77977. The church office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and can be reached at (281) 478-0594 or info@lifecc.tv. Life Community Church is led by Senior Pastors Alan and Shelley Neel, Executive Pastors Glen and Judy Harding, Associate Pastors Dylan and Ami Ray, Young Adults Pastor Jonathan Cisneros, and Life Kids and Deeper Life Cohort Coordinator Abigail Neel.