From a City Park Meeting to The Dome
Trinity Life Center, known today as The Life Church, was incorporated in 1976 as "Trinity Temple." The congregation was birthed in the Charismatic Renewal, a move of God that swept through many denominations around the world in that era. Trinity Temple was formed by the merging of two groups, Catholic and Baptist, who had experienced the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The church's first home was the City Park Administration Building, pastored by Bill Oakley. By 1978, the congregation had moved to the old Christian Science Building at 12th and Main, then to the Disabled American Veterans hall on south Main, and on to the Seventh Day Adventist church on Clairmont and Arroyo, which they rented from 1979 to 1981. Each location carried the church forward, but the move that defined everything came in 1981, when the property on East 4th Street was purchased.
On May 12, 1984, the new church sanctuary known as "The Dome" was dedicated. That same era saw the launch of Trinity Christian Academy, a K-12 Christian school, and Ascension Bible College, which operated for four years. In 1986, John Winkler became pastor; 1988 brought near collapse and apostolic intervention; in 1996, Rich Conley became pastor; in 1998 the mortgage was paid off. The church formally changed its name to "Trinity Life Center" before its current chapter began.
In March 2019, Trinity Life Center was renamed "The Life Church." September 2024 brought Jason Eberhardt into the role of Senior Pastor, and 2018 had already seen a rededication of ministry and property to the purposes of God. The building at 36 Merritt Court remains the gathering place for the church family.
Charismatic Roots, Non-Denominational Heart
The Life Church identifies with the broader Charismatic tradition but operates as a non-denominational congregation. Its relational covering is Ascension Fellowships International (AFI), an apostolic network whose mission is "to provide relational apostolic covering for the equipping and strengthening of local churches and their leaders for the advancement of the Kingdom of God."
AFI traces its roots to the Apostolic Church worldwide, a Trinitarian group with origins in the Welsh Revival of the early 1900s. The Pueblo church is the birthplace of AFI, having launched the network while meeting at the Clairmont and Arroyo location, when the congregation was known as "Trinity Renewal Center."
The church's doctrinal statements affirm one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and teach that the Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, without error, and the final authority for all areas of the Christian faith. The congregation believes in justification through Christ's atoning death, water baptism by immersion for believers, communion as an ordinance, the baptism of the Holy Spirit as a subsequent empowering for every believer, and the continuation of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit for the exhortation, edification and comfort of the church.
Church government includes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, joined by elders and deacons. Eternal security is taught with a clear caveat: a believer who chooses to walk away can place himself outside the word of Christ and fall from grace. Giving is taught as a privilege and responsibility, with believers called to honor God through tithes and offerings.
Sundays at 10:00 with Sundays Cool for Kids
Sunday service begins at 10:00 a.m. The Life Church community desires to provide an opportunity for people to encounter God through worship, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the love of God's people. The atmosphere is shaped by prayer, the Word, and Spirit-led worship, with a worship team that the church describes as carrying "a powerful anointing."
Children are not just accommodated but welcomed as a full part of the gathering. "Sundays Cool" is the children's ministry, meeting every Sunday after praise and worship. Children's Church Director Hannah Eberhardt leads a team with a clear mission: to create an environment where kids are excited to come to church, where they are taught how to use their Bibles, and where they are encouraged to actively engage in worship. Parents can check children in online through the church's Church Center system before they arrive.
Music is led by Worship Director Nicole Kirby, who works with a team that views its role as creating an environment inspired by the Holy Spirit and leading the body of Christ into the intimate presence of the Lord.
Men's Ministry: No Man Left Behind
Men's Ministry is led by Rob Peterson and gathers under the banner "No Man Left Behind." The group meets on the last Friday of each month for worship, the Word, and a shared meal, with a stated mission of taking ordinary acts like serving and transforming them into engaging, progressive initiatives through the principles of servant leadership.
The ministry's name captures its heart: a group of men who love Jesus and want to follow Him together, bringing their brothers along on the journey. The monthly cadence shifts only when the last Friday falls on or near a holiday.
Ladies Living Loved and Women Warriors of God
Women's ministry at The Life Church runs under the leadership of Angela Crank and Bobbie Dubbel, alongside Juanita Peterson and Adrienne Belton. The ministry offers three regular touchpoints. "Ladies Living Loved" meets every Friday morning and every Tuesday evening, functioning as a support group for women navigating life together. "Women Warriors of God" gathers once a month on the last Friday at the church office, designed with working women in mind.
Beyond the regular gatherings, the women's ministry hosts numerous life-enriching events throughout the year. Their stated mission is discipling women through mentoring, teaching truth, and ministering to the unique needs of women, while developing authentic, life-giving relationships.
Worship, Prayer, and Equipping Groups
Beyond Sunday morning, the church's life is sustained by three ongoing rhythms. The worship team rehearses and prepares under Nicole Kirby's direction. Intercessory Prayer, led by Kathy Conley, gathers at the church for what is described as a powerful time of prayer, with a mission to engage in Spirit-led intercession, praying expectantly and continually out of a heart of redemptive grace for the sake of His Kingdom.
Equipping Groups, overseen by Jay and Dianne Kirby, exist to equip believers to become empowered saints and to raise up leaders who will influence cities, regions, and nations for Kingdom purposes. Members and newcomers are encouraged to join these life-changing groups.
TLC Young Adults
Young Adults ministry is led by Tommy and Stacy Ericson. The group exists to nurture the next generation, equipping them with the tools and faith to navigate life's challenges. Activities and discussions foster a sense of fellowship and encouragement, with the aim of building lasting friendships and deepening relationships with God together.
Missions Near and Far
The Life Church supports a small but far-reaching set of mission partners. Locally, the church partners with A Caring Pregnancy Center in Pueblo, and with FCA Pueblo under Forrest Rowell. Internationally, the church supports Jerry and Renee Winkler in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Casa Hogar in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Pastoral Leadership
Jason Eberhardt serves as Senior Pastor. He and his wife Hannah are part of the leadership team, and Hannah also directs children's ministry. Jared Conley and Jay Kirby serve as Associate Pastors. The elders team also includes Rich Conley and Kenny Crank. Rich Conley served as pastor of the church from 1996 onward, and the Conley Building on East 11th and Salem, which once housed the congregation, takes its name from the family. That continuity of leadership has anchored the church through its recent transitions.
Baptism and Baby Dedication
Water baptism is taught as an ordinance for believers, taken by immersion after salvation. The church teaches that baptism is both a symbolic and prophetic act, illustrating death to a self-directed life and resurrection to new life, while also serving as a testimony of commitment to the Lord.
Baby dedication is offered as a public act in which parents commit to raise their child in the ways of the Lord while the fellowship of believers joins in prayer and modeling of a Christian lifestyle. The dedication does not secure a child's salvation; that decision belongs to the child at the age of accountability.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
The Life Church meets at 36 Merritt Court in Pueblo. Service begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. Children are welcomed through Sundays Cool, the children's ministry that meets every Sunday after praise and worship, and families can check children in online in advance. The church's welcome is simple and explicit: "You are welcome here."
Giving is available online through the church's Church Center giving page. Sermon videos are posted on the church's YouTube channel. Active groups and the church calendar are kept up to date online, and the church can be reached at 719-543-7000 or tlc4pueblo@gmail.com.