All in-person gatherings will be paused during July.
Hello friends,
As you know, the heart and goal for the church has always been to be prudent and sensitive to the Holy Spirit during this time of COVID. Please watch this VERY important update and hear from Lead Pastor James’ heart on why we’ve decided to pause our in-person gatherings for the month of July.
Thank you again, we ask that you continue to pray for our pastors as we navigate this season.
Love you!
Updated Thursday, July 2nd, 11:30pm
CORE is seeking volunteers to support COVID 19- relief work in Bakersfield, CA. In partnership with the Bakersfield Mayor’s office and BPD, CORE and New Life Church are working to provide support and operate COVID-19 drive-thorough testing sites. A streamlined training process will be offered for all volunteers and assuring safety as the first priority always.
Interested in volunteering?
Please read the information below to determine if you are pre-qualified to apply.
At the core, our first priority is safety, always. Individuals eligible to assist with the core coronavirus volunteer response team need to be in the low-risk category as explained by the center for disease control (CDC) . Those who are considered high risk, include people over the age of 65 and people of all ages who currently have an underlying medical condition.
All volunteer opportunities will provide a safe working environment that complies with current CDC recommendations and will provide personal protective equipment as deemed necessary for working with the public. Requirements for volunteering include: good overall health, the volunteer has not been exposed to COVID-19 to their knowledge, and is willing, if needed, to be tested for COVID-19. due to the structure of the drive-through test sites, we also require that volunteers are able to stand for a 2-hour interval, along with wearing a mask for a 2-hour interval.
We ask that volunteers have flexible schedules and are patient as we work to coordinate the needs of the program.
FAQs:
WHY SHOULD I VOLUNTEER?
CORE is working with the LA Mayor’s Office and the Los Angeles Fire Department to provide free drive-through COVID-19 testing at various locations throughout the city. These critical test sites are helping to track the spread of this outbreak, flatten the curve, and save lives.
CORE’s involvement frees up firefighters and police officers to respond to everyday emergencies around the city, while also easing the burden on hospitals and healthcare professionals.
None of this would be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers. It feels good to do good.
AM I ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
Good overall health
No known exposure to coronavirus or those with COVID-19 symptoms
Willing, if needed, to be tested for COVID-19
NOT at high-risk (as defined by the Center for Disease Control - CDC) for severe illness from COVID-19. This includes those over the age of 65 and people of all ages who currently have an underlying medical condition.
Able to lift 20 lbs.
Able to stand for 2-hour intervals
Able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE – mask, gloves, goggles, coveralls) for 2-hour intervals
Flexible schedule (Though subject to change, 8-hour shifts are currently available Monday through Saturday, during daylight hours.)
WHAT WOULD I BE DOING?
Setting up/preparing test sites
Checking in people with registered testing appointments, distributing tests, and guiding people through self-administered tests
Breaking down/cleaning up test sites
WOULD I BE SAFE?
At CORE, our first priority is safety, always.
All test sites offer safe working environments that comply with current CDC recommendations.
We have different levels of protective clothing for different roles, depending on the level of proximity of vehicles. As needed, CORE
provides personal protective equipment (PPE), including breathable medical coveralls, goggles, N95 masks, and gloves.
Volunteers never touch anyone coming for a test, and always speak to them through small openings in their car windows.
All volunteers are trained and a safety officer is always designated to ensure each volunteer is following protocol.
HOW DO THE TESTS WORK?
People with COVID-19 symptoms or possible exposure may register for free, drive- through testing appointments through the City of Los Angeles’s website.
Those with registered appointments are permitted to enter their designated testing site, and are required to stay in their vehicles the entire time. - After check-in, people receive a test kit and are guided through a self-administered test.
When finished, they place their test kit into a collection bin before exiting.
Test results will be available via phone or email within 7-10 days.
If you meet all eligibility requirements, please contact: emoyer@nlc.life
Updated Saturday, April 25th, 9:35pm
One Day Of Fasting
Join us Friday, March 27th, for a single day of prayer and fasting from Sunup to Sundown.
As a church, we will submit ourselves to the Lord and be committed to prayer as our first response - not our last resort.
Just like the story of Daniel in the lion’s den, we have been tossed into the middle of a fire. The world is full of stress, uncertainty, and fear. Although we stand in the fire, we are going to take this day of fasting to remind ourselves that in the midst of it all, God is with us.
We know God is going to move, bring relief, healing, peace, unity, and a breakthrough.
God will meet us where we are, are you ready?
Guidelines for a 1 Day Fasting & Prayer
WHAT IS FASTING?
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is taught in the Bible. Jesus expected His followers to fast, and He said that God rewards fasting. Fasting, according to the Bible, means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time and purpose.
"When you give up eating, don't put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are giving up eating. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. So when you give up eating, comb your hair and wash your face. Then people will not know that you are giving up eating, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18 (NCV)
WHY FAST?
Fasting gives you more time for prayer. You can use the time you'd normally spend eating as time in prayer for what God wants to do among us during this Campaign. In the Bible, fasting is always connected with prayer.
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." Acts 13:2-3 (NIV)
Fasting demonstrates the depth of your desire when praying for something. It shows you that you are serious enough about your prayer request to pay a personal price. God honors deep desire and praying in faith.
"Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” Joel 1:14 (NIV)
"Even now," declares the Lord, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Joel 2:12 (NASB)
Fasting releases God's supernatural power. It is a tool we can use when there is opposition to God's will. Satan would like nothing better than to cause division, discouragement, defeat, depression, and doubt among us. United prayer and fasting has always been used by God to deal a decisive blow to the enemy!
"So we fasted and prayed about these concerns. And he listened." Ezra 8:23 (Msg)
"God says, "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?" Isaiah 58:6 (NIV)
THE IMPORTANCE OF FASTING
Often in the Bible, God's people fasted immediately before a major victory, miracle, or answer to prayer. It prepared them for a blessing!
• Moses fasted before he received the Ten Commandments.
"Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant--the Ten Commandments." Exodus 34:28 (NIV)
• The Israelites fasted before a miraculous victory.
"Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Sea. It is already in Hazazon Tamar" (that is, En Gedi). Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah." 2 Chronicles 20:2-3 (NIV)
• Daniel fasted in order to receive guidance from God.
"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:3 (NIV)
"While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, 'Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding." Daniel 9:21-22 (NIV)
• Nehemiah fasted before beginning a major building project.
"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)
• Jesus fasted during His victory over temptation.
"For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry." Luke 4:2 (Msg)
• The first Christians fasted during-decision making times.
"While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off." Acts 13:2-3 (NIV)
Updated Thursday, March 26th, 3:38pm
Hey New Life Church,
Before we get into the details of an update, we first want to encourage you. Jesus is still King, He is still faithful, and He is with us. People need hope now more than ever, and we are in a unique position to see God move in incredible ways. We encourage you to focus on the truth of His word and to join us in praying for our community and the world. Know that our pastors and staff are daily praying specifically for you and your families, New Life!
Due to the spread of Covid-19, we continue to follow the advice of the California Department of Health to limit gatherings to no more than ten people. All of our campuses will gather online until further notice, at their normal times. Join us for worship and a message from Pastor James on Facebook, YouTube, or here on our website. When possible to meet with your LifeGroup without exceeding ten people, we’d encourage you to do so! When that’s not possible, look for creative ways to still “meet” together. FaceTime, group texts, IG and Facebook Live – whatever way you choose to gather, keep connected to your community.
We love you New Life, and we look forward to another great Sunday of church at home with you!
Updated Thursday, March 19th, 8:30am
Update from Pastor James Ranger
Updated Saturday, March 14th, 11:32am
Based on the advice of the California Department of Health and the Governor of California and their recommendation that we cancel gatherings of 250 or more people, we are in full agreement with the decision of the CDOH. Our responsibility during this time is to prioritize the health and well-being of our church community and support our state and local health and government officials as they work to contain the virus.
What this means for New Life Church is that we will not be meeting at any of our three church locations this Sunday, March 15th. Rather, we will be doing church at home for an online experience at 9AM, 10:30AM, and 12PM.
We encourage you to join us this Sunday online, together with your life groups, as we worship, pray, and are encouraged together. We are blessed that technology allows us the ability to still gather as a church. Even amidst this situation, we look forward to church at home this Sunday! Community is our culture here at New Life Church, so we would like to encourage you to continue to meet with your life groups, come together, and be the church in our homes.
More information from our Lead Pastor to follow.
Updated Thursday, March 12th, 6:32pm