FAQ
How long has LifePoint Church been around?
Early in 1987, a group of about twenty-five people began meeting with the desire to start a new church. That Spring, Joe Duke and his family moved from Dallas to assist in the birth of LifePoint Church, known then as Carroll Community Church.
Is LifePoint associated with any denomination?
No, our church is not tied to any particular denomination. We maintain a relationship with several sister churches in the Maryland area and have a similar approach to ministry shared by churches nationwide.
What are some of the beliefs of LifePoint Church?
Most importantly we believe that Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with a person, Jesus Christ. Authentic Christianity affects every area of our lives. In addition we embrace the truths of historic Christianity by believing that the Bible is a sufficient guide for living, and Jesus Christ is God in the flesh Who died for the sins of the world and was resurrected to life (For a more detailed doctrinal statement see the section entitled Beliefs.)
What is the thinking behind the style of the worship service?
God is a God of variety, and there are many different forms of church services. We believe God has called us to minister through a style that relates to real life in authentic ways. Creativity, excellence, and a dependence on the Holy Spirit all go into every Sunday morning service. We use contemporary music, preaching that is biblical and applied to daily living, and even drama to help us think about the implications of God's truth in our lives.
What is a Community Group?
These groups are small groups of about 8-12 adults that meet on a week night in local homes. These groups comprise one of the most significant ministries at our church. Through this weekly time of Bible study, sharing, and praying, people find relational connection and spiritual nourishment. We strongly encourage everyone who attends LifePoint to join a Community Group.
How is the church funded?
Our church is recognized as a nonprofit organization by the Federal Government under the 501c3 designation. We rely on the faithful gifts of those who attend our church to fund the ministry. All gifts to LifePoint are tax deductible.
What happens to the financial contributions received by the church?
All monies received by the church are carefully accounted for under a system of checks and balances. Individual gifts are counted and recorded. Once a year, the Elders establish an itemized budget to prioritize funds for the many areas of ministry. Detailed budget information is available upon request.
How are decisions made at LPC?
Our church is governed by a group of Elders as described in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. The Elders and staff make major directional decisions taking into account opinions and counsel from members of our congregation. Since we want to encourage ministry and not be slowed by unnecessary bottlenecks, we entrust much of the decision-making to those who are directly involved in a particular ministry.
What is the geographic distribution of those who attend LPC?
LifePoint Church is fast becoming a regional church with attendees coming primarily from Carroll and Baltimore Counties. We also have a growing number of people coming from southern Pennsylvania.
