Our History

 

vision

New Life Christian Fellowship’s vision is to make a positive impact on the city of Jacksonville and Florida’s first coast by creating an atmosphere of spiritual excellence where people of all nationalities are welcome.  New Life has created a positive environment where God’s family can connect with other believers through Christian fellowship, discover their gifts and talents through their faith in Christ, study in His word, and discover God’s very best for their lives. 

“We must stay focused on the vision God has given to us – never losing heart in operating by faith; continuing to look to the author and finisher of our faith; our eyes stayed upon Jesus to change us into the kind of warrior that it takes to bring victory.”
-Pastor Paul Zink

Pastor Zink’s heart for Jacksonville began with his father’s vision over 30 years ago. 

 

vision reborn

From its humble origins, New Life has grown through a foundation of strong leadership and faith in God’s vision. In 1984, Pastor Paul Zink was given a vision for a full-gospel, Spirit empowered church in Jacksonville, Florida. After ministering throughout the United States, Pastor Paul Zink moved his wife, Sharon, and three sons to start a grassroots ministry in Jacksonville, Florida.

In fact, New Life’s first service was held at the Ramada Inn at the beach with only 12 people in attendance. Within the first year, our congregation had grown to over 200 and began meeting at the theatre on the campus of UNF.  By the spring of 1986, New Life began to use the city’s public venues, the Florida Theatre and Civic Auditorium as well as meeting outdoors at Metropolitan Park.

On November 1, 1986 New Life purchased and renovated the Etz Chaim Synogogue into New Life’s first sanctuary and family life facility. With this expanded vision, our family began to grow and our congregation doubled in size and we began to hold double services.

In 1990, a 65-acre property became available at an incredibly low price. A new vision was born and a 99,000 square foot sanctuary and family life center was born. Today, New Life is one of the leading family worship centers in Jacksonville.

 

reaching a new generation

Today the campus of New Life Christian Fellowship houses a beautiful 99,000 square foot facility with a beautiful 2,900 seat sanctuary and family life center that includes a full-size activity gym, youth pavilion, preschool nursery and Sunday school and Bible study rooms.

There are a full range of activities from the very young to the young at heart. Our vision to reach our community expanded when we started Providence School in 1999. Providence School has taken significant steps to provide the best in quality, college-preparatory Christian education for grades K-12.  Most recently, we opened a brand new state-of the art child care facility, Providence Child Care Development Center that is already at capacity.

New Life’s vision to have an impact on the families of our community, by providing excellence in ministry with an emphasis on evangelism, missions and birthing new churches is becoming a reality. New Life has ministered to literally thousands of people across America and throughout the world and will continue to impact this new generation for Christ.