New Life was started from scratch in April of 1991 by Rev. Fran & Shirley Mather.
The church began in the Downtown Elmira Holiday Inn and quickly grew to a thriving fellowship. In 1994, the church went through a difficult church split, which it barely survived. The church struggled to exist and was meeting in a house in the city of Elmira. Through the process of time, Rev. Fran & Shirley moved away and the church was on the brink of closing. The district officials came to discuss the future of the church, and felt led by God to ask the current youth pastor, Paul Mather, to consider becoming the pastor of the church. After much prayer, the few that were left in the church rose up with determination,
believing that God still had plans for New Life.
In 1997, also after much prayer, Pastor Paul & Jennifer Mather agreed to become the new Pastors of what had now become a small group meeting in their home. Over the next few years, the church began to grow to the point at which a larger location was needed. The church moved into a 3rd floor gymnasium of a local church and continued to expand.
Outreach ministry began to be a major focus of this growing fellowship as God gave creative ideas for reaching and meeting the needs of people living in some of the poorest neighborhoods of the city. After continued growth and the blessing of God, New Life purchased an old Catholic church in the downtown of Elmira in 1999. New Life was patient and waited for a building that would allow them to remain an inner city church rather than choosing to move out of the city. At the same time, a church had been formed out of the group that had split off from New Life. After merging with two other small churches, The Oasis Church began meeting on the South side of Elmira.
After a few years Mark & Cheryl Dieterle had become the new pastors of The Oasis and found themselves in need of a place to have worship. They contacted New Life and asked if they could use their building on Saturday nights for church. God had already been speaking to both of these new Pastors about healing the wound that had been inflicted on this church through the split a few years earlier.
So, in 2002, The Oasis returned, merging back in with New Life and God did an amazing thing. He brought the two sides back together, healed the wound and restored New Life back to it's original mission. Pastor Paul & Mark began the work of leading New Life to fulfill it's God given purpose.
New Life has been growing ever since and continues to have the privilege of being an inner city church, working with the poor, the hurt, the broken, and seeing the life transforming power of God in the lives of people.
The church began in the Downtown Elmira Holiday Inn and quickly grew to a thriving fellowship. In 1994, the church went through a difficult church split, which it barely survived. The church struggled to exist and was meeting in a house in the city of Elmira. Through the process of time, Rev. Fran & Shirley moved away and the church was on the brink of closing. The district officials came to discuss the future of the church, and felt led by God to ask the current youth pastor, Paul Mather, to consider becoming the pastor of the church. After much prayer, the few that were left in the church rose up with determination,
believing that God still had plans for New Life.
In 1997, also after much prayer, Pastor Paul & Jennifer Mather agreed to become the new Pastors of what had now become a small group meeting in their home. Over the next few years, the church began to grow to the point at which a larger location was needed. The church moved into a 3rd floor gymnasium of a local church and continued to expand.
Outreach ministry began to be a major focus of this growing fellowship as God gave creative ideas for reaching and meeting the needs of people living in some of the poorest neighborhoods of the city. After continued growth and the blessing of God, New Life purchased an old Catholic church in the downtown of Elmira in 1999. New Life was patient and waited for a building that would allow them to remain an inner city church rather than choosing to move out of the city. At the same time, a church had been formed out of the group that had split off from New Life. After merging with two other small churches, The Oasis Church began meeting on the South side of Elmira.
After a few years Mark & Cheryl Dieterle had become the new pastors of The Oasis and found themselves in need of a place to have worship. They contacted New Life and asked if they could use their building on Saturday nights for church. God had already been speaking to both of these new Pastors about healing the wound that had been inflicted on this church through the split a few years earlier.
So, in 2002, The Oasis returned, merging back in with New Life and God did an amazing thing. He brought the two sides back together, healed the wound and restored New Life back to it's original mission. Pastor Paul & Mark began the work of leading New Life to fulfill it's God given purpose.
New Life has been growing ever since and continues to have the privilege of being an inner city church, working with the poor, the hurt, the broken, and seeing the life transforming power of God in the lives of people.