Realife Kingdom Builder 22 Thank You

Last baptism in our 971 facility - February 20, 2022.

Our Story

When Realife Church launched in 2007, we met at Greenfield Central High School. Every week we unloaded a box truck, setup and tore down church. However, in Fall of 2007 another local church, First Assembly, voted to close their church and in the process to gift their property to Realife. As a nine month old startup church, we borrowed $250,000 to remodel the property at 971 W. US Highway 40 and moved into that gift from God in May 2008.

Over the next few years we paid cash to pave the parking lot, remodel the offices, expand the kids check-in space, and add nursery rooms. In 2011 we added a second Sunday morning service, and by 2013 we were running 300 in attendance. It took us 3 more years to break the 400 barrier, and by 2016 we knew we needed to find a new place to call home. Adding onto the 971 faciltiy was not an option, and so we began looking for a new location.

In Summer 2016 we purchased 17 acres of land at the corner of 525 W. and US 40, just five minutes west of our current location. We chose a builder and had plans made to build a 27,000 square foot facility with a 500 seat auditorium, commons area, kids space, meeting rooms, and offices. The total cost of the project was $5.5 million.

In Spring of 2017 we began a 2 year building campaign called “Imagine” with the goal of raising a down payment for the new building. With banks requiring 20% down, we knew that was a tall task, but everyone did their best and we trusted God. By the one year mark, we knew we would be far short of the $1.1 million down payment.

We began searching for other, more cost efficient options along the Mt. Comfort Rd. corridor south of Interstate 70 and along US 40 between 600 and 500 W. By the end of the two year building campaign, we had raised over $500,000. It was a great start, but it was not enough to begin building. In the mean time Realife had experienced two years of tremendous growth. By Spring 2019 our weekend attendance was over 700 and we were worshiping in four weekend services. We acquired and remodeled two modular classrooms for preschool space and we added a small gravel parking lot.

By the end of 2019 we had purchased an additional modular classroom and added a second gravel lot. Our 27,000 sq. ft. design suddenly seemed too small. On December 31, 2020 we purchased the former Hancock Wellness Center located at 5151 US Highway 40 and over the course of 14 months, transformed it into our current facility. There is still work to be done, but God has moved tremendously since we made the transition into our new facility. Lives have been changed, families have been restored, addictions have been broken, and entire family trees have been transformed, but we couldn’t do this alone.

Your partnership, along with God’s favor, has made all of this possible.

First Sunday

March 6, 2022 was our first Sunday in our new building. We had 1,203 people in attendance over two services. This was an immediate increase of almost 150 people from our last Sunday in our former building, which had 1,076 people over 3 services.

First team photo at our 5151 facility - March 13,2022

First Sunday in our 5151 facility - March 13, 2022

Ribbon Cutting

March 4, 2022 was the ribbon cutting for our new facility. We officially joined the Greenfield Chamber of Commerce, and the mayor, the chamber, dream team members, and several community members came out to celebrate with us.

Team Photo - Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Ribbon Cutting - Wednesday, May 4, 2022

Church Growth

72 New Dream Team Members

96 New Growth Track Graduates

Before I started coming to Realife my life was a mess. My family was torn apart and I didn’t know where to turn, I didn’t really have anyone that I could talk to because no one understood what I was going through. I struggled with severe anxiety and fear but since coming to Realife, I have realized that Jesus loves me, and there’s people here in the church that love me. I have made friends, built relationships and I have found hope here at Realife Church.

Liz

Lives Changed

Liz serving during Hope Week 2021

Liz serving in Realife Kids

Kaleb during Sunday Worship

Lives Changed

“We were so lost and we didn’t even know it. We spent an awful lot of time thinking that we were following God’s will when in all reality, we weren’t. Our first visit to Realife Church was on Easter Sunday, when I recommitted my life to Jesus. We had recommitted but we still spending a lot of our days drinking. We were challenged during 21 Days of Prayer to give up alcohol. It was hard at first, but after the first week something came over me and I thought, why go back? Not because the Bible says you can’t, but because we love Jesus and wanted to honor Him in everything we do. We found freedom here at Realife, and we will never be the same.”

- Kaleb & Kylie

Baptism

Chris (pictured on the left) was raised in a Christian home and asked Jesus into his heart at a young age. But as he grew older and moved away from his family, he walked away from his faith.

Despite Chris’ distance, Gary and Margaret continued to pray for their son over the years. They began attending Realife in 2020, joined a small group and served on a Dream Team. Each week their teams and group would pray for Chris to return to church and recommit his life to God.

Ultimately it was through Realife Online that Chris would watch the messages and say “yes” to Jesus again. His first Sunday in the building was August 21, 2022, where he attended with his parents and was baptized in water.

71 people just like Chris have been baptized since opening our new facility, and have experienced life change for themselves and their families.

New Guests

“I come from a background of church hurt. I have only been at Realife for a little over two months but my heart rejoices! I feel like I have come out of mourning and it feels so good. I am excited to see what God is going to do as I grow with Realife.” - Ellen

“Realife became our new church home in November of 2021 and quickly became our Church Family! Realife embraced us with open arms and quickly welcomed our family into theirs. Realife is a conduit from the Holy Spirit to give me and my family purpose, work for our hands, and a bold declaration of God’s vision, promises, and love for us, Hancock County, our state, country, and world.” - Marlene

“We came during the hardest time in our marriage to date. Sin, deep church hurt, and more. Realife Church came along side us walked with us through that season and the Lord worked and has moved mountains! We found healing hope, restoration and Jesus here! We love our church!” - Zach

“When my husband died, Realife was the first to respond, calling me and praying for me, setting up a meal train, they even helped me with yard work. I have been so blessed to call Realife family.” - Julia

“The love Realife has shown me has given me such joy in my sorrow. I love my Church!”

- Tammy

“I stopped living for God in my 20s and did my own thing. The love and discipleship at Realife brought me back to Jesus. I left a church of 20 years during this time was last and was hurting. I found hope again at Realife Church. Jesus is now the lord of my life and the center of my family.”

- Kevin

First Wednesday in the 5151 Facility - March 2, 2022

Realife Kids on Easter Sunday - April 17, 2022

Red Carpet Team - June 13, 2022

Students at Camp 2022

“I signed up for camp because my friends were going. They were talking about the jet skis and all the fun they had there, so when I signed up it wasn’t for God - just for the thrill. But every time worship started, I would feel a tug to get closer and closer to the front. When I finally surrendered, I felt this overwhelming sense of God being with me, and I knew He would love me no matter what, so I gave my life to Christ. After camp, my family and I started attending Realife, signed up for Growth Track, and joined a Dream Team. My life has been completely changed. I went to camp for jet skis, but I left with Jesus.”

-Michael

“I went to camp for jet skis, but I left with Jesus.”

Friends,

Kristin and I wanted to personally thank you for your generous financial contribution to Realife Church. We want you to know that your gift has been more than financial for us. It’s personal to us, and to the people represented in this book. Paul told the church in Corinth,

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 2 Corinthians 9:6

You have sown generously and our hope is that through this book you can experience a taste of the fruits of your investment. Your generosity has not only made a difference in Realife Church, but in every life represented in this book, and more. We certainly do not take for granted your dedication and generosity in helping us move God’s mission forward and we cannot thank you enough. God has been so good to us, and we are eternally grateful for your partnership in this endeavor to make room for expanding His Church.

Building the Kingdom

Pastor Adam and Kristin Detamore Founding & Lead Pastors Realife Church