history
Learn about our beginnings and journey
In 1991 upon returning from Opportunity Camp, Melody Moore sat on the curb of the church parking lot in tears. During camp, Melody, a 15 year old high school student at Southern Hills, had been paired with an at-risk elementary girl. Now the week was over. Before her parents arrived to pick her up, she had an epiphany—this girl lives in my town and I can see her again. Upon turning 16 and getting a car, Melody began picking up this little girl and taking her out for fun trips, including bringing her to church.
Soon this girl’s siblings, cousins, friends and neighbors wanted to join them. Before too long, Melody’s car was packed with kids going to church. Southern Hills began using the church vans to pick up Melody’s friends. This was followed by Bible classes for these children.
As the ministry grew, so did the kids. With a bustling children’s ministry, the first kids were now middle school and high school students. Damon Parker, a college friend of Melody’s at ACU, came to help teach the middle school and high school students. Within a month of beginning, over 60 students were attending the youth program in the Southern Hills gym.
"New Life Church is a multi-racial, economically diverse congregation..."
Great ministry opportunities proved abundant for this growing “inner-city” ministry. The elders of Southern Hills seized the opportunities and decided to plant a congregation to reach at-risk children and their families in Abilene. After unsuccessful searching for a location and preacher, the church met in Cobb Park Recreation Center in 1997 and Damon Parker, by default, preached the first Sunday.
Damon has been preaching at New Life Church ever since. One month after beginning the church plant, Melody married Damon and they continue in the ministry together with their four children.
New Life met in various community centers around Abilene for several years, doing children’s programs and reaching youth and families. In 2001, New Life moved into a church building at 910 Cypress and continues to gather there on Sunday mornings at 11:00 for “come-as-you-are” worship and communion meal.
Today, New Life Church is a multi-racial, economically diverse congregation supported still by Southern Hills. New Life, placed in the low income area of College Heights, is dedicated to reaching out, ministering with, and improving the life and neighborhood where it gathers for worship.
Brad Carter, a New Life member, joined the New Life ministry staff in 2004 and serves as associate minister with Damon. The church works toward Christian Community Development in its neighborhood in a variety of ways and enjoys a great continuing partnership with Southern Hills.