What We Believe
ABOUT GOD
God is the Creator and Ruler of the world. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1,26,27, 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
JESUS CHRIST
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sinless sacrifice for the sins of all people by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days demonstrating His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5; 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14,15; 1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Romans 1:3,4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14,15; Titus 2:13
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is co-equal with the Father and the Son of God. He is present in the world to make people aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. As Christians, we seek to live under His control daily. He also empowers each New Testament church to do the work of God.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16,17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18; Acts 2
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Word to us. It was written under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit by human authors. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is the truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
HUMAN BEINGS
People are made in the spiritual image of God, to become like Him in character. People are the supreme object of God’s creation. Although every person has tremendous potential for good, all of us are marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin”. This attitude separates people from God and causes many problems in life.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1-2
SALVATION
Salvation is God’s free gift to us, but we must accept it. We can never make up for our sin by self-improvement or good works. Only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can anyone be saved from sin’s penalty. When we turn from our self-ruled life (repentance) and turn to Jesus in faith we are saved. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith and repentance.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8,9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
ETERNAL SECURITY
Because God gives us eternal life through Jesus Christ, the true believer is secure in that salvation for eternity. If you have been genuinely saved, you cannot “lose” it. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian. It is the grace and keeping power of God that gives us this security.
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25, 10:10,14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
ETERNITY
People were created to exist forever. We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is Hell. To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life. Heaven and Hell are real places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; John 14:17; Romans 6:23; Romans 8:17-18; Revelation 20:15; 1 Cor. 2:7-9
THE CHURCH
Jesus Christ established His church during His ministry on earth and it is a covenanted group of baptized believers who teach and practice New Testament doctrines and ordinances. They meet together for worship, prayer, fellowship, teaching and are actively engaged in making disciples by carrying out the Great Commission. In summary, a church is “A group of baptized believers on mission with God.”
Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:41-47; Ephesians 3:21; Hebrews 10:24-25
BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER
Biblical baptism is by the immersion of believers by a New Testament Church, thus portraying the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lord’s Supper is the partaking of the bread and the cup by members of the local church as a continuing memorial of the broken body and shed blood of Christ.
Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Our Mission
We exist to build lives that honor God by connecting, growing, serving, and sharing all for Jesus. We desire to share God’s love with the people of Metro-Houston and the World, in such a way that they have the best opportunity to become committed developing followers of Jesus Christ. LifeBridge will do this by… • Loving God • Loving People • Making Disciples • The Great Commandment: “Jesus said, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart…soul…and mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love others… All God’s Law is dependent on these two commandments.’” Matt. 22:36-40 The Great Commission: “Jesus said, ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matt. 28:19-20 We believe God will build a great, biblically sound, biblically practicing and biblically producing church as the members make a great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
The History of LifeBridge
Pastor Charlie Ellison
Our founding Pastor, Charlie Ellison, was led by God to begin a church planting movement in Metro- Houston while he was Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Pasadena, TX. Fellowship became LifeBridge’s first prayer and financial supporter. Calvary Baptist Church of Henderson, Texas, Bill Kuykendall, Pastor voted to become the sending church October 28, and commissioned the church planting effort of Charlie Ellison November 4, 2007. Core group development meetings began October 16th with nine people in Charlie & Linda’s home at 2801 Moss Lane in Deer Park, Texas. The first Sunday worship service was November 18, 2007, at the same location. The church was officially organized December 2, 2007, with eleven members. Seven Moves After meeting in the Ellison’s home for a few months, we moved our Sunday Worship to the University of Houston at Clear Lake 2/3/08. We move to a larger room at UHCL on the second floor 2/09. Our fourth move was to the LaQuinta Conference center at East & 13th St, in Deer Park 5/17/09. 10/11/09 we voted to purchase the property at 336 E San Augustine in Deer Park (Deer Park Funeral Home) as God provides the funds. We met there from 11/09–7/11 Later, Danny Duncan, the owner of the property informed LifeBridge that he would not be able to sell the property due to financial reasons. Our 6th move was to The Link Center (the old Good Shepherd Lutheran Church building) at 4116 Pasadena, Blvd. July 10, 2011. December 11, 2011, LifeBridge and 2nd Baptist church of Deer Park voted in separate business meetings to merge together as one church - The date of the merger was January 1, 2012 (our 7th move).
Pastor Brandon Harrington
Brandon Harrington was called by the church to become a Ministry Partner and he moved on the field Dec. 30, 2008, as Youth Minister. This was an act of faith, by both the membership and Brandon. The church instituted Faith Promise Giving to help with Brandon’s support. Our first year’s commitment was $12,000. Later, he also accepted the responsibility of Worship leader. March 6, 2011, LifeBridge ordained Brandon as a Gospel Minister. Brandon went full time as associate pastor to the Youth and Worship Leader, May 29, 2011. Nov. 2, 2014, at the recommendation of Pastor Charlie the church voted to start the transition of Pastor Brandon becoming the Lead Pastor. January 2015 Pastor Brandon took on the Sunday morning preaching responsibilities. May 3rd, 2015, at the recommendation of Pastor Charlie, Pastor Brandon became the Lead Pastor. September 2023, God called Brandon and his family to a sister ministry in our association to begin working in a family pastor role. He served LifeBridge Baptist Church for 15 years.
Pastor Ivan Dominguez
Ivan Dominguez started at Lifebridge on December of 2018. He served in the worship team as bass player and drummer and assisted Brandon in leadership. He worked closely with Brandon and had opportunities to preach. When Ivan came to Lifebridge he had previously served in other ministries as youth pastor, associate pastor, and worship leader. On October 1st, 2023 Ivan preached his first sermon as a Contracted Preacher as the church looked for their new Lead Pastor. Ivan accepted the Transitional Pastor position in April, 2024 and is currently serving.