History of Word of Life Church

Word of Life Church was founded in 1981 by Brian and Peri Zahnd along with a handful of young people and a vision to win people to Jesus Christ. Brian had met Jesus as a teenager, and soon began conducting Bible studies. He eventually became one of the main leaders at a Christian coffeehouse, The Catacombs.

At age 22, Brian realized his small coffeehouse flock didn’t go to church on Sundays, so he purchased a broken down Methodist church building in St. Joseph, Missouri to start what would become Word of Life Church. The stained glass windows were full of holes from rocks that had been thrown by neighborhood toughs, the attic was full of squirrels, and the basement littered with liquor bottles from the winos that had slept there. The steeple had been struck by lightning and fallen off, but it was a beginning!

To say that growth was slow during the first years is an understatement. In April of 1986, after a period of intense prayer, Brian began to preach about faith and the church grew dramatically. It was during these early days that Brian and Peri formed the vision and values that characterize the church today.

In 1989, Word of Life Church moved to a renovated office building on Frederick Avenue to accommodate the growing congregation. During this time, the church experienced more continued growth, exceeding every facility expansion that could be made. In less than two years, the auditorium was expanded three times and eventually accommodated 1,000 people.

In 1996, Word of Life Church moved to its present ministry complex at Riverside and Cook. This new facility, located in the middle of a cornfield, now features the 2,500-seat main auditorium; Solomon’s Porch coffee shop and bookstore; The Upper Room, a beautiful prayer and worship center; and the Millennium Youth Center.

Early in 2004, after a lengthy fast, Brian felt it was time for a major adjustment in the way Word of Life approached ministry. The shift has been about renewing a focus on the cross of Jesus Christ, exploring the mystery of the Bible and the Jesus way, embracing the deep and long history of the Church, the importance of living in Christian community, and wholeheartedly participating in God’s mission to redeem and restore His world.

Today, Word of Life Church is a thriving congregation with an enormous number of volunteers who are passionate for Jesus, for His way, and for His mission. We are committed to changing lives and transforming our community. Word of Life Church will celebrate its 30th anniversary in November of 2011.