For many years, Mr. & Mrs. Michael Cardone Sr. envisioned a strong, family-oriented church for the northeastern suburbs of Philadelphia. In June 1990, their dream was realized when 24 people, who later became the irreplaceable core team, met and made a covenant in both prayer and finances to birth a new church, Christian Life Center.
Pastor Greg & Bonnie Cox moved to the Philadelphia area in order to pioneer this newly formed work for the Lord. The church began to quickly grow and in August of that same year, regular weekly services were being held at Justa Farm Shopping Center in Huntingdon Valley.
In September 1992, leadership transitioned as Pastor David & Nancy Cawston relocated from California to take over as the senior pastor of Christian Life Center. Pastor Cawston’s visionary leadership, coupled with the congregation’s uncompromised commitment to spread the gospel in Greater Philadelphia, was a catalyst of rapid growth for Christian Life Center. It wasn’t long before a second Sunday service was added to accommodate the church growth.
In March 1993, Christian Life Center, now a congregation of over 400 people, moved into a newly remodeled church building in Bensalem. By August 1995, three Sunday services were necessary for the continually expanding congregation. God was truly adding to the church daily. As a result, Christian Life Center moved its Sunday services to the more spacious Bensalem High School while plans for a new, larger ministry facility were under way.
In the spring of 1998, Christian Life Center purchased property strategically located at the corner of Richlieu and Galloway Roads in Bensalem for its new facility. The new church building was designed with the vision of taking the gospel to every home in the region. In September 2000, Christian Life Center moved into its current facility, which houses a beautiful sanctuary of 1500 seats, church offices, and a preschool. In May 2005 the church stretched its borders once again by constructing a student ministry center called The Edge, which is large enough to allow over 250 teenagers and young adults to experience weekly worship, teaching, fellowship, and fun.
In April 2008, upon Pastor Cawston’s retirement, Pastor Del & Marvina Smith were elected to be his successor in leading this great and flourishing church on the East Coast. Pastor Del led Christian Life Center from 2008 to 2016 with a strong desire to preach and teach the Bible in contemporary and creative ways.
From early 2016 to the election of its new Lead Pastor, Mark and Christy English, in February 2019, CLC was led by a couple of Interim Pastors in a season of transition and preparation. One of the hallmarks of Christian Life Center is the faithfulness of God, and that was accentuated with the appointment of Pastor Mark. He is a seasoned, successful pastor of over 20 years, who brings fresh vision and anointing to the North East corridor of the United States. Christian Life Center, with its rich heritage and family friendly focus coupled with Pastor Mark’s solid teaching of the Word and the moving of the Holy Spirit, is destined to become one of the leading churches in America. We look forward to you joining us in this journey.
