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LCBC
Lives Changed By Christ
LCBC logo
LocationPennsylvania
CountryUnited States
DenominationNon-denominational
Weekly attendance27000
Websitelcbcchurch.com
History
Former name(s)Lancaster County Bible Church
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)Jason Mitchell

LCBC (Lives Changed By Christ, formerly Lancaster County Bible Church) is a non-denominational Evangelical multi-site megachurch with twenty campuses in central Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1986 and is now one of the largest churches in the United States.

History

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LCBC was officially formed as a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation in December 1986.[1] Its main campus is located in Rapho Township, Pennsylvania, approximately five miles southwest of the borough of Manheim, Pennsylvania. By 2011, it was the thirty-eighth largest church in the United States, with a weekly attendance of 10,147.[2] LCBC has continued to grow: in 2013, it was the tenth fastest-growing church in the United States, with a weekly attendance of 13,854, twenty-seven percent larger than at the beginning of 2012.[3] As of 2019, LCBC claimed 17,000 weekly attendees.[4]

In 2006, LCBC's main campus had reached capacity, but further building expansion was ruled out by local officials. By then the church had shortened its name from Lancaster County Bible Church to "LCBC," a name change it made official in 2008.[5] Shortly thereafter, LCBC opened its first satellite location in Swatara Township, Pennsylvania, near the state's capital, Harrisburg.[6] At that time, LCBC's annual budget was roughly $9 million.[7] Additional locations were then added in York, Lancaster, and Ephrata, Pennsylvania.[7][8] In 2013, a sixth LCBC location, named LCBC BranchCreek, was opened in Harleysville, Pennsylvania when BranchCreek Community Church merged with LCBC.[9][10] In early 2015, Emmanuel Bible Chapel (EBC) in Berwick, Pennsylvania, merged with LCBC.[11] EBC was founded in 1978.[6] In June 2016, Crosswalk Church in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania merged with LCBC.[12] In June 2021, LCBC merged with Parker Hill Church and its three locations in Clarks Summit, Dickson City, and Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania.[13]

Campus Locations

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LCBC simulcasts the sermon portion of the service from the Manheim campus to its other campuses via video feed.[14] Each campus has its own pastor, worship gatherings, small groups, and ministry opportunities.

  • Church Online (While not a physical location, they also host a Live Stream)

Beliefs

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LCBC's doctrine is described as Evangelical Christian, with a high view of scripture, a belief in a loving trinitarian God and in the existence of Satan, and an emphasis on evangelism and missions.[15] According to the LCBC website, members "believe the Bible is God's Word written by human authors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the ultimate source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. The Bible is true and without error."[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lancaster County Bible Church". Corporation Database. Pennsylvania Department of State. December 10, 1986. Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  2. ^ Marshall, Scott (May 13, 2013). "Test Drive a Small Group". Outreach Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  3. ^ Scannell, Christy (January 22, 2014). "Lives Changed By Christ: LCBC". Outreach Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  4. ^ Hoopes, Zack (January 7, 2019). "Lancaster County Bible Church sets plans for Twin Ponds West facility". The Sentinel. Carlisle, PA. Archived from the original on 2019-01-07. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  5. ^ "Business Name History: LCBC". Corporation Database. Pennsylvania Department of State. January 24, 2008. Retrieved February 26, 2015.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ a b "The Story of LCBC Columbia-Montour: The Joining of EBC with LCBC". LCBCChurch.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Melissa Nann, Burke (July 18, 2010). "Lancaster County megachurch expands into York County". YDR.com. York Daily Record. Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  8. ^ Luciew, John (May 15, 2010). "Chain of churches based in Lancaster County has a laid-back, come-as-you-are approach that links worship to daily living". PennLive.com. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Patriot-News. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  9. ^ Schlegel, Bradley (September 12, 2012). "BranchCreek Community Church in Harleysville to merge with Manheim church". MontgomeryNews.com. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  10. ^ "Location Details: LCBC BranchCreek". LCBCChurch.com. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  11. ^ "Emmanuel Bible Chapel Affirmed as Seventh LCBC Campus". LCBCChurch.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  12. ^ "LCBC Waynesboro". LCBCChurch.com. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  13. ^ "LCBC + Parker Hill Church Join Together to Reach PA". LCBC Church. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  14. ^ "One Church. Multiple…". LCBC. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  15. ^ "LCBC's Doctrinal Basis (Article III the LCBC Constitution)" (PDF). LCBC. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2015.
  16. ^ "What We Believe". LCBC. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
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