Our History

The Birth of Life Christian Church is an interesting one. It started in Bedford, Indiana, during the depression. A young man, Hebert Starr, and his pretty wife, Eleanor, decided to visit the Pentecostal Church to see the show. (They didn’t have funds to go to a movie.) An evangelist by the name of J.L. Patton was preaching. Hebert became convicted of sin and started to the altar. Eleanor grabbed his coat; but he slipped out of his coat and continued on his way! Hebert, Elenor, and son Bill were “saved” during these revival services.

Within a couple of years Hebert became the assistant pastor of the assembly. He held this position from 1935 to 1937. He then felt called by God to move to Flint, Michigan, where his brother-in-law, M.M. Hudson was the pastor of a oneness Pentecostal Church. One year later (May 1938) he left Flint to pioneer a church in Lansing.

In October 1971, David Stephens became Pastor of Eastside Apostolic. He was 22 years old and had just graduated from Michigan State University. He was raised in a great Pentecostal home; his father (Douglas Stephens) pioneered the United Pentecostal Churches in Owosso and in Grand Ledge. His mother (Gloria) for years had been the editor of the official publication of the Michigan District United Pentecostal Church: The Michigan District News. Rev. Hebert Starr was Gloria’s father; hence Pastor Stephens’ grandfather. On June 23 1973, Pastor Stephens married Kathryn Roberts who has been a great help to his ministry! Kathy graduated from the school of Music at Michigan State University in 1977.

Pastor Stephens remembers these early days: “I would pick up my congregation in my car and take them with me to church. I placed the organ beside the pulpit so I could play the organ during worship service. Next I would preach. Then I’d play the organ for the altar call. At the end of the service I took everyone home.”

Pastor Stephens felt that the church should change locations. Pastor Starr had purchased property in South Lansing at the corner of Starr and Jolly Roads. The street named “Starr” was given its name in honor of Rev. Starr and his son: attorney H. James Starr. Building on STARR Ave. he felt would be a fitting tribute to the ministry of Pastor Starr.

The church building on Francis Street was sold just in time! A flood buried the east-side of Lansing and destroyed the basement of the church just after its sale. Because of necessary expenses, all that was left to begin building was $7,500! The church had no other income to build with! Pastor Stephens was working as a social worker for the Department of Social Services to support his family. The Church had a total of two men in the assembly.

One day while reading the classified advertisements in the local newspaper, Pastor Stephens noticed a small ad, which read, “Modular buildings for sale; 12 by 28 feet, blue tile on the floor, etc.” The Church offered $3,200 for 6 buildings including a laminated beam system. The offer was accepted! The basic materials for the entire church building was obtained for $3,200!

From that point it was one miracle after another! The church was almost through building when the city inspector looked the building over and informed the church that they would be required to install a forced air heating system (Electric heaters had been previously installed in the classrooms and auditorium). This was a cost that the church felt it could not afford. The church obtained estimates. A reasonable estimate was $4,000. The church was able to scrape together only a few hundred dollars. The church searched everywhere for an affordable heating system. One evening before retiring, Pastor Stephens prayed a simple prayer: “Lord, you can allow us to purchase a heating system for $900.” The next day Pastor Stephens informed his wife that he was going to “Modern Heating” to obtain the last estimate for the heating system. After looking their heating systems over, he indicated his interest in a couple of furnaces. Ken Heiss, the owner, sat down and computed the cost. He said: “That will be $878.00; plus two extra parts, so the total will be $900”! God had answered Pastor Stephens’ prayer to the penny! The church edifice was completed for about $7.00 per square foot! What a miracle! The new building’s auditorium seated around 125, there were five classrooms, and a nursery.

There were to be three more building programs within the next 22 years. Around 1979, the church knocked out walls, expanded the auditorium, and added an educational wing. It also asphalt paved the parking lot. In 1989 to 1990, the church erected a school on 48 acres that we had purchased along M-99 in 1992. Then in 1993, the church built it’s present church structure on Highway 99, which will seat about 500. To God be the glory!