The origins of Springs of Life Bible Church started in 1994, as a number of believers in Durham began earnestly praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that would lead to spiritual renewal throughout the churches in our city. Soon after, it started to become clear that God, through prayer and the study of His word, was leading us to plant a church that would follow the pattern of Acts 2. This would be a church whose standard for faith and practice would be the Scriptures alone. A church that would be driven by prayer and where God’s Word would be communicated truthfully and practically and without compromise. A church where every member would play a role in ministry, using their time, talents and treasures for the building up of the whole body. A church that would be used of the Lord to break down the walls of division. A church not led by a single individual or by the majority, but by a plurality of elders, supported by deacons. A church where there was so much love and integrity that good rumors would begin to circulate among the lost, and when unchurched people would come to see what was going on, they would find Christ.

Ten couples formed the leadership team that God would use to build the foundation of this new work. We asked God to give us His vision and mission, which would determine our direction and future.  We asked Him to give us the name for His new fellowship. The answer came from Isaiah 43:18-21:

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert … for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

From this verse came the name: “Springs of Life Fellowship”. We had a passion for what it would be like to be part of a biblically functioning community. We desired to focus on how to be “the church” instead of “a church”. And we believed that this desire was given to us from the Lord as he continued to bless and build his church. Within a matter of months, on Easter Sunday, April 7, 1996, a new church was born. To God be the glory!

Wanting to convey to others from Durham and around the world our deep commitment to the Bible and to the local church, we changed our name to “Springs of Life Bible Church” in 2000. The Bible is truly the spring from which we drink of God’s infallible Word as we grow to be the church He wants us to be. May our thirst for God and His Word ever grow!