About Us
A Place to Belong. A Place to Find New Life.
No Church Experience Required.
Life can be complicated. Sometimes we have questions about God, we're carrying more than we know how to handle, or we're simply looking for a place to belong. Wherever you find yourself in life's journey, there's a place for you at New Life.
We're a church where you can come as you are, ask honest questions, build meaningful relationships, and discover the hope, healing, and purpose found in Jesus. Whether you're exploring faith for the first time, finding your way back to church, or have followed Jesus for years, you don't have to have it all figured out to take your next step.
We believe church is for the whole family. It's a place where children can discover God's love, students can find their people, adults can grow in faith, and generations can learn from and encourage one another. Together, we want to make a difference in our families, our community, and our world by living out the love of Jesus.
We're glad you're here!
Come as you are, find your place, and discover what's possible when you experience new life in Jesus.
Meet Our Lead Pastor
Ben & Becky Johnson
Ben and Becky Johnson have been part of the New Life Church family for nearly all of its story. Since joining the team more than 20 years ago, their love for this church, its people, and its mission has only continued to grow.
Having raised their two daughters in the greater Alamo area, Ben and Becky have deep roots in this community and a genuine love for the people who call it home. They understand that life is filled with incredible joys, unexpected turns, and difficult seasons, and they believe no one should have to navigate those moments alone. Their heart is for New Life to be a place where people feel welcomed, encouraged, and reminded of the hope we have in Jesus, wherever they may be in their faith journey.
Their desire is for New Life to be more than just a place you attend. They want it to be a place where you belong, where friendships grow, where faith comes alive, and where you can take your next step with confidence.
Wherever you are in life's journey, there's a place for you here. Come as you are, find your people, and discover what's possible when we follow Jesus together. Ben and Becky would love to welcome you home to New Life!
Pastors Doug and Crystal Heisel
Founding Pastors
Our Story
New Life Church began with a heart for people who were far from God and a desire to create a place where everyone could discover the hope of Jesus. From the beginning, our vision was to reach the unchurched of the East Bay. We dreamed of a church where no church background was required, where questions were welcomed, relationships mattered, and people could explore faith, find community, and experience new life in Jesus.
On January 17, 1999, that vision became a reality. More than 200 people gathered at Crow Canyon Cinemas in San Ramon, California, for the very first New Life Sunday Gathering. A movie theater became the birthplace of something much bigger than a Sunday service. It became the beginning of a mission.
For the next five years, the theater was home. As more people discovered New Life and joined the mission, the church continued to grow. Then, God opened an unexpected door. A church in nearby Alamo had a debt-free building and a need for new leadership. Rather than continue on separate paths, the two congregations asked a simple but powerful question: Could we accomplish more together than we ever could apart?
The answer was a unanimous yes. Two church families became one, and New Life found its first permanent home. What might have seemed like an unexpected turn in the story became a new opportunity to reach more people, serve more families, and expand the mission God had placed before us. But God's vision for New Life was never meant to stop at one building or one community.
Over the years, New Life has helped plant and strengthen churches in communities around the world, including Mexico, Africa, India, and throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Through the faithfulness, generosity, prayers, and service of so many, the impact of this church has reached far beyond our own walls. And while buildings, locations, and opportunities have changed, one thing has remained constant: the people.
Our story has been written by countless individuals who have said yes to the mission. They welcomed a first-time guest, served a family, invested in the next generation, encouraged a friend, gave generously, prayed faithfully, and shared the love of Jesus. Each act of faithfulness has helped move the mission forward.
This is our story. And it's still being written.
We are grateful for where God has brought us, humbled by all He has done, and more committed than ever to the mission He has given us. We believe the best chapters are still ahead. There are more people to reach, more lives to see transformed, more families to serve, and more opportunities to share the hope of Jesus. Because New Life has never been just about building a church. It's always been about reaching people. And that mission is bigger than us.
More People Filled with New Life in Jesus.
What We Believe
The Bible
The only time-tested inspired Word of God, The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and life (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Peter 1:21).
The Holy Spirit
The third person of the Trinity and giver of Supernatural Gifts. The Holy Spirit is the person of the Godhead who indwells, baptizes, and gives supernatural gifts to all believers, for empowerment to witness and serve. His present work is the same as that in the New Testament (Lk. 24:49; Ac. 1:4-8, 2:4; 1 Co. 12:1-31, Jm. 5:14-16).
Our Future
Death for the believer is not an event to be feared but a promotion to anticipate. Jesus is right now preparing an eternal home for all who know him, so we may live with him forever (1 Th. 4:16, 17; Rm. 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Co. 15:51.52; Re. 21 and 22).
God
The One True God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth, the Redeemer of mankind. He has revealed himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Deuteronomy 6:4, Isaiah 43:10,11, Mt. 28:19, Luke 3:22).
Mankind
With a sinful nature, in need of salvation and sanctification, mankind was created good and upright. By voluntary disobedience mankind, fell into sin and thereby incurred not only physical death, but also spiritual death, which is separation from God (Ge. 1:26,27; 2:17; 3:6; Rm. 5:12-19). Mankind’s only hope of salvation is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, giving us forgiveness of sin, eternal life, and power to live separated from evil (Jn. 3:16, Rm. 10:9-10, 12:1).
Jesus
The only Son of God, Savior, and Soon Coming King. The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare his: virgin birth (Mt. 1:23; Lk. 1:31,35); sinless life (Heb. 7:26;1 Pt. 2:22); miracles (Ac. 2:22; 10:38); substitutionary work on the cross (1 Co. 15:3; 2 Co. 5:21); bodily resurrection from the dead (Mt. 28:6; Lk. 24:39; 1 Co. 15:4); exaltation to the right hand of God (Ac. 1:9,11; 2:33; Ph. 2:9,11; Hb.1:3); and his personal and imminent return, and millennial reign (1 Th. 4:16-17, Re. 19:11-14, 20:1-6).
The Church
God’s agency in this world. The church is to carry out the work of Christ in this world, equip people for ministry, and maintain the ordinances of the Church — baptism by immersion and communion (Mk. 16:15-16, 1 Co. 11:26, Eph. 4:11-16). We also believe we are to affirm God’s plan for marriage as being a sacred union between one man and one woman in a legally recognized marriage. This was stated by God in Gen 2:22-24; quoted again by Jesus in Matt 19:4-6; and underscored by the Apostle Paul in Eph 5:31.
Values That Define Us
Extravagant Grace
We celebrate and share life that is saturated by the extravagant grace of Jesus. We fixate on His perfection not our performance. Our entire ministry overflows from this reality.
Bold Faith
When it’s too big for us, it’s just right for God. We do not believe the lie that “God will never give us more than we can handle.” God will often give us more that we can handle so we are forced to depend on His power and sovereignty. We will not insult a BIG GOD with small thinking or safe living. So we pray big prayers and keep stepping into the greater things God has for us.
Ridiculous Generosity
We will lead the way in generosity, out of recognition of how ridiculously generous Jesus is to us. We all start as spiritual consumers but soon we can’t help but become spiritual contributors. We learn that we will never out give God, as His blessing will always surpass our giving. Our staff and congregation joyfully put God first, and we feel honored to watch Him advance His work through us: locally, regionally and globally. We believe that bringing our tithes and offerings is an act of worship and we do this with great joy.
Our Faith Statements
Everyone Needs Jesus and He Is The Only Way
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God with us.’”- Matthew 1:23
Everyone Needs God’s Word
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” - 2 Timothy 3:16
Everyone Needs the Word
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” - Matthew 28:19