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New Life congregation began with about 60 people on November 18, 1984 and had 109 chartering members when they organized in December 1984. The congregation first conducted regular services on Sundays at the Holiday Inn. They soon had 116 members with Dr. John R. Saunders becoming the first pastor of New Life in January of 1985.
Without any place to store song books & other items, members carried them in the trunks of their car. Members used to say "Have church will travel."
The church was recognized as a congregation affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in September of 1985 and a chartering service was held in December of that year.
Two months later, New Life exercised an option on the property at Barron and Kennedy Drive where the church building now stands. The congregation was told they would never get a clear title to the property because there were too many liens against it, including the IRS, but with the help of the Lord and attorney L. Joe Scott a clear title was obtained.
The ladies of the church formed the Circle of Love on January 29, 1986 to meet once a month and they continue to do so.
In May of 1986, New Life already a part of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), voted to request, and was granted, dual standing in the United Church of Christ. Therefore the church changed it's name to New Life Christian Church United.
It was in October of 1986, with the financial help from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), and the United Church of Christ, that the congregation realized its dream of owning the 12.7 acres of land for their church building on Barron road.. With bake sales, yard sales and craft sales, the congregation began building a fund for the day they could start construction of the first phase of the building.
On the first of January 1987, pastor Dr. John R. Saunders resigned as the congregation's pastor. He felt that he had taken the congregation on it's journey as far as he could. He accepted a call to the Second Christian church of Warren, Ohio.
The Rev. Hans M. Poppe from the United Church of Christ guided the congregation through the spring and summer of 1987. Rev. Poppe and several lay leaders of the church served the congregation of the United Church of Christ in Grandin, Mo. The fourth week of September he bid the congregation fare well and returned to his home in Blue Springs, Mo.
On October 7, 1987 retired minister, Rev. James M. Flanagan III was accepted as the new interim pastor, and he began service Oct. 25 and served through Jan 1988 when he resigned due to ill health.
The choir was under the direction of John R. Harwell with Jo Frances Nelson and Dick Minetree as pianists. In 1987,88 & 89 the choir participated in the Community Church Choir Festival at the First Baptist Church
The congregation has had unique experiences in baptism without it's own baptistery. The First Christian Churches at Doniphan and Poplar Bluff invited the congregation to use their baptisteries. A backyard swimming pool has been used as well as the Black River at Keener Springs and Sportsman's Park. In their new building, a water tank from King Feed Store was used. A permanent baptistery will be a part of the second construction phase which will be the sanctuary when the church is completed.
Rev. John Masters, minister of the United Church of Christ, Syracuse, Nebraska, was called to pastoral duties with the New Life in April of 1988. Under his guidance the building was built as well as the congregation's patience and faith that God is in control and will bring to completion all that has been started. By April 1990 the Fellowship Hall (the first unit) was mostly finished and the congregation was able to hold services in their new building. The Congregation completed the building by putting in ceiling tile, rugs, painting etc.
Not only the Holiday Inn but also the basement of the Mercantile Bank, North town facility, was used for worship from the last of May 1988 to the last part of July. The Cane Creek-Stoddard Baptist Association allowed the church to make its last move to the Baptist Student Union on the
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