Who We Are
Church Life Online is a collection of courses developed and taught by Dr. David Ireland and his team of ministry leaders. Dr. David Ireland is the lead pastor of Christ Church in northern New Jersey, a multi-site, non-denominational congregation of evangelical believers guided by the mission of uniting People to God and People to People. These courses are aimed at intentionally guiding individuals through biblically based training that strengthens their spiritual life and increases their effectiveness in serving the community of believers, both locally and globally.
Every Christ-follower and local church leader will find a relevant course here that will be of great benefit to their own spiritual development and edification of the larger Christian community. Churches of all size and shapes across the globe are in need of individuals who are ready and willing to serve so that the gospel of Christ reaches others in its fullness. Whether you are an individual who wants to answer the call yourself, or you are a ministry leader who is looking for the tools to help train up other willing individuals, you can find it here.
What We Provide
There are many ways in which an individual can help strengthen their local church community, whether it be by increasing their own knowledge of the Bible, serving in a ministry, or becoming an ordained member of their Church’s organization. We want to aid individuals and organizations who have a heart so see the gospel of Christ spread, and want to see the global Christian community strong and healthy. Our courses help individuals learn conversational apologetics, how to start or become part of a prayer ministry, and provide training to candidates for the office of Deacon and Elder.
The contents of our courses will guide any individual so that they are prepared to serve and grow the body of Christ. Prospective candidates can be individuals who simply desire to go through each lesson in order to learn ways of better serving their congregation. Or a pastor or minister can also use our courses as a curriculum tool to select, train, and prepare a group for ordination.
View Available CoursesWhat We Believe
- That all Scripture is given by inspiration of God. We understand the whole Bible is inspired in the sense that holy men of God were moved by the Holy Spirit to write the very words of Scripture. We believe the complete inerrancy of the original manuscripts of the whole Bible and that they serve as the only rule of faith and practice
(2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21). - That Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, and personally appeared to His disciples
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 4:25). - In the bodily Ascension of Jesus to heaven, His exaltation, and personal, literal, and bodily return the second time for the Church
(John 14:2-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
- We believe in the salvation of sinners by grace, through repentance and faith in the perfect and sufficient work of the cross of Calvary by which we obtain remission of sins
(Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 9:12; Romans 5:11). - We believe in the necessity of water baptism by immersion in the name of the Eternal Godhead in order to fulfill the command of Christ
(Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:36-39; 19:1-6). - We believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an experience subsequent to salvation, with the Scriptural evidence; namely, speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance
(Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-46; Ephesians 1:13-14). - We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit as enumerated in 1 Corinthians 12-14, as was manifested in the Early Church. We believe in the Spirit-filled life, a life of separation from the world, and perfecting of holiness in the fear of God as an expression of Christian faith
(Ephesians 5:18; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 7:1). - We believe in the healing of the body by Divine power, or Divine healing in its varied aspects as practiced in the Early Church
(Acts 4:30; Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 12:9; James 5:14). - We believe in the Table of the Lord, commonly called Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, for believers
(1 Corinthians 11:23-32). - We believe in eternal life for believers (John 3:16; 5:24) and eternal punishment for unbelievers
(Mark 9:43-50; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Revelation 20:10-15). - We believe in the reality and personality of Satan and the eternal judgment of Satan and his angels
(Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10-15). - We believe in the necessity and power of personal and corporate prayer. The gift of prayer has been given to the Church by God and it is the primary way He has chosen to transform people and society
(Ezekiel 22:30-31; Matthew 18:18-19; Colossians 4:12-13).
Founder
David D. Ireland, Ph.D.
Dr. David Ireland is founder and lead pastor of Christ Church, a 9,000-member multisite congregation in New Jersey representing over 70 nationalities. Former diversity consultant to the National Basketball Association, Dr. Ireland has led chapel services for the New York Giants, New York Jets, and at the U.S. Pentagon. Ireland has traveled to more than 75 nations and built a reputation of teaching culturally relevant messages that inspire and empower his global audiences. He is a well-respected columnist contributing to such media outlets like Fox News, Huffington Post, and Patheos. Dr. Ireland is the author of over 20 books including The Great Forgiveness and One in Christ. Ireland has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows including The Dr. Phil Show, The CBS Evening News, The 700 Club, and Focus on the Family. Through his community development corporation, he offers a home for victims of domestic violence.
The Rev. Ireland holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (Fairleigh Dickinson University), a graduate degree in civil engineering (Stevens Institute of Technology), a master’s degree in theology (Alliance Theological Seminary), and an earned Ph.D. in organizational leadership (Regent University). He recently completed post-doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania, and is currently a candidate for a graduate degree in social innovation from the University of Cambridge in England. Dr. Ireland was recently appointed as a member of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Faith-Based Initiatives. He serves on the boards of Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Dr. Marlinda Ireland, have been married since 1984 and have two adult daughters and a son-in-law.