Better Life Christian Center

Can a living room birth a church? At Better Life Christian Center, the answer is a resounding yes. Right here, in Philadelphia, the seeds of faith were sown in the most unlikely of places – a living room. Better Life Christian Center, originally known as Better Way Ministries, began its journey in February 1995 as a humble Bible study group. Two months later, in April 1995, it officially blossomed into a church, thanks to Elder Brenda Ellison, wife of Pastor Terrance Ellison. She generously offered her living room as the first sanctuary. This act of sacrifice laid the foundation for what Better Life Christian Center is today. Imagine those first services, just thirteen souls gathered together, sharing their faith within the walls of a family home. The living room, with a maximum capacity of only 35 people, soon proved too small to contain the growing congregation. A leap of faith led Better Way Ministries to its first dedicated sanctuary, capable of holding over 125 people, in 1998. Even with a small membership of fewer than 20, they moved to 4055 Davisville Road, a testament to their unwavering belief. Pastor Ellison, driven by divine inspiration, expanded the ministry’s reach in 1999. He embraced various media platforms, including radio, TV, books, and the internet, to spread the gospel. This outreach ministry, known as Today With A Better Way (TWBW), started as a radio program in 2000, airing on WTMR 800 daily and WPHL 17 weekly. It then evolved into conferences, including the annual WORD EXPLOSION Conference in Philadelphia. This multifaceted approach led to significant growth, with membership surging from 13 to over 100 by 2001. Better Way Ministries relocated to Jenkintown in 2002 to accommodate its expanding congregation. They shared a facility while saving for their own building. This period of shared space culminated in the acquisition of a 16,000-square-foot building at 4815 Stenton Ave. in Philadelphia in 2007. The building underwent renovations, featuring new bathrooms, classrooms, offices, and a sanctuary that seats over 325 people. The ministry continued to flourish, both in numbers and diversity, eventually leading to the formation of 20 different departments. In 2011, the ministry’s name was changed to Better Life Christian Center, reflecting its evolving mission and vision under Pastor Ellison’s guidance. So, as you stand before Better Life Christian Center, remember its humble beginnings in a living room. It’s a story of faith, sacrifice, and a commitment to spreading the Word, a true testament to the power of belief to build something extraordinary from the ordinary.