On the afternoon of Sunday, August 30, 1981, New Life Chapel Mission held its first service as Dr. Herman Clark and the Norfolk District welcomed New Life into the Norfolk District of the Church Of God In Christ (Second Jurisdiction of Virginia, Bishop Samuel L. Green, prelate). That following Wednesday night, September 2^nd, Pastor Carl J. Vann taught his first session as founder and pastor of New Life with only three people in attendance. The church started with eight adults and one child. Pastor Vann preached his first Sunday morning message as pastor on September 6, 1981.

     New Life began in a corner of the building of a warehouse. At the time, it had only one door to the outside, one bathroom with one commode, and no water fountain. The dimensions of the sanctuary covered only 784 square feet, seating at maximum capacity 82 people. It was connected to a paint and hospital supply warehouse. The church outgrew that facility and more space was needed.

     In February of 1990, New Life was able to tear a wall down, and expand its sanctuary by 300% to 2884 square feet.  Later that year, New Life moved into its expanded sanctuary, and on September 23^rd, Bishop Samuel Green and the Second Jurisdiction of Virginia Church of God in Christ officially dedicated New Life Chapel and its pastor.

     In December of 1990, New Life began broadcasting the Faith to Faith Radio Ministry on WKGM for fifteen minutes Monday through Friday. The broadcast went into four states: Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland and Delaware. Later, the broadcast moved to WGPL Radio.

     In 1997, New Life held its first Ministry School session. The Ministry School of New Life is designed to train and equip elders, ministers, deacons and helps ministry leaders for the work of the ministry. The first Ministry School graduated twelve people. Also in 1997, New Life revised its Articles of Association, and By-Laws. The next year the church filed for and received its independent 501(c) (3) federal tax exempt status. Later, New Life Chapel changed its name to New Life Worship Center.

     In 2000, a second morning worship service was started at the church in October. That service continues to grow also. That same year, Evangelist Carney noticed some land available in the Poplar Halls subdivision of Norfolk, the subdivision of which Pastor Barbara Vann was raised and some members of New Life currently reside. Pastor Vann has stated from the church’s inception that the Lord called the ministry to be in Norfolk. Land was suggested in other neighboring cities but the pastor stood on that conviction. Upon having a hearing with the Norfolk City Planning Commission and much spiritual warfare, the Planning Committee, the Poplar Halls Civic League and the Norfolk City Council all approved the rezoning of the land for our church.

     In that we are using less than half of the property, Phase II on this location involves expanding on the front by enlarging the foyer and installing a balcony above it; extending the sanctuary by knocking out the back wall and raising the ceiling; and by building on the left side an approximately 300 seat chapel and fellowship hall with adjoining classrooms and offices. It also involves a more decorative front with a thoroughfare on the right side leading to more parking in the rear. Thank you for sharing our joy and celebrating with us the victory of our new church.