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Life Fellowship Chapel has services at 301 W. Genesee St. in Lapeer. The men's church meets at 6 p.m. the second Saturday of the month in the building that formerly housed Ponderosa, said Pastor Larry Crabtree.

"We started two years ago meeting in a barn. Our first service had 244 people and we've since added a second campus in Davison," Crabtree said. "Now we get over 300. We're independent non-denominational and Bible based. Our focus is to take the truth of the Bible and who God is to those not familiar."

Crabtree explained the idea for men's church has been well received. "Church is typically geared to women," he said. "It's touchy feely. Men have a hard time associating. This is a guaranteed service of one hour. It has upbeat music done in a lower key."

The men's church has been gathering for one year and features different Christians speaking including some pastors from local area churches. "They talk about things guys struggle with. We have a 15-minute chat," Crabtree said. "We average 30 to 50 guys. There's food and a theme. The last 20 minutes is one of fellowship. A guy can leave in one hour. Women aren't excluded. Some come to serve food, but it's a man's time."

Pastor Jim Olah of the Davison campus said the men's church is only offered at the Lapeer campus and has gone over well. "The reaction has been good. Guys are more open about their struggles and for some that's difficult to do," Olah said.

During Saturday's (Oct. 11) service, Rick Menzing, pastor of Faith Christian in Lapeer will be the featured speaker. He will be followed by Bill Richards in November, Al Novak of Forgotten Man Ministries in December, and Dallas Gatlan of Central Nazarene in Flint in January. "Every pastor is different and has different experiences. It's a community thing," Crabtree said about the speakers.

Life Fellowship also has 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday services. Other offerings include Voices of Life (choir) at 4 p.m. Sundays, J.O.Y. Bible class meets at 6 p.m. Sundays, CAFE LIFE is open to singles ages 18 to 35 and meets at various homes; Kids Life (nursery school to sixth grade) meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, LifeLines is for junior and senior high schoolers and meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays; Life's Praise meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays; and L.I.F.E. groups meet each weekday at different times.

"We have a very extensive women's ministry, marriage ministry, a thriving youth ministry, four full-time pastors between two campuses, Cafe Life, and a huge nursery," Crabtree said. "We believe there's a lot of people with spiritual concerns. It scares people to walk into a building, but we believe God's word is relevant."

The other campus of Life Fellowship Chapel is at 2361 N. Irish Road, Davison. For more information, call (810) 895-4458.

Jennifer Decker can be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8125 or jennifer.decker@lapeergroup.com.