Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to commonly asked questions about our products and services.

What is the name of your church?

The local churches do not have a name. The only name we hold and honor is the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. To take any other name is to insult Him. The term "local church" is not a name; it is a description of the local nature and expression of the church, that is, the church in a locality. To print the words "local church" with capital letters is a serious mistake, for this gives the impression that our name is "local church." Just as the moon is simply the moon regardless of the locality over which it is seen, so the church is simply the church regardless of the locality in which it is established. When the church was established in Jerusalem, it was known simply as the church in Jerusalem (Acts 8:1), and in Antioch, the church was the church at Antioch (Acts 13:1). Likewise, the practical expression of the church in State College today is simply the church in State College . As local churches, we meet in the Lord’s name on the ground of genuine oneness.

What do you do in your meetings?

We pray, praise, sing, give testimonies, and minister the Word. Every Sunday we have the Lord’s table at which all the Lord’s children are welcome to partake with us of the bread and wine. The church meetings are open, and all believers are free to participate.

Where is your headquarters?

Each local church is autonomous in its administration. Therefore, there is no central headquarters. No particular local church should be regarded as the head church or leading church. On the contrary, all the local churches share the same standing before the Lord.

Who is your leader?

Our unique leader is Christ. We have no official, permanent, organized human leadership. Furthermore, there is no hierarchy of any kind and no worldwide leader. We regard no person as infallible, and we do not follow anyone blindly. On the contrary, we follow only those whose teaching and practice is in accordance with the truth of God’s Word. Those who take the lead do not lord it over the saints, but rather shepherd them in love. Likewise, those who serve the Lord do not control the churches, but rather serve them as bondslaves of Christ in the ministry of the living Word.

What denomination are you?

We are not part of any denomination. We follow the New Testament pattern which shows Christ’s believers who congregate only on the basis of the locality in which they live (Acts 8:1; 13:1; Rom. 16:1; 1 Cor. 1:2). Because we live in State College, we meet simply as the church in State College. As the church in State College, we receive all of the believers in State College as Christ has also received us (Rom. 15:7).

What is your relationship with other local churches?

We have a rich fellowship with thousands of other local churches throughout the world to express the one Body of Christ. Members in the church frequently travel to visit other churches both locally and internationally. There are frequent regional, national, and international conferences and trainings throughout the year where we see more of the “breadth, length, height, and depth” of the Body of Christ (Eph. 3:18). To find out if there is a locality in the city you are visiting, please visit localchurches.org