Life Christian University has been proclaiming the life-transforming power of God's Word for just over 21 years. Founded in 1995 by Dr. Douglas Wingate, Life Christian University has endeavored to provide the highest quality ministry education possible to ministry students throughout the world. One of the fastest growing Christian universities in the country, Life Christian University is known for making theology come alive by focusing on the practical applications of Scripture.
Main Campus is located in Lutz, Florida, a suburb of Tampa. Here Dr. Wingate and various faculty members have written the courses and developed the programs for degrees in Theology and Pastoral Ministry.
LCU's educational programs are also offered through campuses housed in local churches throughout the world. LCU provides these campuses with all of the curriculum and administrative tools they need to offer an accredited education leading to a variety of degrees. These campuses chose anointed men and women of God, who are actively ministering in their local communities, to educate and mentor future ministers. Such decentralization provides area pastors, ministers, and church members with ministry training in their own home towns. These students do not need to leave their employment positions or their current ministry responsibilities in order to study for improvement and advancement in ministry. They do not have to relocate their families or incur educational debt in order to fulfill God's calling on their lives.
LCU's viewpoint is based on the truth that God wants to bless and protect His children, servants, and ministers. LCU takes a Spirit-filled approach in its teachings, believing that every Christian has the ability to be empowered by the Holy Spirit for a victorious and useful life.
LCU teaches that faith in God's Word for His various covenant promises can be continually increased in the believer's life through prayer and consistent meditation on the Word. LCU believes the covenant promises of God include — but are not limited to:
Please see our Accreditation page.
That depends entirely upon how you are taking your courses. Online students take their courses at home at their own pace at times/days of their own choosing. Because of this, credit-hour accumulation times vary widely, depending upon how much time a student has to devote to his/her studies.
Students studying at one of our physical campuses attend classes just one day (or evening) per week for three hours of study, taking only one concentrated course at a time. The additional work required for the course, such as reading the text books and writing research papers as required, is done by the student at home on their own time, allowing minimum disruption of the student's family time.
Students continue to accumulate credits, generally completing 30 semester hours of credit each year. At this rate, it would take 4 years to accumulate 120 hours of credit, which is required for a bachelor's degree.
After receiving their bachelor's degree, a high percentage of LCU students continue advancing their education through the master's and doctoral levels.
Accepted transfer credits from previous universities and/or Bible institutes you have attended as well as Bible Teaching Experience credits can greatly reduce the timeframe involved. For further information, see our Admissions page.
Transfer credit from liberal arts or ministry-related institutions is allowed, but only to the extent that it does not detract from the valuable, life-changing education that students receive from LCU courses. Also, only courses for which you have received a grade of A, B, or C will be accepted for transfer. For more information, see our Application Process page.
Please see our Tuition page.
Our graduates are currently serving as pastors, youth pastors, children's pastors and ministers, Bible teachers, hospital chaplains, chaplains for the county jail, personal evangelists as well as evangelists holding mass crusades, missionaries, heads of homeless missions, university professors, instructors, and campus directors, worship team leaders and team members, as well as Sunday school teachers, home cell group leaders, and countless other helps ministers.
Dr. Wingate, President & Founder of LCU, has great expectations for the future of the University: "The basic needs of mankind never change. In fact, they seem to grow more urgent as the time of the return of the Lord Jesus draws near." Life Christian University is more dedicated than ever to do its part in the great end-time harvest. The need for ministers of the Gospel, who will walk in integrity and excellence, proclaiming the life-transforming power of God's Word, has never been greater throughout the whole earth. We believe that with God's grace, we will be able to stay the miraculous course that has been set before us, and go on to affect the lives of multiple millions of souls for the Kingdom of God."
LCU Winchester's future includes the launch of Distance Learning, which will enable students from all over to receive this incredible training, developing them into world-changing leaders in the United States of America and abroad!