Progressive Life was initially birthed out of a vision God gave to Geoffrey Dudley and Dorothy Govan under the name Progressive Life in Christ Ministries (PLC). Though they were not a husband and wife team, both the Dudley and Govan families were determined to bring this vision to pass together in a new and non-conventional manner and make a difference in the Hampton Roads area one person at a time.
On May 3, 1998 the first worship service was held at the Coliseum Quality Inn, Hampton, Virginia, with sixty-three people in attendance. The initial intentions of Pastors Geoff and Dorothy were to conduct monthly worship services. However, the desire of members and the unction of the Holy Spirit demanded an every Sunday service. At the initial service the membership went from the eight members of the Govan and Dudley families to ten members, which included members of the Lynn family and increased steadily every Sunday. Services were held weekly at the Quality Inn for approximately 4 years. Our foundational principles were 7 Ps – Progressive, Proclamation (Luke 4:18); Preparation (1 Tim 2:15); Prayer (1 Thes. 5:17); Praise (Psalms 150:6); Perspective (Genesis 20:1); and Prosperity (3 John 1:2), Meanwhile Pastor Dudley received orders to Illinois. He and the Dudley family moved and began a new ministry in O’Fallon, Illinois upon Dr. Dudley’s retirement from the US Air Force.
Meanwhile, the membership at PLC consistently grew both physically and spiritually under the leadership of Pastor Dorothy. It was not long before, Pastor Lawrence began to move into His God-given role beside his wife as Pastor. Read more about our Pastors... The first set of ministers and deacons were licensed and ordained on April 28, 2002. Also in 2002, services were moved to the Coliseum Holiday Inn, where services were held weekly on Sundays and Tuesdays. Eventually Tuesday night Bible Study was changed to Thursday night and held at the Salvation Army on Big Bethel Road.
Together, God has moved our visionaries, Pastors Lawrence and Dorothy along with the Progressive church family to another level in the principles found only in His Word (Matthew 4:4); Worth (Rev. 5:9); Worship (John 5:5); Wisdom (James 3:17); Wonders (Acts 2:43); Wholeness (John 5:6); and Wealth (Deut. 8:18).
After nearly seven years of surviving against the odds and without a permanent location, in December 2004, God opened the door and the heart of Bishop L. Francisco to lease to own their family church property located at 925 Old Buckroe Road. Our Pastors then began a new work under the name of Progressive Life Worship Center in the Buckroe and surrounding communities. Our first service in our new location was held on Sunday, March 6, 2005.