Epic Life’s roots are in a journey one of our founding coaches began in 2012. A long-time pastor, Jake McCandless became greatly convicted by the many leaving church and their faith in America. That conviction led him to launch Stand Firm which has encouraged believers around the world hold on to their faith.

The journey with Stand Firm connected Jake with the persecuted church in the Middle East. Though believers in places like Iran and Afghanistan face the greatest difficulties in the world, they are making more disciples than any other place in the world. These believers and their disciple-making mirrors the first followers of Jesus. Through this contact the question then came, how can the church in America also look like the first followers of Christ?

As this question brewed, the church in America faced covid19. The fact that churches could shut down showed that something was missing in the American church, something the persecuted church has been willing to die for. The pandemic also showed it was time to try a different approach.

In the middle of the pandemic, a chance conversation online between, Jake and founding coach, Brian King, led to the Kings and McCandless’ deciding to put the disciple-making methods of the Iranian church into practice. The challenge was whoever had the most people agree to come would host. The Kings won and there was over twenty that first night in their home.

After meeting for several months, Epic Church in Springdale and the BMA of Arkansas reached out and offered support to help the Epic Life Network become a reality.

Pea Ridge has become the hub of this network that envisions helping others not only come to follow Jesus but helping them truly experience a life giving faith in Christ. The network is working to equip and empower believers to share the Epic Life of following Jesus through a Connection Group in every neighborhood.

Our story isn’t meant to only be our story, it could be yours, too. We would love for you to experience the epic life in Christ that we have and we would love to walk with you in that journey.

If our story has caught your attention check out the Epic Life difference.