About
Our History & Beliefs
We believe in biblical truth and affirm the supremacy of Christ in all areas of life. These beliefs exist at the core of who we are.
On This Page
Mission & Vision • Values • Beliefs • Church Affiliation • Church Network • Our Heritage • Our Story
Mission
Life Pacific University is an institution of biblical higher education existing for the transformational development of students into leaders prepared to serve God in the Church, the workplace, and the world.
Vision
Life Pacific University will be recognized worldwide as a premier pentecostal institution, within the Foursquare tradition, characterized by a diverse community of Spirit-empowered students, scholars, and practitioners whose hearts and minds are devoted to Christ and His Kingdom.
Values
Scripture as our authoritative guide for faith and practice and the foundation for how we think, learn, live, and minister.
(2 Tim. 3:16)
Grace-based community exemplified by excellence organizationally, and Christ-like character individually.
(Eph. 2:11-22; John 15; Romans 8:28-30; Gal. 5:22-25/Eph. 5:15-20)
Foursquare heritage and its appeal for moderation in doctrine and practice, a Spirit-empowered lifestyle, and an interdenominational mission to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
(Titus 1:7-9;Â Eph. 4:11-13, Acts 1:4-8)
Global awareness displayed through valuing diversity, understanding our place in the world, the far-reaching impact of decisions and actions, and innovatively engaging the world.
(IÂ Cor. 12:12-31; Matt 28:19-20; John 17:15-19)
Beliefs
The Holy Scriptures
We believe that the Bible is God-inspired (2 Tim. 3:16, 17).
The Eternal Godhead
We believe that God is Triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14).
The Creation of Humankind
We believe God created humankind, male and female, in his image and likeness; therefore, each human life is sacred possessing dignity, worth, and purpose (Genesis 1:27; 2:18-22).
The Fall Of Humankind
We believe that humankind is created in the image of God but, by voluntary disobedience, fell from perfection—thereby imbuing humanity with sinfulness (Rom. 5:12).
The Plan of Redemption
We believe that, while we were sinners, Christ died for us—pardoning all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Rom. 5:8).
Salvation Through Grace
We believe that we receive salvation when we come to God through faith in the atoning work of Jesus on the cross. Salvation is God’s gift to us (Eph. 2:8).
Repentance and Acceptance
We believe that, upon sincere repentance and a wholehearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God (Rom. 10:8-10; 1 John 1:9).
The New Birth
We believe that a genuine change takes place in people who accept Christ as Savior; believers allow Christ’s life to be lived through them (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20).
Daily Christian Living
We believe that it is the will of God for believers to walk in progressive sanctification, growing continuously in the faith (Heb. 6:1).
Water Baptism & The Lord’s Supper
We believe that baptism by immersion in water is an outward sign of an inward work (Matt. 28:19; Rom. 6:4). We believe in commemorating the Lord’s Supper by the symbolic use of bread and fruit of the vine (1 Cor. 11:24, 25).
Baptism With the Holy Spirit
We believe that baptism with the Holy Spirit empowers believers, and that the Holy Spirit’s incoming follows the same pattern that is described in the New Testament (Acts 2:4).
The Spirit-Filled Life
We believe that it is the will of God that we daily walk in the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30-32).
The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit
We believe that the Holy Spirit has gifts to bestow upon Christians (1 Cor. 12:1-11) and that we should show spiritual fruit as evidence of a Spirit-filled life (Gal. 5:22-25).
Moderation
We believe that people who follow Christ should avoid the extremes of fanaticism and pursue lives of balance and moderation, demonstrating gentleness and patience (Phil. 4:5, KJV; Col. 3:12, 13).
Divine Healing
We believe that divine healing is the power of Christ to heal the sick in answer to prayer offered in faith (Jas. 5:14-16).
The Second Coming of Christ
We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent (1 Thess. 4:16, 17; Titus 2:11- 13).
The Final Judgment
We believe every person will one day stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive eternal life or death (Rev. 20:11-15; Heb. 9:27; 2 Cor. 5:10).
Heaven
We believe that heaven is the glorious eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:1-3; Rev. 7:15-17).
Hell
We believe that hell is the place of eternal torment for all who reject Christ as Savior (Rev. 20:11-15).
Evangelism
We believe that the church’s primary responsibilities are taking the gospel to the entire world and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matt. 28:19-20).
Church Relationship
We believe that followers of Christ have a sacred duty to identify with the visible church of Jesus Christ and should meet regularly with fellow believers (Heb. 10:24, 25).
Tithes and Offerings
We believe the method ordained by God for the support and spread of His cause is giving tithes and offerings (Mal. 3:10; 2 Cor. 9:7).
Civil Government
We believe that laws and ordinances come from God’s ultimate authority and should be upheld, except when they are in opposition to the revealed will of God (Rom. 13:1-5).
Gender
We believe God created humans as a biologically-sexed (male and female) pair, in biological sex at birth as a core distinction between males and females, and an individual’s sex at birth as the determining factor for gender identity (Gen. 1:26-27; Matt. 19:4; Mark. 10:6).
Marriage
We believe marriage is the permanent, exclusive, legally-binding, covenantal relationship between one man and one woman, established by God for the welfare and happiness of humankind, to mirror his love for us in Christ, to refine our character, to allow for joyful participation with God in the creative process through procreation, to secure the stability necessary for the nurture of children produced by the marital union, and to reflect the unity of the triune God (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:3-8).
Humankind’s Purpose and Vocation
We believe God’s purposes for human beings are set forth in the Scriptures and by faith in His Son through the power and grace of the Spirit, and that this calling must be freely chosen and lived out. We believe denying and living outside of God’s purposes leads to self-deception, sin, and idolatry obscuring one’s own dignity and disregarding the dignity of others (Rom. 1:18-22).
The Sanctity and Value of Life
We believe in the sanctity of life and the God-given right of each person to live out his or her full life from conception to natural death (Psalm 139:13-14). We believe all forms of abuse, slander, dehumanization, or oppression toward fellow human beings is an affront against God’s sacred image and to God’s purposes (Ja. 3:9-10) and enjoins us to respond with love, truth, and grace (Matt. 18:15-20; Gal. 6:1).
Human Sexuality
Diversity
Click below to read the university’s diversity statement, created by our diversity taskforce, comprised of students, staff, and faculty.
fourSquare Denomination
Life Pacific University is the premier higher education institution of the Foursquare Church denomination. With our rich heritage, history and partnership with Foursquare, we offer the opportunity for students to pursue their ministerial license through the denomination if desired.
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Our Heritage
In nearly a century of Christ-centered education, LPU remains true to its historic and continuing mission: to prepare and educate leaders entering ministry, including pastoral, missional, bi-vocational, non-traditional, and marketplace ministry. LPU has a rich heritage of helping thousands of students become all that God created them to be – and that history continues to guide our future.Â
Our story starts over a century ago…
In 1918, famed evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson landed in Southern California after a cross-country road trip. There, she would end up founding The Foursquare Church – and setting in motion LPU’s beginnings.
Angelus Temple, The Foursquare Church’s first place of assembly, opened in Los Angeles in 1923, while 100 ministerial students enrolled at the Echo Park Evangelistic and Missionary Training Institute. That institute moved in 1926 to the complex next door to Angelus Temple, and operated as the International Institute of Foursquare Evangelism, before being renamed L.I.F.E. (Lighthouse of International Foursquare Evangelism). And so… the first iteration of LPU was born, with its first class graduating in April 1925.
LPU went through several evolutions throughout the 20th century, including:
- Adding a 4-year degree program in the 1940s
- Adding the Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Religious Education degree programs in the 1950s
- Beginning intercollegiate sports (basketball and baseball) in 1950
- Beginning new campus construction in 1989 and relocating to San Dimas, California
- Building 3 new residence halls, the Roy Hicks, Jr. student center, and Ronald Mehl Court gymnasium from 1990-2003
As LPU neared its century mark, the university knew its potential impact was far greater than just the West Coast, and started the process of expanding east. LPU Virginia initially began on its own, as Ignite Leadership Academy, but was welcomed to the LPU family in 2019.
That same year, LPU also thought ahead to the next era of education and grew its online degree programs – even before much of the world shifted virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, LPU is on a mission to build upon that rich history – with its two physical campuses, virtual degree programs, and an enduring commitment to experiential education, LPU continues to cement its reputation as the elite educational choice for members of the FourSquare denomination.
Dive deeper into our heritage here, at Foursquare.org, or  Christianity Today. Â