When Pastors Rodney and Michelle Gage were challenged with settling on a name for the church they founded in Lake Nona, they chose with purpose and care. “The name of our church raises eyebrows in the best way possible,” Rodney says with a smile. “It intrigues people. They want to know more. It inspires and challenges people to ask themselves two of life’s most important questions: Who am I living for and what am I living for? Those two questions inspire everyone to ‘rethink’ their life and to focus on what’s most important. That’s why we settled on ReThink Life Church.”
Rodney is the lead pastor of ReThink Life Church in Lake Nona. He and his wife, Michelle, are well-known in the Lake Nona community for their church, his monthly Nonahood News column and podcast called “The Winning Family,” and their commitment to transforming lives for Christ. Recently, they took one giant step toward a dream that’s been long in the making: finding a permanent home in the Lake Nona area.
Since 2016, ReThink Life Church has been meeting on Sundays at the Performing Arts Center at Lake Nona High School. On September 30, thanks to caring friends, generous supporters and many passionate hearts for Christ, ReThink Life Church closed on 4.7 acres of land. This parcel of land is strategically located at 2550 N. Narcoossee Road, just 4.8 miles from Lake Nona High School. From the south, it’s located just one mile from Cyrils Drive, which serves as the south entrance to the brand new SunBridge Community, owned and developed by Tavistock. In short, their new property will have great potential to be an essential hub here in Lake Nona.
“After many years of starts and stops and relocations throughout the city, God’s faithfulness has allowed ReThink Life to see thousands of people won to faith in Christ at every location along our journey,” Rodney shares. “But Michelle and I – and our entire church family – are so excited and grateful for this new chapter. We can’t wait to see this new location’s positive impact on Lake Nona and beyond. We believe God has big plans for this area, and we hope to be the hands and feet of Christ to this community. That’s what we’re called to do. And with so many people moving here, this new building is the perfect opportunity.”
It’s no secret that Lake Nona, located in Orange County, has been growing by leaps and bounds, and its growth has now crossed over into Osceola County. Currently, Osceola County is the second fastest-growing county in Florida and the seventh largest in the nation. The latest data projections by the Orlando Economic Partnership estimate that 1,500 people move into the Orlando area weekly. As of this writing, Tavistock plans to develop 27,000 acres in their new Sunridge community, adding thousands of new homes.
This makes Rethink’s new property a strategic location for visibility and accessibility. With over 50,000 cars traveling by this location daily, this parcel of land connects the southern boundary of Orange County and the northern boundary of Osceola County and Sunbridge Community. This location will offer distinctive advantages as they seek to build a 24,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility to serve as an intersection for faith, family and the community. That means the future of ReThink Life Church in Lake Nona is just getting started.
This is why the Rethink Life Church congregation is excited about the new opportunities their future building will bring. “This is truly going to be a life-changing place,” Rodney begins, “filled with hope and help for families, businesses, special events and education, to name a few.” Rodney generously offers to break it down when asked to explain further, and the plans are wonderfully ambitious.
Using a part of their church name, “LIFE,” as an acronym, the L stands for “Learning.” Rethink’s future facility is projected to be an essential hub for education, designed to equip people of all ages for spiritual growth and development. It will serve as the home for the Phase Family Learning Center, a new national, faith-based preschool franchise that features private preschool, pre-K, after-school, and camp programs. This is childcare and early learning reimagined.
The I stands for “Innovation.” This new facility will provide cutting-edge technology throughout the building. Local business owners, entrepreneurs, creatives and content creators can access production suites for audio, video and podcast recordings to promote their products and services to the community.
Next, the F stands for “Family” — an essential focus of this new building. “Every family has a story,” Rodney shares. “Every family ends up somewhere, but few end up somewhere on purpose.” With that focus in mind, this facility will provide safe, life-giving experiences for every family member. It will be a home for pre-marriage workshops, marriage conferences and parenting seminars so that couples and parents are encouraged and equipped with the tools they need to thrive. In short, they hope it will add education, joy, faith and community to every family’s story.
Lastly, the E stands for “Events.” ReThink’s future home will be a world-class venue for conferences, concerts, corporate and community events, and the church’s Sunday morning and mid-week services. The plan is also to offer a full-service kitchen, café, and resource center that fosters connection for everyone who walks through the doors.
For Pastors Rodney and Michelle, these L.I.F.E. pillars have been at the heart of ReThink Life Church for a long time, but “Family” is what stands out the most. “There are truly so many wonderful reasons to move to Lake Nona,” Rodney says. “But when a family makes a big transition like moving, they inevitably leave behind friends, family and support systems. No matter how many people move here, there’s still the potential for loneliness or isolation. This can create a void in their community life, causing people to feel alone and disconnected.
Missy Isom, her husband, and two children have been attending RTL since 2019. When asked what being a part of ReThink Life has meant to their family, she said, “The church has always been there for us from day one. They are there whenever we need advice, counsel, or simply someone to connect with. We’ve never experienced a connection like our one with RTL.” When asked why others in the community should consider attending ReThink Life, she said, “ReThink is about family, community and living Life together. I truly believe that’s what people desire. When a church fulfills those needs, you know it’s the place to call home!”
The number of Americans who say they have no close friends has roughly tripled in recent decades. We want to turn that around here in the Lake Nona community. Families shouldn’t have to feel siloed from each other or do life alone. We need one another, and the best place to grow spiritually and relationally is in a community of faith known as the local church.
ReThink’s emphasis on “family” and “community” has been transformative. Church member Isabel Gillespie, her husband, and two sons moved to the Lake Nona area from California and have been attending ReThink Life since 2021. When asked, “What made you call ReThink Life your home church?” she said, “It felt like home, and we like being a part of a church family. Everyone was very welcoming. We have made amazing friends who we call our tribe. My kids love going to church. We have become very involved, and it’s been an amazing experience for our family. We are closer as a family and love volunteering in our church and community.”
If you’re new to the area or simply looking to “rethink” your Life in a fresh new way and get in on the ground floor of a thriving new church, you can check out ReThink Life by going to ReThinkLife.com. Also, check out Pastor Rodney Gage’s monthly column in Nonahood News, The Winning Family, designed to help parents raise morally resilient kids. You can also learn more about additional resources like The Winning Family Podcast by checking out thewinningfamily.com.
