Christiana's Freedom Life Christian Center is tucked in a valley under tall trees along a country road.

It looks more like a retreat center than a church. And that's exactly what the Rev. Sam Masteller, Freedom Life's pastor, hopes the building, at 447 Noble Road, will become.

To mark the church's 40th anniversary, the congregation this fall launched "Decade of Destiny," a program to plant 100 churches around the world in 10 years.

And that includes moving to a more visible location on Route 41, where the church hopes to construct a new building on 18 acres. Negotiations for the land are under way.

"The previous generation sacrificed for what we have," Masteller said he tells his congregation. "Let's pay it forward. Let's not just sit back and enjoy it. Let's relocate where we can reach more people.

"It's not about a new building. It's about changing lives."

Masteller, 37, is the sixth pastor at the Sadsbury Township church, which is affiliated with the Assemblies of God international network of churches.

Born in Philadelphia, he grew up in Centre County and is a graduate of Bald Eagle High School, Wingate, and Valley Forge Christian College, Phoenixville.

The pastor and his wife, Michele, reside in Parkesburg with their children: Mikayla, 11; Caleb, 9; Carter, 6; Colby, 4; and Makenna, 2.

Masteller joined the church as youth pastor in 1999, when it was named Victory Chapel. In 2000, "to reflect a new season in the life of the church," he said, the name was changed, and in 2002 he became lead pastor.

Masteller, whose home church is Milesburg Assembly of God, said he felt called to ministry when he was 12 or 13.

"I always knew in my heart that I wanted to help people."

The "life-giving" church offers financial planning, divorce care, addiction recovery and small groups for men, women and married couples. It has a food bank and helps people get professional counseling.

"You only live once," Masteller said. "You have one shot to do it right. That takes some planning.

"Maturity means giving up your preferences and accepting responsibility for the greater good."

Freedom Life reaches out to unchurched people who may feel uncomfortable in a typical church setting.

The congregation worships in contemporary services with a praise and worship band and practical teaching at 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m. Sundays. Dress is casual.

"We want people to feel loved and encouraged."

To celebrate the anniversary, the worship team recently released its first recording, "Christ in Me." It's available on iTunes.

For fellowship between services, there's a modern café with a full kitchen and book store.

Freedom Life, with about 300 members and 750 worshippers attending on a typical Sunday, also reaches people online with a video of Sunday services "every hour, every day."

To view a service and find other resources, go to www.freedomlife.tv.

The church will launch a Saturday night service Jan. 7. The other nights of the week already are booked with activities.

The lower level of the church features a remodeled children's education wing in bright, bold primary colors.

"You can tell people you love their kids or you can show them," Masteller said.

Children enter through the eye-popping Shem's Fruit Stand. Nursery and preschoolers gather in Noah's Town, while the Ark Room, remodeled from "sterile" to "fantastic," hosts students in kindergarten to fifth grade.

Curtains divide a gymnasium into a cafe, worship auditorium and other spaces for junior and senior high activities.

Freedom Life is affiliated with Wave Church network and recently connected with Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston and its Champions Network.

Bridge Community Church, in Downingtown, opened last February with Freedom Life's help. True Life Church, in Newark, Del., will open this February.

Last year, Freedom Life partnered with the Assemblies of God to plant churches in India and Cuba. But not all of its affiliations are with Assemblies of God.

"It's not about denomination; it's about vision and values. It's a message of hope and forgiveness found in Jesus."