Senior Pastors & Founders
For almost 40 years, Pastor Steve & Ellen Bilsborough have preached the gospel across Canada, the United States, and in over 37 nations of the world. A graduate of Zion Bible College in Rhode Island, Pastor Bilsborough married Ellen, born in the former Yugoslavia and who grew up in Canada from the age of three. Together, they have four beautiful children, with three of them working full-time in the ministry along with their spouses. After many years of ministry in the nation of Canada, they felt the Lord leading them to relocate their family and ministry from Toronto to Tampa, Florida. In 2007, that move took place, and for four years, Pastor Bilsborough travelled full-time as an evangelist.
In 2011, the Lord led them to launch Great Life Church, which has grown from just a few people to now reaching thousands in weekly in-person services and an online ministry. For the past 10 years, God has blessed the ministry, and from it, thousands of lives have been transformed locally and across the nation. Now hosting a national Christian Television Broadcast, Pastor Bilsborough ministers many times throughout the week to audiences of millions by way of television and weekly through the dynamic ministry at Great Life Church. In 2019, the Bilsboroughs expanded the vision of Great Life by launching Life Preparatory School, a full K3 -12th grade private Christian education program for students currently operating out of two separate campuses. In Fall 2024, Great Life will be launching its second location in Ocala, Florida.
Our Vision
Pastors Stephen & Ellen have a great vision to see lives impacted for eternity and to see believers live an abundant life here on earth. Time is short, eternity is long, and our focus is on souls. Our prayer and passion is that we would be fueled to see the Kingdom advance and to see broken lives find purpose and meaning. We believe this is only possible through the shed blood of Jesus, He is the reason we live, move, and have our being.
Our Family
Pastor Stephen & Ellen moved to the United States as a small family, having no attachments, relatives, or connections here in Florida. In the short time they have been here, not only have they seen an incredible increase since planting Great Life Church, but their family has grown to 13. Pastor Stephen & Ellen have 4 children, with 3 serving in full-time ministry, along with all their spouses, making 6 in total. Pastor Brandon is the Associate Pastor, he and his wife, Brittany Bilsborough, have 3 children: Noa, Harper, and Folton. Victoria & Zeph Berman are the Youth & Young Adults Pastors at Great Life. And Madison, their youngest, along with her husband Julian Escoda, who oversees Family Ministries, have two children Kingston and London. Together, they are passionate about making a daily impact in their city and across central Florida as Great Life expands.
