Overview
The central Indiana cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette sit across the Wabash River from each other and together form Greater Lafayette, having a metro area population of approximately 225,000. West Lafayette is home to Purdue University, a top engineering school whose tuition has been frozen for 14 years, making it one of the most affordable highly ranked universities in the country.
The church in Lafayette began in 1989, maintaining a small but faithful testimony for many years, primarily among undergraduate and graduate students at Purdue. In June of 2016, the church began operating a low-power FM radio station, broadcasting the Living Stream Ministry’s Life-Study of the Bible program to the Greater Lafayette area, extending the church’s outreach across the community.
Beginning in late 2019, the Lord started adding to the church through the radio broadcast and through families moving to Lafayette, strengthening the local church life. In recent years, Purdue University’s high-ranking programs and affordable tuition have attracted more and more students who grew up among the saints to continue their studies here. Today, the average Lord’s Day attendance is 24 adults (a third of whom are college students) plus 11 young people and children.
In general, the students at Purdue University are open to the gospel. As of the Fall 2025 semester, there are about 25 undergraduate students (both new ones and our own) under the care of only a few families.
Our burden is that the Lord would strengthen the church in Lafayette for His expression here, both in the community and on the Purdue campus. The students at Purdue University and the local residents are open and receptive to the gospel. There is a sweet coordination among the saints in caring for the students and new ones, but we need additional strengthening. The situation in Lafayette truly echoes the Lord’s words in Matthew 9:37: “The harvest is great, but the workers few.” We look to the Lord that He would thrust us out as workers and add others to share in this burden.
Strategic Location
Lafayette is located along Interstate 65 in central Indiana, a state known as the “Crossroads of America.” Being about 60 miles northwest of Indianapolis and 120 miles southeast of Chicago, Lafayette is a mid-sized town with access to all the conveniences that major urban centers have to offer.
This location is also conducive to blending, and Lafayette enjoys much traffic from churches near and far. Over 20 localities are within a five-hour drive:
| Drive Time | Localities |
|---|---|
| 1 hr | Indiana: Indianapolis |
| 1–2 hrs | Illinois: Urbana–Champaign |
| 2–3 hrs |
Illinois: Lemont, Chicago, Normal, Palatine, Streamwood, Waukegan Indiana: South Bend Ohio: Cincinnati, Fairborn |
| 3–4 hrs |
Kentucky: Lexington Michigan: Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids Ohio: Columbus Wisconsin: Milwaukee |
| 4–5 hrs |
Michigan: Ann Arbor, Farmington Missouri: St. Louis Ohio: Mansfield, Elyria Wisconsin: Madison |
Climate
Greater Lafayette experiences a full four-season climate: warm humid summers, cold winters with occasional snow, and a mild spring and fall. Average highs in July reach about 84°F, and average lows in January near 17°F. Annual precipitation is approximately 38 inches, and snowfall averages 18 inches per year.
Demographics
As of 2021, the Greater Lafayette metro area had a population of approximately 225,000 people with the following demographics:
| White | 90.27% |
| African American | 2.14% |
| Native American | 0.26% |
| Asian | 3.74% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.03% |
| Other races | 2.29% |
| Two or more races | 1.28% |
| Hispanic or Latino of any race | 4.86% |
| Christian | 65–70% |
Transportation
While most residents own cars, Lafayette does have a comprehensive local bus system provided by CityBus of Greater Lafayette. It operates roughly 19 fixed routes across Lafayette, West Lafayette, and surrounding areas, and is integrated with mobile ticketing. Students at Purdue University regularly use the bus system to get around the West Lafayette/campus areas. Beyond city transit, there are multiple shuttle services (Lafayette Limo, Reindeer Shuttle) connecting the region to both the Indianapolis and Chicago International Airports.
Economy
The region is anchored by Purdue University in West Lafayette, which, in addition to being a major educational institution, is also a powerful driver of innovation, research, and workforce talent. Beyond academia, the local economy has a strong manufacturing and advanced-tech base. Global firms in aerospace, nano-tech, automotive, and other sectors call the region home. The job market is stable and growing, especially in sectors tied to technology and manufacturing, although pay scales still lag larger metro areas. Employers are actively investing in the region (currently billions of dollars in new investments and development plans), so long-term prospects are promising for the region.
Below are some major employers by industry:
| Industry | Employers |
|---|---|
| Biotech | Cook Biotech; Evonik Corporation Tippecanoe Laboratories; Integra LifeSciences; Triclinic Labs |
| Advanced Manufacturing | Caterpillar Large Engine Center; Wabash; Dana Fairfield; Arconic; Primient; Tate & Lyle; Kirby Risk; FLIR Systems; Dassault Systèmes |
| Aerospace | GE Aviation; Rolls-Royce; Swift Fuels; Saab; Butler Aerospace & Defense |
| Automotive | Subaru of Indiana Automotive; Liquidspring; ZF Friedrichshafen AG |
Greater Lafayette enjoys a combination of growth and affordability; housing remains relatively budget-friendly, and the area has been repeatedly ranked as an emerging market for new residents. Residents benefit from a fairly modest cost of living compared to big cities, while still enjoying good amenities, access to parks, arts, and a college town feel.
Schools
Public Schools
Greater Lafayette is home to three separate school districts, known as corporations in Indiana. West Lafayette School Corporation is considered by some as the top district in the state of Indiana, and within the top 50 in the US. Additionally, there are the Lafayette School Corporation and the Tippecanoe School Corporation.
Private Schools
Greater Lafayette has multiple religious private schools, including the following:
- Lafayette Christian School: Pre-K–8th grade; approximately 400 students
- Faith Christian School: Pre-K–12th grade; approximately 800 students
- Lafayette Catholic School System: four elementary schools and one junior/senior high school; over 1,000 students
Traditional Homeschooling
Indiana is widely regarded as one of the most homeschool-friendly states, with minimal official requirements compared to most others. Families may choose whether or not to report their homeschooling to the state. If they do report, the only requirement is to document 180 days of instruction each calendar year. There are no mandated tests, curriculum standards, or additional reporting beyond the record of school days. Upon completion of the equivalent coursework required for graduation, families may issue a high school diploma to their student.
Hybrid Program
Indiana also offers a few online/homeschool hybrid programs, giving families the flexibility to teach their children in their own way with their preferred curriculum at home while still receiving public funding for supplemental educational needs such as supplies, sports programs, music lessons, and field trips. Students enrolled in these programs are educated at home by their parents but are still enrolled within the public school system and required to participate in state testing and hit certain benchmarks within the four core subjects of Math, Science, Language Arts, and Social Studies.
School Choice Scholarships
As a School Choice state, Indiana offers multiple options for families who prefer alternatives to traditional public schools. Indiana Choice Scholarships provide roughly $6,500 per student annually toward private school tuition, covering 70–80% of tuition at Lafayette’s two major private Christian schools. All Indiana residents are eligible for the School Choice Scholarship.
College Campuses
Ivy Tech Community College
Ivy Tech Community College in Lafayette is part of Indiana’s statewide community college system—the largest singly accredited community college network in the country. It offers a wide range of programs and certifications in fields like healthcare, technology, business, and advanced manufacturing, providing both career-ready training and affordable pathways to four-year degrees with credits that transfer to many other universities. Indiana high school students may participate in “Dual Enrollment,” taking classes at Ivy Tech (in person or online) while still in high school.
Purdue University
Purdue University was founded in 1869 as a public land-grant research university and has a reputation for strong engineering and agriculture programs as well as a rich heritage in aviation and spaceflight. Ranking among the top 10 public universities in the US, and having frozen tuition at 2012 levels, Purdue offers an affordable high-quality education. Current enrollment at Purdue’s West Lafayette campus is over 50,000, with around 40,000 of them being undergraduate students.
Housing
Driven by demand related to Purdue University, the average home value in West Lafayette is around $360,000, roughly equivalent to the national average. Average rent in West Lafayette is $1,726, 14% lower than the national average.
Across the river in Lafayette, housing is more affordable with an average home value of approximately $260,000 and average rent of $1,239.
Points of Interest
The Greater Lafayette area offers many family-friendly parks and activities. Here are some favorites:
| Attraction | Description |
|---|---|
| Columbian Park Zoo | A compact zoo in Columbian Park with over 190 animals and plenty of space for young children to explore. |
| Tropicanoe Cove Water Park | A seasonal water park in Columbian Park featuring water slides, a large toddler splash area, and a lazy river. |
| Cason Family Park | A 28-acre park with nature-themed playgrounds, a restored 1879 schoolhouse, fishing and kayaking pond, and nearly three miles of trails. |
| Oasis Indoor Park | An indoor play and climbing structure at Faith East Community Center, popular with children ages 3–12, with an additional toddler space at Northend Community Center. |
| Malibu Jack’s Lafayette | An indoor amusement center offering go-karts, laser tag, arcade games, and miniature golf—ideal for rainy days or high-energy kids. |
| Prophetstown State Park | A large historic state park offering nature walks, picnicking, camping, seasonal water activities, and family outdoor recreation just north of West Lafayette. |
| Wolf Park | A privately operated wildlife park spanning over 100 acres of rewilded farmland and home to wolves, bison, foxes, and other native species. Guided tours available daily. |
Church Life Demographics
| Demographics (Fall 2025) | |
|---|---|
| Children (Pre-K to 6th grade) | 9 |
| Young People (7th–12th grade) | 4 |
| College Age (18–25) | 19 |
| Adults (Beyond College Age) | 24 |
The church meets weekly for the Lord’s Table, prophesying, and prayer meetings. In addition, there are two home meetings during the week, and a Bible study on the Purdue campus with 10 students who come regularly. About half of these students are new ones. The saints also have concentrated times of prayer and coordination in support of these gatherings and to facilitate care for the college students.
Recently, a few families have begun hosting a neighborhood children’s meeting twice a month to listen to Bible stories and play together. Several of the children’s school friends and neighbors have joined, along with their parents.
Although Lafayette is a small locality, it is not isolated. In addition to in-person blending among the churches within a few hours’ drive, Lafayette joins other churches in the Midwest over Zoom for LSM video trainings and conferences, as well as sisters’ meetings.
Similarly, the prayer and coordination for children, young people, and college students in the region is a corporate burden, with churches in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana coming together to carry out Summer Bible Camps, 6th Grade Conferences, Young People’s Conferences, Summer Schools of Truth, and College Conferences. This has produced a sweet connection and care among not only the adult saints in the various localities but also among the children and young people as well.