A member says he was escorted out of The City Church Lubbock—the congregation that rose from eLife’s ashes—after suffering a seizure during Sunday service. The man, Franky Galicia, shared that after medics checked him out and cleared him as stable, he tried to rejoin worship but was stopped. According to Galicia, a church representative told him his seizures were becoming “a distraction and liability,” and he was asked to leave altogether. His wife later posted online, saying her husband had attended and served faithfully for years, and that the incident left them both hurt and confused.
The City Church responded publicly the same day, issuing a lengthy statement that aimed to set the record straight. They confirmed that Galicia did indeed have a seizure during service, and that EMS and several medical professionals on site assisted. The church said Galicia was “disoriented,” refused hospital transport, and was “lightly and lovingly encouraged to go home and rest.” According to the church, no one was told not to return—only that they must follow safety protocol requiring medical attention or rest after such an event.
In their post, The City Church included statements from multiple members—nurses, a doctor, and a police officer—each backing the church’s account that Galicia was cared for and escorted safely to his vehicle. The church’s tone was defensive but polished, emphasizing their “grace and care” while clarifying that this was about safety, not exclusion. Galicia, for his part, said he went public not to attack anyone but to raise awareness of how people with health conditions can feel misunderstood or unwelcome in spaces that should embody compassion.
For longtime Lubbock residents, this story rings familiar. Experience Life Church was once one of the city’s fastest-growing congregations before shutting down amid controversy, with much of its leadership reemerging under The City Church name. To some, this incident feels like a continuation of a pattern—where image management and crisis statements come quicker than genuine reflection.
When “come as you are” meets “but maybe not if it’s medically inconvenient,” it’s hard not to wonder: did The City Church learn anything from eLife’s fall, or just change the logo?
