About Us

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Past

Sherri and I were born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. After wasting much of our teenage years in the pursuit of happiness apart from God, we both came to faith and trust in Jesus Christ on August 31st, 1980. I have to make mention of our pastor and the church through whose ministry were were saved and discipled: Dr. George Westlake, Jr. and Sheffield Family Life Center.

After spending seven years being discipled at Sheffield, involving ourselves in practically every ministry available, and working in small business development (not to mention having two of our three kids), we left Kansas City to prepare for a life of vocational ministry.  After receiving an B.A. in Biblical Studies for Central Bible College, we invested three years in a church planting venture in Morganfield, Kentucky (www.morganfieldtrinityassemblyofgod.com).

From 1992 to 1998, we spent time in youth and children ministry in both Texas and Georgia.  Our focus has always been on loving people and building people.

In July, 1998, we returned to Kansas City to take on the responsibilities of the youth department at Sheffield Family Life Center.  During this tenure, we were priviledged to be a part of starting the Master’s Commission program at Sheffield (www.mcin.org).  We see our time spent at Sheffield as invaluable when it comes to the experience provided in urban ministry and missiology.

Present

After resigning our position of nine years at our home church – Sheffield Family Life Center (www.sflc.net) – we have relocated to the southside of St. Louis, Missouri, to begin the preliminary work of planting a new church.

We are currently meeting every Monday evening at 6:45pm at the Mississippi Mudhouse (2101 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO, 63118) for a time of discussion and planning.

Beliefs:

  • The Bible is the Inspired Word of God

The Old and New Testament are verbally inspired by God, the only written revelation from God to man. The Bible is infallible and the authoritative rule of faith and conduct for mankind (II Timothy 3:15-17, I Thessalonians 2:13 & Peter 1:21).

  • There is one true God

The one true God has revealed himself generally through his creation and specifically through the Scripture. He has revealed his nature and character through his dealings and relationship with mankind as recorded in Scripture. God is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). God is super-dimensional and eternally self-existent (Jn. 8:54-59). God is omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent. He is the creator of the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1&2). While God is one, He has revealed Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19).

  • Jesus Christ is the Son of God

Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity, the eternal Son of God. The Scripture declares his virgin birth (Matthew 1:18-23); His sinless life (Hebrews 7:26 & I Peter 2:22 & I John 3:4,5); His miracles (Acts 2:22 & 10:37-38); His substitutionary death on the cross (II Corinthians 5:21 & I Peter 2:24 & I Corinthians 15:4); His bodily resurrection from the dead (Matthew 28:1-6 & I Corinthians 15:4); His exaltation to the right hand of God (Acts 1:9,11 & Philippians 2:9-11). He has shown himself to be the friend of sinners, and the one who includes the excluded and mainstreams the marginalized.

  • The Fall of Man

Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 2:26). However, by a voluntary act of the will, Adam and Eve disobeyed God (Genesis 3:6). That first sin had several repercussions. Man was excommunicated from the garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23), a curse was pronounced (Genesis 3:14-19), the process of physical death began (Genesis 2:17), and man died spiritually (Romans 5:12-19). Sin separated humankind from God (Ephesians 2:11-18) and left man in a fallen or sinful condition (Romans 3:23).

  • The Salvation of Man

The only means of salvation is Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12 & John 14:6). He died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sins (I Peter 2:24). He offers each of us a pardon for our sins (Hebrews 9:26) and wants us to become children of God (John 1:12).When we put our faith in Christ, it triggers a spiritual chain reaction.

We become the

Temple of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 6:19). Our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). We become citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20-21). We are given eternal life (John 3:16). We are adopted and become children of God (Gal. 4:4-7). Our sins are forgiven and forgotten (Heb. 8:12). We are credited with the righteousness of Christ (

Rom. 4:4-5). We are born-again (John 3:3). God takes ownership of us (I Cor. 6:20). We receive an eternal inheritance (Ephesians 1:13-14 & I Peter 1:3-5).

The evidence of salvation is two-fold. The internal evidence is the direct witness of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16). The external evidence is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23). We become a new creation (II Cor. 5:17) and are being progressively transformed into the image of Christ (II Cor. 3:18).

  • The Church and Its Mission

The Church is the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:12-27) and has a three-fold purpose: To evangelize the world (Acts 1:8 & Mark 16:15-16), to worship God (I Cor. 12:13), and to equip for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16 & I Cor. 12:28, 14:12). The local church is revealed in the Scripture as God’s primary means of fulfilling the Great Commission on the earth.

  • The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is a member of the Godhead, co-equal and co-existent with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit works in cooperation with the Father and the Son in the salvation and sanctification of mankind.The nine fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) are the by-product of a Spirit-filled life and evidence of spiritual maturity. The nine gifts of the Spirit are different manifestations of the Spirit to build up the body (I Cor. 12:1-11). We are instructed to diligently seek the gifts (I Cor. 12:31, 14:1), but they must be exercised in an orderly way (I Cor. 14:26-33) in the context of love (I Cor. 13:1-13).

There will be a final judgment in which the dead will be resurrected and judged according to their works (Matt. 25:31-46 & Romans 2:1-9). Everyone whose name is not found written in the Book of Life, along with the devil and his angels, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). Those whose names are written in the Book of Life will be resurrected and stand at the judgment seat of Christ to be rewarded for their good deeds (I Cor. 4:5).

Personal Core Values:

  • Revelation

All knowledge is based on revelation, and, through investigation and discovery, truth may be known.  The truth concerning the nature, essence and character of God may be known soley because He has chosen to reveal himself – both through His creation and His Word.  There can be no compromise concerning the unbiased handling, evaluation and interpretation of the revelation that has been given to mankind.  All opinion, philosophy and practice must submit tot he revelation provided by God.

  • Reality

Real life is based on truth and authenticity; in short, real life is based on reality.  While the order of the day and the norm of our culture is deception – born either out of the desire for self-gain or out of the fear of authenticity – confronting life on the platform of reality is the foundation of the life that God intends His people to live.

  • Relevancy

The truth of the Gospel is timeless and unchanging; however, the Gospel must be presented in the context of present time and culture.  Relevancy wins out over tradition and personal preferences.

  • Relationship

Community, family, and friendships far outweigh programs and/or progress.

  • Risk

The God revealed in Scripture has shown Himself to be prone to risk.  God demonstrated this in granting mankind freewill from the beginning, risking the welfare of His creation and fulfillment of His will.

God calls His people to risk.  Risk invloves change, uncertainty, misunderstanding and the possibility of failure.  Risk must be embraced through faith in God’s character, trust in God’s nature, and hope in God’s soveriegnty.

The Scripture is clear: without risk, God’s intended purposes will not be realized in the establishing of His Kingdom among mankind.