ST. LOUIS – Active love is the best description of Amazing Love Community Church, a St. Louis plant church.
“This church was built on the amazing love of Jesus for us,” Ken Lovelace, lead pastor, said. “But, we’ve also built it on the acceptance of all. Our people embrace the community.”
The community for Amazing Love is the suburban area adjacent to the county seat of St. Louis County. The church meets in several locations, including Sunday mornings at Brentwood Community Center, Mid-County YMCA for baptisms, Wednesday nights at Maplewood Early Childhood Center, and Deer Creek Park for various services and Vacation Bible School (VBS).
Lovelace described the congregation as diverse.
“We have folks from all backgrounds,” he said. “We have college-age, singles and families. They all appreciate the unconditional love they experience.”
A family with a Jewish heritage was drawn by the love.
“Denise (Taylor) grew up in a Jewish family and she was invited to our church,” Lovelace said. “We are faithful to share the gospel and the family found a home here.”
The morning that Denise Taylor became a Christian, Lovelace said Ben Hess, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) church planting team leader, was visiting.
“When Denise came forward,” Lovelace said, “she indicated that she wanted to receive Jesus as her Savior. Because others were responding to the invitation, I asked Ben to help her understand the gospel while I talked with the others.
“She responded to Jesus as the Messiah and she wants to share with others. Denise brought her son and his friend to Bible study that evening. They were both open and received Christ.
“Six weeks later, the other son accepted Christ during VBS. Denise’s husband, who accepted Christ some years ago, united with our church on profession of faith and followed the Lord in baptism.”
Service is another expression of love for the church.
“We were blessed to have First Baptist Church, Richmond, Ky., help with VBS this year,” Lovelace said, “and we were busy canvassing the neighborhood. We had an excellent response from the neighborhood. Our people are involved because they want to minister and to reach people.”
The Lovelace family is a good example of the love and service demonstrated by the church. It functions as a 10-child ministering unit.
“It has never been just dad’s ministry,” Lovelace said. “Our ministry has always been a family ministry. We pray together, do setup together as well as do the breakdown together.
“With faith, we are going through doors opened by the Lord.”
Joy of Christ completes woman’s faith
ST. LOUIS — Denise Taylor knows what it means to be complete. She can now be considered a Completed Jew. She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.
“I was raised an orthodox Jew,” Taylor said. “I regularly attended synagogue. I have rabbis I love, but in those congregations, I didn’t feel welcomed like I do at Amazing Love Community Church.”
The love Taylor felt at the St. Louis plant church encouraged her to come and learn more.
“When I heard Pastor Ken (Lovelace) speak,” she said, “I could hear real love in his voice. I learned how to pray and I discovered prayer works.”
Taylor began bringing others in her family to the church.
“We realized that Christ is the One to pray to and that He is able to forgive sin,” she said. “I was looking for something because I was not happy and I was tense. When I attended church at Amazing Love, I felt love, grace, family and no one was excluded from the church family.”
Although her immediate family accepted Christ, her decision has not been popular with her extended family.
“My mom is still struggling with my decision,” she said. “But, she is encouraging to me.”
Taylor is eager to tell others about the difference in her life.
“Since accepting Christ,” she said, “I am fulfilled. Even my children noticed and they said life is better.”