First Assembly of God sits on State Hwy C (also addressed as Route C) on the west side of Jefferson City, Missouri, where Pastor Lowell Perkins has served the congregation since 1993. The church is known for its bilingual ministry, with Sunday worship and Bible study offered in both English and Spanish, and for a Wednesday evening schedule that opens the building to every age group at once: adults in the sanctuary, young adults in their own service, boys and girls in children's ministry, and Spanish-speaking neighbors in Bible study down the hall.
What the Church Believes
First Assembly of God holds to the Sixteen Fundamental Truths of the Assemblies of God. The church believes in the One True God, the authority of the Bible, the love and lordship of Jesus Christ, the present-day power of the Holy Spirit, the value and significance of every person, and the reality of eternity.
Sundays on Route C
The Sunday schedule is built around two morning worship services in English and one in Spanish. The 8:30 AM service offers an earlier option for those who like a quieter hour, and the 10:00 AM service fills the main sanctuary with congregational worship. At the same 10:00 hour, a Spanish-language service begins in Cuarto 301, with Spanish Sunday School for all ages meeting beforehand at 10:45 AM in Cuarto 300.
The Spanish ministry continues through the week. A Spanish worship service meets on Sundays at noon in Cuarto 301, and on Wednesday evenings the Estudio Bíblico gathers at 7:00 PM in Cuarto 100. Together these offerings make First Assembly a true bilingual congregation under one roof.
Wednesday Evenings Around the Building
Wednesday is one of the busiest nights of the week at First Assembly. At 6:00 PM the Sanctuary Bible Study opens for adults, and at 7:00 PM the rest of the building comes alive. Young Adults gather for their own service, Boys and Girls Ministries fills classrooms with children, and the Spanish Bible study meets in Cuarto 100. The full Wednesday Evening Services bring everyone back together for a single, unified gathering that closes the night.
For families, the Wednesday rhythm means parents can attend the Sanctuary Bible Study while their children are in Boys and Girls Ministries down the hall, and young adults do not have to choose between their own community and the wider church; the schedule makes room for both.
Children and Youth
Children's ministry is led by Amanda Crawford as Kids Pastor. On Wednesdays, Boys and Girls Ministries runs alongside the adult Bible study. Special events round out the year, including the First Kids Back To School Party each August, an evening of games, ice cream, and a playful BGMC Summer Challenge.
Youth ministry is led by Nathan Imadiyi as Youth Pastor. First Youth Student Groups meet on Sundays at 4:00 PM for games, Bible discussion, and snacks. Throughout the year the youth program runs lock-ins, retreats, and outreach trips. Engage the Campus is an annual August trip for youth to Springfield, Missouri, to learn how to share Jesus with friends and make an impact at their schools.
Young Adults
Dr. Lisa Howard pastors the young adults ministry (ages 18 to 29). Young Adults have their own Wednesday evening service alongside the rest of the church's midweek programming. The group also gathers for off-campus events, including corn mazes at Shryock's Callaway Farms, local food outings, and an annual Young Adults Retreat at Cross Pointe Camp & Retreat Center in Rocky Mount, Missouri. The retreat is a 24-hour get-away with worship led by the SMYM worship band and teaching from guest speakers; housing is available in dorms or hotel rooms, and the church bus departs from the building so anyone can attend without a car.
Women's and Men's Ministry
The women's ministry, sometimes called jcEmpowHer, gathers on Tuesday mornings at 9:15 AM in Room 101 for Bible study that runs through 11:00 AM. Women also host movie nights and seasonal gatherings, and the ministry is open to women of all ages and stages of life.
The men's ministry (M6) meets on Thursday mornings at 7:00 AM in Room 400 for Bible study. A 50+ Fellowship Dinner brings older adults together several times a year in the church gym for food and conversation, and Men's Bible Study runs year-round.
Family Life and Pastoral Care
Kelly Yearton serves as Family Life Pastor, walking alongside families through every season: marriage, parenting, and the everyday rhythms of shared faith. The Family Life ministry complements the work of the children's, youth, and adult pastors so that a family walking through the doors of the church on any given Sunday or Wednesday can find ministry for every member.
Outreach and Community Service
Jason Fisher leads outreach as Outreach Pastor. Two regular ministries stand out.
Vision 3:16 is the monthly Eyeglass Ministry. On a set Tuesday or Wednesday each month (most recently the third Tuesday at 6:00 PM), volunteers of all ages gather in the church gym to sort, clean, and prepare donated eyeglasses that are shipped to under-resourced communities in the United States and around the world. No experience is required. The church serves as a regional host site and welcomes any willing hands.
The Fall Giveaway is a twice-yearly clothing and household-items event. Clean, gently worn items are dropped off on Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday morning the gym opens for anyone in need to take what they can use, free of charge. Volunteers help set up the gym during the week and run the giveaway on Saturday.
Throughout the year, First Assembly also opens its gym for all-church fellowship dinners, including the annual All Church Picnic held at Memorial Park Pavilion, where the church provides fried chicken and families bring a main dish, side, or dessert to share.
Pastor Lowell Perkins and the Leadership Team
Pastor Lowell Perkins is a native of Jefferson City and a graduate of Jefferson City High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Latin from the University of Missouri, Columbia, with a Minor in Religious Studies, and a Master of Arts from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. He is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God. Pastor Lowell joined the staff of First Assembly as Youth Pastor in 1991, served as Associate Pastor, and was elected Pastor in 1993. He has also served the Southern Missouri Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God as Sectional Presbyter, Executive Presbyter, Assistant Superintendent, and as a member of the General Presbytery. He and his wife Brenda have two adult children and three grandchildren.
The leadership team around Pastor Lowell includes Dr. Peter Dissmore as Associate Pastor, Kelly Yearton as Family Life Pastor, Dr. Lisa Howard as Young Adults Pastor, Jason Fisher as Outreach Pastor, Nathan Imadiyi as Youth Pastor, and Amanda Crawford as Kids Pastor. Hunter Wall serves as Media Director, overseeing the livestream and the church's audio and video ministry.
Sermons and Teaching
Pastor Lowell Perkins is the primary preaching pastor, with more than 240 sermons in the church's archive. Recent series include More Than Conquerors, a walk through Romans 8; Jesus Is Better, an extended series in the book of Hebrews; and The Burning Bush, a study of Exodus 3 and 4. Other recent series include Holy Spirit, Seven Dynamic Declarations from Jesus in John's Gospel, and The Practice of Listening!, a Lenten series taught by Darla Porter. Each sermon is available as both audio and a downloadable PDF of sermon notes, and recent series are tagged with Scripture references.
Guest preachers and other staff pastors, including Jason Fisher, Peter Dissmore, Richard Crabb, Caleb Huhmann, and others, also preach in the rotation.
Watching and Giving from Anywhere
Sunday services are livestreamed and can be joined from a hospital room, a work break, or a Sunday morning at home. On-demand sermons are pulled from the archive for those who miss a service. Giving can be done online through the church's giving portal, and a full calendar of upcoming events can be exported to Google Calendar, iCal, or Outlook so visitors and regulars alike can plan around Bible studies, retreats, and outreach nights.
Visiting First Assembly
The church sits at 1900 State Hwy C (also written as 1900 Route C) in Jefferson City, Missouri, just off the highway west of the State Capitol. Parking is available on site. Visitors are welcomed at the 8:30 or 10:00 AM English service, the 10:00 AM Spanish service, or any Wednesday evening gathering. The office can be reached at (573) 635-0159 or office@firstassembly.org during the week.