An Evangelical Free Church on Highway 224
St. Luke Evangelical Free Church sits along Highway 224 on the west side of Wellington, Missouri, a small town in Lafayette County. The congregation's purpose is captured in a single phrase: "To Know Him and Make Him Known." Behind that mission is a vision of "a vibrant and welcoming Church that passionately seeks God, transforms lives through Christ, and equips disciples to radiate His love, making a lasting impact on our community and beyond." Visitors who pull off the highway on a Sunday morning will find two parking lots close to either of the two main entrances, with ADA accessible spaces in the lot directly off Highway 224.
The church belongs to the broader Evangelical Free tradition, a family of congregations shaped by a high view of Scripture, a clear articulation of the gospel, and a commitment to making disciples locally and globally. In Wellington that conviction takes a particular shape: a town-sized congregation committed to its neighbors, a campus that includes not only a sanctuary but a full community center, and a steady stream of writing that teaches the Bible plainly to anyone who will read it.
Sunday Worship at Ten
Sunday is the heartbeat of the church. The service begins at 10:00 AM and runs about an hour, with Sunday School classes starting at 9:00 AM in the Community Christian Center's main level and the church's lower level. On the first Sunday of each month, the congregation observes communion, and all believers are welcome to participate.
Worshipers can expect a blend of traditional and contemporary music, gathered together in a single service the church describes as both meaningful and uplifting. Visitors are encouraged to come as they are; in practice the room fills with a mix of casual and business-casual attire. There is no dress code beyond ordinary courtesy.
For families, the children's ministry begins during the service itself. Children from age three through sixth grade are dismissed to Children's Church in the building adjacent to the sanctuary, where they sing, learn about Jesus, and take part in age-appropriate activities. Younger children, from birth through age two, gather in the lower level of the church in a safe play environment with trusted adults and snacks. Mothers also have access to a dedicated mothers' room for nursing or quiet care of infants.
What the Church Believes
St. Luke's beliefs are spelled out in a ten-article Statement of Faith that closely follows the doctrinal commitments of the Evangelical Free Church of America. The church affirms one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and the full deity and full humanity of Jesus Christ, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, was crucified, rose bodily from the dead, ascended to heaven, and now sits at the right hand of the Father.
Scripture, both Old and New Testaments, is described as "the verbally inspired Word of God," "without error in the original writings" and "the complete revelation of His will for salvation." It is the ultimate authority over every area of human knowledge and endeavor, to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
The church teaches that human beings are sinners by nature and choice, alienated from God and under His wrath, and that salvation comes only through the atoning death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit convicts the world, regenerates sinners, baptizes them into union with Christ, indwells and empowers believers, and produces Christlike living and service.
The church recognizes two ordinances commanded by Christ: baptism and the Lord's Supper. Both visibly and tangibly express the gospel, without being the means of salvation. St. Luke looks for the personal, bodily, and glorious return of Jesus Christ and teaches that, at the final judgment, unbelievers will face eternal conscious punishment and believers will inherit eternal blessedness in the new heaven and new earth.
Children, Youth, and the Next Generation
The next generation is treated as central, not peripheral. Four programs carry most of the load.
AWANA meets Wednesday nights during the school year, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the Community Christian Center. Open to children ages three through sixth grade, the program pairs scripture memorization with rewards, games, and seasonal parties from September through April.
Children's Church runs during the Sunday worship hour. Children from age three through sixth grade are dismissed to a dedicated building just west of the sanctuary where they sing, hear Bible stories, and complete engaging activities suited to their age.
The Nursery serves children under three during the worship service. Located in the lower level of the church, the space is staffed by trusted adults and offers a safe play environment with snacks, allowing parents to worship without distraction.
Youth Group gathers students from sixth through twelfth grade on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the CCC loft during the school year. The group attends various conferences throughout the year, and special summer events supplement the regular meetings.
Vacation Bible School is a week-long program each summer for children ages three through fifth grade, packed with biblical teaching, fun activities, and music prepared for a parent program. The church calls it VBS, and registration information is released in the spring.
Confirmation Class, called Rooted, is offered for students in seventh through twelfth grade. Classes meet Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM in the CCC loft in six-week segments.
For volunteer leaders, the church maintains a Children's and Youth Volunteer Application available through its Church Center portal, along with a separate Youth Permission form for any activity involving minors.
The Community Christian Center: More Than Sunday
Directly next to the church stands the Community Christian Center, a multi-purpose facility that turns the campus into something like a small-town hub. The CCC's lower level is open to the public for the gym, computers, and meeting space from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM Tuesday through Friday during the school year, and Monday through Friday in the summer. On Mondays during the school year the CCC is closed to the public in order to host Tiger Day Camp, a program that fills the childcare gap created by Wellington's four-day school week.
Recreation is a regular part of CCC life. Pickleball meets on Mondays at 6:30 PM and Thursdays at 7:00 PM in the gym, with all ages and skill levels welcome. Basketball is open during regular gym hours and on Sunday nights at 8:00 PM. Community Chair Yoga meets at 9:00 AM on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the middle level of the CCC.
The CCC also serves the wider community in practical ways. The Wellington United Methodist Church hosts a food pantry at the CCC on the third Wednesday of each month from 2:00 to 7:00 PM, with proof of residency required. Camp Agape offers summer child care for children entering kindergarten through eighth grade. And the building itself can be rented for events; inquiries go through the CCC office email.
Small Groups for Every Season
Beyond Sunday worship, the life of the church is built around small groups that meet in the church building and the CCC throughout the week. Most are organized by life stage or theme, and all are open to newcomers.
Adult Bible Fellowships meet on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM across the CCC and the church's lower level. The 2nd Wednesday Supper is a free community meal hosted at the CCC from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, September through May. Men's Bible Study gathers on Thursday evenings at 6:30 PM in the main level of the CCC. Women's Fellowship meets Thursday mornings from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the church lower level, and a separate Women's Bible Study meets Sunday evenings at 6:00 PM in the middle level of the CCC. A Young Women's Life Group and Bible Study meets Wednesday evenings from 6:15 to 7:15 PM, in coordination with AWANA. The church also welcomes ideas for new groups and encourages anyone interested to reach out through the church office.
A church-wide Bible Reading Plan is promoted at the start of each year, and the Church Center app, available through the App Store, keeps members connected to sign-ups, group communication, and the church calendar.
Teaching Beyond Sunday: Articles and the Sower's House
St. Luke's teaching extends well past the Sunday hour. The church publishes ongoing written articles by Elder Rob Riesmeyer, who walks through books of the Bible one passage at a time and connects them directly to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Recent series have included expositions of John 10:1-21 ("The Good Shepherd and the Gate"), Psalm 23, Psalm 37, Numbers 14, Isaiah 6, Jude, and Matthew 16, each one aimed at the same audience: Christians looking to grow deeper and non-believers who are curious enough to read.
On the campus itself, a small shelter beside the playground is named "The Sower's House," after the parable of the sower in Mark 4. The church has printed the full parable on the page that introduces it, so that visitors walking past can read the same words Jesus spoke beside the Sea of Galilee: "The farmer sows the word." The name reflects a simple conviction: the most important work of the church happens when the seed of the gospel is sown, faithfully and repeatedly, in good soil.
That conviction is what ties the whole congregation together, the Sunday gathering, the children's ministry, the gym and food pantry next door, the small groups meeting throughout the week, and the steady stream of articles. Whether a person comes to Wellington for a Sunday, sends their child through AWANA, picks up food from the pantry on a Wednesday afternoon, or simply reads an article from the church, St. Luke wants the same thing: that they would come to know Jesus Christ and help others know Him too.
Support for the church's ministry and community work can be given through the online giving page.