It’s hard to capture a community in a few paragraphs. But basically South City Church exists to bring the love of Jesus Christ to the city of St. Louis for the glory of God. Our lives have been so dramatically changed by
the good news of Jesus Christ that we are compelled, out of gratitude and love for him, to share that transformational truth with St. Louis. Why? Simply because we love this town and we want others, maybe even you, to experience the freedom and joy that comes from knowing Christ.
Now this may seem like a bunch of religious mumbo-jumbo to you. Or perhaps you think this is just another group of brain-washed people who are so insecure that they need to invent this stuff about Jesus and love and all that to make themselves feel better. Or maybe you are just wondering what makes us different from all the other churches in the city.
Well, we will be the first to admit that we don’t have all the answers to your questions. But maybe these core values will answer a few. Of course, if you really want to understand what any of this means, you’ll just have to come and see us.
our core values
authenticity — Galatians 5:1 — Because the Gospel sets us free from having to be something we aren’t and requires honest and vulnerable examination of our hearts, we will be an authentic and transparent community: recognizing our brokenness and living in dependence upon Christ. In him we find our only free and lasting identity and so are enabled to leave the artificial veneer at the door.
beauty — Psalm 27:4 — God is beautiful, and we, having been made in his image, reflect that beauty. God displays his creativity in his creation and redemption, and we display our creativity through relationships, art, and ultimately our lives. We are a community which not only appreciates the beauty of God and his creation and redemption, but also encourages the expression of our creativity in all of life.
diversity — Acts 2:4 — Because South City Church is a church for the city of St. Louis, we seek to reflect the rich diversity of the city in our body. Only the gospel has the power to break down the fences between races and classes and sexes and generations, so as a Christ-centered church we have that power that the world…in its secularism…does not know. It is our calling, therefore, to break down those fences with the love of Jesus Christ.
relevance — Acts 17:16-34 — The message of the Gospel is the most relevant truth we have and this tired and drifting generation desperately needs to hear how it can change their lives. As we immerse ourselves in the culture around us, we will resonate as we speak the truth in love: that the Gospel answers life’s hard questions as it redeems and renews culture.
history — Luke 1:1-4 — Jesus Christ is an historical man, the historical Truth upon which our faith rests. We also believe there’s a big future in history as we learn from those who have gone before us. This will manifest itself in our teaching, in our appreciation for liturgy in worship and in the reformed theology and tradition that we believe best expresses Biblical truth.
mission — 1 Peter 2:9-10 — As children in the family and Kingdom of God, we are…by definition…in mission. And the purpose of that mission is to spread the good news of the Gospel and to bring his mercy and justice to bear in making his invisible Kingdom more visible. Everything we do will be missional in order to show the beauty of the Gospel to the world and to participate in pushing back the boundaries of its brokenness and unevenness.