About Element Church

Discover the heartbeat behind everything we do.

Our Story Your Home.

In 2005, Pastor Erik had a wild idea, what if church felt real? Not just Sunday-morning real, but everyday-life real. What if we created a place where you could laugh out loud, ask tough questions, and find God in the middle of your messy, beautiful life?

In 2006, Pastor Erik and a team of 29 people saw that dream launch Element Church. We’re committed to preaching Jesus boldly, teaching His Word authentically, and creating space where real people meet a real God. Where you can find Christ, know Christ and grow in Christ.

From our first gathering in the YMCA in Chesterfield to our current Wentzville space, now serving three thriving locations, we've seen thousands of lives rewritten by Jesus.

Our Mission

We create life-changing experiences for everyone

everywhere to know Christ, show Christ, and grow in Christ.

Our Core Values

Everyone

Everyone matters to God; everyone matters to us.

Laughter

Laughter builds bonds and breaks barriers.

Excellence

Excellence reflects God and reaches people.

Membership

We are created to connect and contribute to a local church.

Equip

We empower people to reach

their God-given potential.

We celebrate today while seizing tomorrow.

Truth

We are graciously candid with ourselves and with others.

Stewardship

We honor God when we faithfully

treasure people, time, and money.

Our Heart for You: to Know and Grow in Christ

We say “it’s not just the Bible you know it’s the Bible you do.” Growing in Christ isn’t just about reading the Bible, but doing what it says. (James 1:22-25)

Our Pastors

Pastor Erik Lawson

Pastor Erik serves as the founding and Senior Pastor of Element Church. Following God’s calling, Erik founded Element Church in St. Louis in 2006 with just a handful of people. Today, Element Church is a multi-site congregation with 3 locations and a weekly attendance of over 5,000. Pastor Erik has over 33 years of ministry experience and currently leads Element by providing spiritual leadership and guidance to a diverse congregation. Erik has also authored and published two books, “God What’s Taking So Long” and “Overcoming Overwhelmed.”  

Before launching Element, Erik was the lead youth pastor of Oneighty© at Church on the Move in Tulsa, where he oversaw the nation’s largest church youth program, with over 3,000 students attending each week. With an innovative communication style, a passion for empowering leaders, and practical Bible application, Erik aims to equip people to fulfill their God-given purpose and reach their full potential.

BOOKS PODCAST PODCAST

Sunny Wu Lawson

Sunny Wu Lawson, Pastor Erik’s wife, comes to us with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise, but more importantly, she has a passionate love for Jesus and His people. You can’t leave Sunny’s presence without feeling better about yourself. Her warmth and passion drive her to help others find their purpose and become all they were created to be.

Sunny holds a Master of Business Administration degree and has an extensive background in the corporate world with such major multi-national companies as Cummins, Thermo Fisher, and the ZF Group, where she served as head of Learning and Organizational Development. She oversaw their Asia Pacific region, encompassing ten countries with 50 locations and 20,000 employees. Sunny has 15 years of experience as a corporate HR executive, and six years as an executive and leadership coach. As the Chief Talent Officer for Element Church, she uses her extensive knowledge, experience, and incredible skill set to equip the Element staff with the skills they need to make a greater impact in bringing the Gospel and making disciples in our community and around the world.

Our Leadership

The Executive Team is led by the Senior Pastor and works together to shape the vision and direction of Element Church while creating alignment among its ministries. (Eph 4:11-12)

Our Beliefs

In essential beliefs – We believe there should be unity. (Ephesians 4:4-6) In non-essential beliefs – We believe there should be liberty. (Romans 14:1,4,12) In all our beliefs – We believe that there must be love toward each other. (1 Corinthians 13:2)

We believe the entire Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God and should be the supreme and final authority in our lives and faith. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Bible

We believe in one God who exists and reveals Himself in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Deuteronomy 6:4, 2 Corinthians 13:14)

One God

We believe that Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died for our sins, was raised from the dead and is at the right hand of the Father as true God and true man. (Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 9:5, Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus Christ

We believe that all mankind was created in the image of God, but fell from relationship with God by voluntary disobedience. Only through accepting Jesus Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice of His shed blood for our sins, can we be forgiven and restored into fellowship with God. (Genesis 1:27, Romans 3:23; 5:1; 6:23, Ephesians 1:7)

Salvation

We believe in the personal and imminent return of our Lord and the following bodily resurrection of the just and the unjust, with everlasting joy for the saved and everlasting, conscious punishment of the lost. (Acts 1:11, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Revelation 20:4-6; 11-15)

Eternity

We believe that the Church is composed of all those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior and that scripture instructs believers to identify and regularly assemble with other believers to devote themselves to worship, prayer, teaching of the Bible, fellowship, and works of service. (Hebrews 10:24-25, Acts 2:42-47; 16:5)

The Church

We believe that at the point of salvation the Holy Spirit fills each believer to be a source of strength, assurance, and wisdom. Every believer has available to them a distinct and subsequent experience as promised by the Father known as the Baptism with the Holy Spirit which is evidenced by speaking in a heavenly prayer language as the Spirit gives utterance. (1 Corinthians 2:9-14; 6:19-20, Matthew 3:11, Acts 2:4, 38-39)

Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit has supernatural abilities to distribute to Christians for the instruction and empowering of every believer and when operated in balance and order will bring God glory. (1 Corinthians 12:1-12; 14:40, John 16:13-14)

Water Baptism
We believe that water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the authority of Jesus’ name, should be followed by all believers as a public profession of their faith in Christ. (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38; 8:36-38)

Lord's Supper
We believe that the holy ordinance of Communion should be received by believers walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ as a remembrance and celebration of what Christ accomplished for them on the cross. (Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

We believe that water baptism by immersion in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in the authority of Jesus’ name, should be followed by all believers as a public profession of their faith in Christ. (Matthew 28:19, Acts 2:38; 8:36-38)

Water Baptism

We believe that the holy ordinance of Communion should be received by believers walking in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ as a remembrance and celebration of what Christ accomplished for them on the cross. (Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-29)