Disciples of Jesus spreading HOPE
through Hospitality, Service, and Joy
About us:
Our identity can be summed up in six words:
Faith, Hope, Love, Hospitality, Service, & Joy.
Faith
We believe in one true, Triune God — revealed to us in Holy Scripture as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We as a church try best to explain this mystery and others of our belief in the three creeds of the Church.
Hope
The world is overwhelming and often scary. Hatred, arrogance, violence, greed, and many more woes afflict our lives. We recognize things are not the way they should be. In the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we see salvation. We see a picture of the good life. We see how we were created to be: relying on God and reconciling with those around us. We celebrate and practice this in worship together on Sundays.
Love
As Christ so loved us, we now love each other. The mission of God’s people is to take care of every member and part of God’s creation. We are commanded to drop our self-centered focus to love our neighbors more than ourselves. As a church, we learn these habits using Luther’s Small and Large Catechism and the other teachings in the Book of Concord.
Hospitality
All are made in the image of God and are beloved by Him! We desire Jefferson Avenue Mission and her people to be a sanctuary for all. We seek to provide space and safety while we wrestle with big questions of faith, hope, and love together.
Service
To spread hope and love our neighbor, we joyfully do the work God has called us to do. to faithfully serve those around us. If you need help, please reach out using out form below.
Joy
We wish to see thriving communities in our city that have opportunity and entertainment for all. God has created each of us with unique abilities and talents. Sharing what brings us joy is a way to spread hope, love, and faith. Check out events or rent our space yourself.
What to expect:
Expect us to share a meal. Food is one of the greatest common denominators, and the Church has always been about feeding people - phyiscally, socially, and spiritually!
Expect us to share sorrows and joys. Community is built around shared trust and vulnerability.
Expect us to talk about God and talk to God: reading the Bible, praying with and for each other, maybe even singing a song or two together. Our HOPE is found in our God. What we do is all for Him.
Get in touch.
Do you have a question? A prayer request? Just want to say hi? We’d love to hear from you!
Our history.
Jefferson Avenue Mission was founded in 1889 as an offshoot of Historic Trinity Church in Soulard. In 1894, the worshiping congregation at Jefferson Avenue voted to seperate from Trinity and write their own constitution, and Emmaus Lutheran Church was formed. Emmaus operated as a Lutheran church and school for over a century, ministering to neighbors all over the St. Louis area. It closed its doors in 2016, and sat dormant for several years before reopening with its historical name: Jefferson Avenue Mission.
Now, the worshipping body at Jefferson Avenue Mission is honored to carry on the legacy of their forebarers, and share Christ’s love in Fox Park and beyond.
