One Matters: When a Church Lives Like You Matter

St. Luke UMC, Columbia, and the Power of Participation

When Rev. Ayanna Shivers talks about St. Luke United Methodist Church, she doesn’t begin with numbers or programs; she begins with identity. “We are a historically Black congregation,” she says, “but we are truly a mixed congregation now. It brings me so much joy to see people from different backgrounds come in and feel the love of God.” That phrase, “feel the love of God,” comes up again and again. It’s what people from the neighborhood say when they walk through the doors, what participants from local partner organizations experience, and it’s what keeps people coming back. In many ways, that’s what led St. Luke to become a One Matters Award congregation, moving from zero baptisms and professions of faith to new life and growth. But what’s happening at St. Luke is about more than growth. It’s about “mattering.”

A Church Shaped by Story and Presence

St. Luke sits in Columbia, Missouri, a college town anchored by the University of Missouri, with a population of over 100,000. The church is located near downtown and is part of the city’s African American Heritage Trail, carrying a long history rooted in faith, resilience, and justice. That history matters. Pastor Shivers points to previous leaders who shaped the congregation’s identity, especially around social justice and community presence. One pastor made a deliberate decision when designing the current building: the front doors face a nearby housing community. The message was clear then and is clear now, “Our doors are open. We are here for you.”

That posture continues today. The church has a simple philosophy: if the space is available, it is available for the community. Whether or not someone can pay or donate, they are welcome. It’s not just hospitality. It’s a theology of presence that aligns closely with what Jennifer Breheny Wallace describes in Mattering (Portfolio Publishers, 2026): people need environments where they feel seen, welcomed, and valued, not a transactional presence but a relational one.

From Decline to Reconnection

Like many congregations, St. Luke experienced decline over time, especially during the pandemic. When Pastor Shivers arrived, worship attendance hovered around twenty-five to thirty people. Some of the decline was cultural: changing Sunday habits and increased competition for time with other activities, such as youth sports. However, COVID accelerated the decline. People got out of the habit of gathering, and many did not return.

So the question became, “How do we reconnect people, not just to church, but to one another?” The answer was not a single program. It was a shift in posture and a commitment to shift the culture within the congregation. Pastor Shivers began looking closely at worship and participation:

• Inviting children forward for a weekly message;
• Creating opportunities for youth to light candles, sing, and lead;
• Starting a youth choir;
• Reworking the flow of worship to be more engaging and accessible;
• Ensuring consistency, if worship starts at 10:00, it starts at 10:00.

These changes might seem small, but they carried a deeper message: “You are not just here to watch. You are here to participate. You matter enough to be part of this.” And people began to respond. Children began inviting friends. Youth showed up more regularly. Families became more engaged. Over time, worship attendance grew to forty to fifty-five on a typical Sunday, with spikes of more than one hundred on special occasions. Growth was an outcome of putting “mattering” into practice.

Making Space for People to Add Value

One of Wallace’s key insights is that people don’t just need to feel valued; they need opportunities to add value. St. Luke lives this out in creative and sometimes unexpected ways. They started activities such as line dancing classes set to gospel music, hands-on intergenerational activities, and opportunities for people to use their gifts, from music to teaching to organizing. As Pastor Shivers puts it, “You have to be creative if you’re trying to attract people.” But underneath the creativity is something deeper: permission to contribute.

People aren’t just invited to attend; they’re invited to bring their energy, skills, joy, and gifts. When they do, something shifts. They begin to feel welcomed and needed.

A Story of One

Every One Matters story has a “one.” For St. Luke, one of those stories is a young man who was passing through Columbia. He wasn’t planning to stay, and he wasn’t looking for a church. But something happened. He drove by the church and felt prompted to stop. No one was there at the time, but a member on the property told him when worship would be held the next day. So, he came back. He didn’t visit just once. He stayed. He participated. He connected. And not long after, he chose to be baptized. That moment, one person choosing new life in Christ, was a reminder that sometimes community engagement doesn’t begin with strategy. Sometimes it begins with availability, an open door, presence, and a conversation that says, “You are welcome here.”

A Church in the Community, Not Just for It

St. Luke’s engagement with the community isn’t new; it’s part of its DNA. For nearly twenty years, the church has hosted a Christmas Day meal and clothing giveaway, serving anyone who needs a hot meal or companionship on a day many feel alone. The church regularly serves meals for those in need through Loaves and Fishes. It partners with Fresh Start, a transitional housing program, offering support for residents who need help with rent, clothing, or basic necessities. St Luke’s hosts community events such as MLK candlelight services, Black History Month programs, and gatherings that preserve and celebrate cultural history. Through it all, the congregation seeks to maintain a consistent servant's heart. Many of these partnerships didn’t begin with a formal plan. They developed organically, through relationships, proximity, and a willingness to respond to the need. People came. Needs surfaced. The church listened and responded. That’s community engagement rooted in attunement, another key aspect of “mattering.” It’s not about imposing solutions; it’s about listening and responding in real time.

“I Feel the Love of God Here”

When people from the Fresh Start program come to St. Luke, they often describe the experience in the same way: “When I come in here, I feel the love of God.” That’s not something you can manufacture with a program or a strategy. That’s the fruit of consistent presence, authentic welcome, shared leadership, and opportunities to belong and contribute. In Wallace’s terms, it’s the result of a culture of mattering, a place where people are seen, valued, and invited into meaningful connection.

What Other Churches Can Learn

St. Luke’s story offers several lessons for congregations seeking to reach new people:

Participation matters.

When people are invited to lead, serve, and contribute, they experience a deeper sense of belonging.

Presence matters more than perfection.

Being consistently available to the community builds trust over time.

Creativity opens doors.

Sometimes, connection begins with something simple, like music, movement, and shared activity.

History is a gift.

Honoring the story of a congregation, especially one rooted in resilience, creates a strong foundation for future growth.

One person matters.

Every baptism, every new connection, every story of transformation begins with someone encountering a community that says, “You belong here.”

A Community That Reflects God’s Heart

In a world where many people feel unseen, disconnected, or unsure of their place, churches like St. Luke offer something deeply needed. They offer a space where people can discover that they are valued, needed, and that they have a role to play in a mission bigger than themselves. In doing so, they reflect the heart of the gospel. At its core, the Christian story is a story of a God who looks at every person and says, “You matter.”

And then calls a community to live like that is true.

If you have a story to share of how you or your congregation are reaching new people in your neighborhood or community I’d love to hear about it. I invite you to e-mail me at [email protected].