INTRODUCTION
A story of humble beginnings and God's mighty power, WCAG began in 1969 with the gathering of 21 people in a rented classroom at Missouri Baptist College. From the start, the members were missions-minded, giving sacrificially of their time, money, and resources to impact the world for the Kingdom. Indeed, the congregation supported a missionary in Alaska before it began to build a sanctuary here in St. Louis.
This legacy can still be felt today as people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds come together at WCAG. In fact, more than 15 countries are represented in our increasingly diverse community. Come join us as we practice whole-life generosity and reproduce Jesus in people of every nation and generation. To find out more, keep reading!
This legacy can still be felt today as people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds come together at WCAG. In fact, more than 15 countries are represented in our increasingly diverse community. Come join us as we practice whole-life generosity and reproduce Jesus in people of every nation and generation. To find out more, keep reading!
WCAG BEGINS 1969-1976
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In 1962, John Wilson felt God's call to leave his profession as an engineer and enroll in Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He completed his work there and moved to St. Louis to study at Covenant Seminary while his wife, Connie, taught in the Parkway School District. It was during this time that the Wilsons met five other families who shared their vision of starting a new congregation. As a result the first service of West County Assembly of God was held on June 8, 1969. Twenty-one people met in a rented classroom at Missouri Baptist College. The church also met for a short time at Mason Ridge Elementary School in 1972 just prior to occupying their new sanctuary. The seed grew quickly and within five months the congregation began to support a missionary in Alaska. This emphasis on missions became a distinguishing mark of West County Assembly of God.
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The congregation also began to pray and trust God to supply their need for a permanent facility. God honored their request and in July of 1970 they purchased three acres of land located just west of Mason Road on Highway 40.
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A building program was instituted, and the first service in the new 200 seat sanctuary was held on October 15, 1972. As the church continued to expand its ministry, the congregation grew rapidly. In 1976 the church house, which had been on the land when it was purchased, was remodeled to help ease the cramped classroom and office space. Overflow worship crowds were alleviated with the addition of a second morning service before Sunday School. It soon became obvious that a youth ministry was necessary. So in November of 1976, the church called Charles Arsenault as its first full-time youth minister
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WCAG GROWS 1977-2005
The measures that had been taken to facilitate overcrowding provided only short term relief. In the summer of 1977 attendance reached an average of 400 and plans were laid to build a new sanctuary. On March 30, 1980 the congregation moved into its new sanctuary, which has a capacity of about 500 people. The present schedule of two morning worship services with Sunday School in-between was started on Easter Sunday, 1982.
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The intention of the leadership was that when church attendance reached the capacity of the current building, a sister congregation would be started. That came to pass in 1991 when West County Assembly of God began a mission work that came to be named Rockwood Harvest Assembly of God. This emphasis on church planting continued in 2000-2001, when WCAG sponsored the formation of Full Life Community Church in Fenton, Missouri, under the leadership of the Reverend Dan Walker. In 2015 WCAG is sponsoring the planting of Center Church with Pastor Kurt and Carla Convey.
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Finding space for classrooms and office facilities was a constant problem so in 1987 a facility named the “Christian Life Center” (CLC) was built. The facility contains 14 classrooms, a full-sized gymnasium and locker rooms, a dining room, and an industrial type kitchen. All of these facilities are used to their fullest advantage, both as outreach tools and to minister to our own congregation.
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Lack of space, especially for the youth ministry, was identified as a hindrance to its growth. As a result, in 2000 a facility named the “Faith Center” was erected. This building has two levels. On the lower level is a 150 seat, pie-shaped auditorium for the youth ministry, two classrooms, and a lounge with a coffee bar and bathrooms. On the upper level is a dining room that seats up to 120 people and can be divided by sliding partitions. The facility contains an elevator for easy access to the lower level.
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WCAG MOVES FORWARD 2006-2012
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On December 17, 2006, Pastor John Wilson announced his retirement after nearly 38 years of being the Senior Pastor. Retirement celebrations were held the weekend of March 31-April 1, 2007. Jared Stoner, Young Adults Pastor, was selected as the Interim Pastor. A group of WCAG elected leaders and lay people formed the Pastoral Nominating Committee. They worked their way through more than 50 senior pastor resumes and senior pastor candidates that had been recommended to them. A special business meeting was conducted on May 21, 2008 for the purpose of voting on the next Senior Pastor of West County Assembly of God.
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On May 7, the Pastoral Nominating Committee turned over the results of their work to the Deacons, Elders and Pastors. Their unanimous selection for the first Senior Pastor candidate was Pastor Jared Stoner. The Joint Board unanimously confirmed their choice. On Wednesday evening, Pastor Jared received a 95% positive vote and became the second Senior Pastor in the history of WCAG. Since Pastor Jared's election in 2007, WCAG has continued to move forward through continuing to focus on worship, discipleship, and mission. Much of our recent growth has been in reaching the international community in St. Louis.
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The Making of a Pastor and a Church
by Dr. John A. Wilson
EXPEDITION 2013 - 2016
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In May of 2013 after prayerful planning and consideration, Pastor Jared and the leadership team launched Expedition: A 2 year generosity initiative to Extend His Reach in our lives, through our church, and to our world. The Expedition goals were as follows:
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As of the beginning of 2015, we are please to report that with God's help and the generosity of our church family, we have met or are on track to meet each of these goals. Groundbreaking on our foyer and children's chapel expansion took place on March 8, 2015. Our Building Dedication of the new foyer & children's chapel took place Sunday, April 3, 2016.
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50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION 2019
West County Assembly of God celebrated their 50th anniversary on the weekend of June 8 & 9, 2019. The weekend was filled with wonderful fellowship from 5 decades of church family. On Saturday night, Pastor Emeritus and Founding Pastor, John Wilson shared many great stories and testimonies of God's faithfulness to and through our church. Then on Sunday morning, Executive Director of the Assemblies of God World Missions, Dr. Greg Mundis presented a powerful message about the importance of missions and shared his thankfulness for WCAG and its passion for missions work through the generations.
