Staff

“Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.” — MATTHEW 20:26

Who We Are

Our Team & Leadership

Our mission at LOC is to Love, Reach, and Teach. This mission is our church's guiding light, giving us direction and pointing everyone in that same direction. Our mission statement may sound simple, but it guides everything we do and flows from the mission of Jesus Himself as He described in the Great Commandment in Matthew 22.37-39 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20
Our leadership is dedicated to this mission.

Our Pastor: Stephen Watkins

Lead Pastor

My wife Amanda and I were born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. We have been In full-time ministry since we surrendered to the call to ministry in 2009. We hit the ground running and never looked back.
We have called Southeast Missouri our home for eight years now. God has blessed us with three beautiful girls: Layla, Olivia, and Brynlee.
I love spending time with my family, going on vacation to see new places, and watching Tennessee Volunteer football on Saturdays in the fall.

I am passionate about biblical preaching under the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, Pastoring, and Evangelism. I also greatly want this generation to see God's mighty move. I am very thankful for all the great things that God has done in the past, but we are hungry for God's mighty move in this generation.
I have said this a thousand times over and do my best to pour this into LOC, “It starts with us”
We will never see a mighty move of God without it starting with us first.
At LOC, you will find everything is geared around these three simple words: Love-Reach-Teach.

Love- love God and love people
Reach-We are reaching out in our homes, communities, and beyond with the gospel of Jesus.
Teach-We are making disciples through biblical teaching to all generations.

From the time you pull into LOC's parking lot, you have entered a place where you belong and can serve.
We would love to have you join us sometime.