I love Jesus and I love serving Him.
I currently serve as the Lead Pastor of Expansion Church, leading an amazing team as we pastor a diverse family of churches in Saint Louis, Missouri. I also lead a non-profit organization called Restored For More, created to help at-risk youth overcome hurdles to succeed in college and career.
I have been following Jesus and serving in the ministry for almost 3 decades. I have served the Lord in many ways over the years: as a youth pastor, adjunct bible professor, outreach & discipleship coordinator, assistant pastor, campus pastor, urban church planter, and a senior pastor. I have a degree in Biblical Studies from Life Pacific University and a Master’s in Theology from Azusa Pacific University. No matter what assignment is set before me, my aim is to abide in Him so I can bear much fruit. Intimate communion with Jesus is the most important goal of my life and I consider it a privilege to serve in the ministry. All of life’s blessings and all ministry fruitfulness flows from the secret place.
My life was forever changed when Jesus revealed his love to me.
Many people have asked me: “Why did you become a pastor?” The answer lies in my encounter with Jesus at age 16. As my friend, Ryan, shared the truth of God’s Word with me in his living room, I realized for the first time that God created me for a real friendship with Himself. I discovered that Jesus died on the cross for me because he wanted to, not because he had to. That night, what has always been true became true for me. God had been pursuing me and I finally surrendered.
You love me that much, you are worth living for!
I responded to God in my heart saying, “You love me that much, you are worth living for.” From that moment until now, I have given my whole life to knowing God deeply, becoming like Jesus completely, and partnering with Him to bless others. Even after decades of sacrifice and even though I always feel inadequate for the assignment, His love makes it all worth it.
Soon after coming to Jesus, I began serving as a Christian club president. The Lord helped me bring together the other Christian club presidents from around our area and unite them in prayer and evangelism. I felt the Lord asking me to serve Him through pastoral ministry but I wanted a different career. After a time of fasting and prayer, I heard the Lord tell me to “feed His sheep”. I surrendered to His calling for my life. That one “yes” has led to many other “yes’s”.
A life of saying “Yes!” to Jesus
In 2014, while pastoring NewCommunity Church in Glendora, California, the Lord spoke to me in a dream to plant churches in Saint Louis. God revealed to me His unfailing love and purpose for Saint Louis and showed me the small part I am to contribute to the huge move of God in this region. After some wrestling, my wife and I surrendered and moved our family from California to Missouri. We planted a church in the city of Saint Louis as a campus of The Rock Network with an amazing team we affectionally call “Gideon’s Army”. The Lord used us to impact many people and sustained us every step of the way.
Then during COVID, a retiring pastor in Saint Louis county asked if we would pastor their church. Again, after much prayer, we said “Yes” to leading a team of people to pastor both churches in the city and the county. So now we are Expansion Church: one church in two locations with the assignment to multiply disciples and churches to impact Saint Louis. The vision God showed me is becoming reality. It has been a wild ride full of transition, sacrifice, and fruitfulness! As a church, we are committed to personal discipleship, multiplying disciple-makers, and serving neighborhoods and schools.
Then in 2023, we took another huge step towards the vision God showed me. By the leading of the Lord, we launched a ministry training center and a non-profit ministry to serve Saint Louis schools called Restored For More (“R4M” for short). Whatever is next, my answer to Jesus is “Yes!”. I continue to give my life to one thing: knowing Him and doing His will. In every season, in every assignment, all I want is Jesus!
I love life because of what God has done in me and through me. He has transformed me, blessed me, and allowed me to experience His joy. I love being a husband to Michele, a father to my three kids, and a pastor. I am passionate about helping others follow Jesus and fulfill their purpose through discipleship, the teaching of God’s word, the power of the Spirit, and leadership development. It is so fun to witness God set free, heal, transform, and install confidence in people for their calling.
Whispers From The Secret Place
The devotional videos and blogs I am producing, along with Sunday messages, are just one way Jesus has asked me to freely give what I have received from Him (Matthew 10:28). I am convinced His sheep need to be fed His word so they can hear His voice. That is what I pray for and long for: that you hear His voice.
When we live in and from the secret place of God’s presence, we receive revelation from the Lord that changes us. His desire is that we live from the overflow of His love and serve others with the gifts He has given to us. With God there is always an abundance: He gives what we need–daily bread–and He gives us more for what others need. That is why He has asked me to proclaim to others what I hear Him whisper to me in the secret place. I pray you are encouraged and blessed. I pray these teachings help you grow in your relationship with God and help you fulfill the God-given purpose for your life.
-David
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Pastor David Turner 