First Christian Church of Plattsburg stands on West Clay Street in this small Clinton County town in northwest Missouri. A congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) within the Mid-America Region, the church is known as much for the food pantry it hosts as for the worship held each Sunday morning. Its mission, in three short phrases, captures the balance: Glorify God - Grow in Faith - Serve in Love.
Sunday Mornings on West Clay
Sunday is the heart of the week at First Christian. Adult Sunday School gathers at 9:00 a.m., and the worship service follows at 10:00 a.m. The church sits at 501 W. Clay St., Plattsburg, MO 64477, with a mailing address of P.O. Box 312. The office is open Monday through Thursday, and visitors can reach the church by phone or email. Pastor Jim DePriest leads the congregation, with Cindy Anderson serving as Office Administrator.
Worship at First Christian includes regular celebration of the Lord's Supper and the practice of believer's baptism, two practices that have marked the Christian Church since the days of the Stone-Campbell movement. A praise band accompanies Palm Sunday each year, and a choir and soloists lead special music at Easter, Christmas Eve, and other seasons of the church year.
A Disciples of Christ Congregation
First Christian is part of the larger Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a fellowship known for an emphasis on Christian unity, weekly communion, believer's baptism, and the priesthood of all believers. The Mid-America Region provides regional support, and the Plattsburg congregation follows the denomination's classic Confession of Faith as a statement of shared belief.
The Confession of Faith
The church prints the full Confession of Faith as part of its public identity:
As members of the Christian Church, we confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and proclaim him Lord and Savior of the world. In Christ's name and by his grace we accept our mission of witness and service to all people. We rejoice in God, maker of heaven and earth, and in God's covenant of love which binds us to God and to one another. Through baptism into Christ we enter into newness of life and are made one with the whole people of God. In the communion of the Holy Spirit we are joined together in discipleship and in obedience to Christ. At the Table of the Lord we celebrate with thanksgiving the saving acts and presence of Christ. Within the universal church we receive the gift of ministry and the light of scripture. In the bonds of Christian faith we yield ourselves to God that we may serve the One whose kingdom has no end. Blessing, glory, and honor be to God forever. Amen.
Glorify God, Grow in Faith, Serve in Love
That mission statement, printed in plain language, distills the church's purpose into three commitments. The vision statement fills out the picture, dedicating the congregation "to the search for Truth through intellectual, emotional and spiritual integrity" and describing faith as an adventure that lends depth and meaning "to the application of Christian love in our lives and our times."
Putting faith into practice is the work of several ministry teams. Each gathering begins with the reminder that the team's reason for meeting is "to offer loving service to others in Jesus' name." The teams include Christian Education (Adult and Children's Study), Missions, Property, Worship, Memorial, and Trustees, each led by a member of the congregation.
Feeding Clinton County
First Christian's footprint in Clinton County extends well beyond Sunday morning. The church operates the Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, an ecumenical ministry located at 117 W. Maple in the south end of the Community Courtyard. The pantry serves individuals and families living in the Clinton County R-3 school district and is open once a month on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Commodities are also available for all who live in Clinton County, distributed Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The church continues to need volunteers for the pantry and invites anyone interested to contact the church office.
In addition, the congregation participates in a regular home food delivery program hosted through the Plattsburg Senior Center, which delivers meals to seniors and others in their homes. The Senior Center can be reached at (816) 539-2211 for information on getting involved.
The Second Harvest Fresh Mobile Pantry alternates between Lathrop and Plattsburg. The Mobile Pantry opens at 10:00 a.m. on the second Monday of each month while supplies last. In Lathrop it is hosted at the Community Center, 400 Elm St., on even months. In Plattsburg it is hosted at the Fire Station, 105 Bush St., on odd months.
Ministry Teams and Leadership
Pastor Jim DePriest leads the congregation. Cindy Anderson serves as Office Administrator and is the point of contact during the week, when the office is open Monday through Thursday. Members and regular attenders can reach the church by email or phone, with a 24-hour turnaround on email responses.
Ministry team leaders include Steve Sypkens (Christian Education Committee, and Adult and Children's Study), Sandra Utz (Missions Committee), Richard Stanley (Property Committee), John Wyatt (Worship Committee), Dorothy Sylvius (Memorial Committee), and Barb Shaver (Trustees Committee).
RightNow Media and Online Giving
Members and regular attenders have free access to RightNow Media, an extensive video library the church describes as "the Netflix of Video Bible Studies." The library includes more than 20,000 faith-based videos for kids, youth, parents, married couples, college students, single adults, and working professionals, accessible on phones, tablets, computers, and TVs. Anyone interested can contact the church secretary to receive an email invitation.
Giving is also available online through CDM+ Engage. Givers can create an account or give as a guest, set up recurring gifts, pay by checking account, and even offset processing fees by selecting "fee assist." Online gifts are added to an annual contribution statement for those who create an account. A YouTube channel carries the church's video archive of services and special music.
From its Sunday morning worship and adult Sunday School to its food pantries and mobile distribution, First Christian Church of Plattsburg carries on a long Disciples tradition of gathering at the Table and going out to serve. The church's mission - Glorify God, Grow in Faith, Serve in Love - is lived out in the weekly rhythms of food, fellowship, and faith in this corner of northwest Missouri.