Parkview Christian Church sits on South Campbell Avenue in Springfield, Missouri, directly across the street from Parkview High School. The church describes itself with the line "Non-Denominational - Live for Christ - Love the City," and that motto shows up in the way it has shaped its ministry around the neighborhood. For 27 years running, volunteers from Parkview Christian have cooked a free Wednesday morning breakfast for students and staff at Parkview High School, served in the Multipurpose Building next to the main church building between 7:00 and 8:30 a.m. on those late-start school mornings. Lead minister Brian Ingalls and his wife Sheryl, both Parkview High School alumni in Sheryl's case, joined the church in October 2022.
Two Buildings for One Church Family
Parkview Christian operates out of two adjacent buildings. The main building houses the sanctuary, Kids' Church, nursery and toddler care, several adult Sunday School classes, and the TNT adult class in the Fellowship Hall. The Multipurpose Building, just next door, holds the youth Loft (for grades 6 through 12), the Young Families Vision Group on the south side, the Free Spirits adult class on the north side, and the Koinonia adult class on the south side. On a typical Sunday morning, adult and teen classes meet in the Multipurpose Building at 9:00 a.m. while Bible Academy for kids (and the nursery) meet in the main building.
Sunday Mornings: Bible Academy, Worship, and Kids' Church
Three things happen in parallel each Sunday morning. At 9:00 a.m., "Sunday School" classes gather for adults, college students, high schoolers, and middle schoolers, alongside "Bible Academy" for Pre-K through 5th grade. At 10:00 a.m., the Sunday Morning Worship service begins in the main building, featuring a blend of old hymns and new praise songs led by the praise team, a moment of prayer and praise, and Bible-centered teaching. At the same hour, Kids' Church for Pre-K through 5th grade starts in the main sanctuary before heading downstairs. The Lord's Supper is observed every Sunday as a central part of worship.
Visitors can dress casually or dress up; some attend in their favorite team's jersey. Coffee, hot chocolate, and hot tea are available at a counter in the lobby. The service is also livestreamed at 10:00 a.m. on the church's Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Wednesday Nights for Kids and Teens
Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. are reserved for the next generation. Kids4Him, for kindergarten through 5th grade, gathers in the main building with a focus on knowing the Bible's story, structure, and teachings so kids can place their faith in Jesus and follow God through life. The hour is built around three stations: Imagination Station (Bible stories), Foundation Station (getting to know the Bible), and Destination Station (putting the Bible into practice).
PCC Youth, for 6th through 12th grades, meets in the Loft of the Multipurpose Building under the banner "Live for Christ - Love the Students." The youth ministry fosters discipleship in a community built on encouragement and vulnerability, with a full calendar that has historically included summer camp, conferences, concerts, and youth-led events. Youth minister Silas Frank, a graduate of Ozark Christian College who grew up attending Christ's Church of Oronogo near Joplin, Missouri, joined the staff in June 2026. He and his wife Ellie were married in May 2024.
D-Groups and Sunday Night Bible Study
The church's small-group ministry, called D-Groups (Discipleship Groups), meets in homes once or twice a month during the week. Members dig into the Bible, pray for each other, and serve together. A current example is the Young Families D-Group, which gathers every other Monday, and the Ingalls D-Group, which held its initial organizational meeting in September. Sunday nights feature The Big Bible Study at 6:30 p.m., adding another opportunity for adults to study Scripture outside the Sunday worship hour.
Wednesday Breakfast Across from Parkview High School
One of the church's most distinctive community ministries is the Parkview High School Breakfast, hosted in the Multipurpose Building every Wednesday morning during the school year from 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. Classes start a bit later on Wednesdays at Parkview High School, and the church has offered the free breakfast for 27 years, drawing more than 100 students plus staff. The breakfast is one of the most visible ways Parkview Christian "loves the city," and is organized and staffed by volunteers from the church.
Food Pantry, Homeless Ministry, and Other Outreach
The Food Pantry Ministry runs on Monday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to noon, and a Homeless Ministry Team works throughout the week. A Drama Team brings Scripture to life in creative ways. Women's and Men's Ministries provide fellowship and study groups. Drum Therapy is offered every other Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. AA and NA recovery meetings are held weekly, with times available by calling the church office.
What Parkview Christian Believes
Parkview Christian teaches that the Bible is the inspired story of God's saving work on earth and is true in all it affirms, whether about doctrine, ethics, or the physical world. The church believes in one God known through the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; that God created everything; and that all people have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith in Jesus, received by trusting Him, committing to follow Him, and being baptized.
The church holds to the deity of Christ, His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension, and promised return. The Holy Spirit is at work in the world and in believers, leading people to Christ, guiding decisions, comforting in struggles, and showing up through gifts and ministries. The Church is described as an extension of Christ's ministry and an oasis of God's kingdom on earth, called to preach Christ, teach His commands, and serve others as He served.
The Christian Life 101 Series
For people new to Christianity or looking to revisit the basics, the church offers a Christian Life 101 series of messages. Topics include an introduction to the Bible and how to talk about different translations, how the church understands the Trinity and the deity of Jesus, what worship and music look like at Parkview, the meaning and practice of the Lord's Supper, how Christians identify with Jesus, and why connecting with other believers matters.
Joining the Parkview Family
Becoming a member of Parkview Christian is described as becoming "officially" part of the family as the church builds Christ's kingdom locally. The Parkview Vision, as the church names it, is to preach and teach the whole Bible, call the city to faith in Jesus, and show compassion to each other and their neighbors. Membership happens by being recognized and welcomed on a Sunday morning at the close of a worship service, and members are typically added to the church email list for prayer requests and announcements.
The Staff
Brian Ingalls serves as lead minister. He grew up in Plato, Missouri, attended Missouri State University in Springfield, and holds an MDiv in Christian Apologetics from Liberty University, a Th.M. and a Ph.D. in Old Testament from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. His wife Sheryl grew up at Parkview Christian and attended Parkview High School before they returned to the church in 2022.
Silas Frank is the youth minister. A graduate of Ozark Christian College, he joined Parkview Christian in June 2026 with a focus on God's word and building connections with junior high and high school students.
Debbie Carter serves as church secretary, handling scheduling and questions about church life alongside her husband Bill. Teresa Wise serves as a part-time office staffer during the week and is an accomplished educator who continues to mentor public school administrators in Springfield.
A Long Presence on South Campbell
The church celebrated its 70th anniversary in December 2024, tracing its roots back to 1954. That long presence shows up in generations of families, in the long-running high school breakfast ministry, and in the way current members describe the church family as a place to belong, study Scripture together, and serve Springfield. Giving is available online, sermons are posted on the sermons page, and new visitors can learn more on the New Here page.