OUR PASTOR
PASTOR ERIK LAWSON
Erik serves as the founding and Senior Pastor of Element Church. Following God’s calling, Erik founded Element Church in St. Louis in 2006 with just a handful of people. Today, Element Church is a multi-site congregation with 3 locations and a weekly attendance of over 5,000. Pastor Erik has over 33 years of ministry experience and currently leads Element by providing spiritual leadership and guidance to a diverse congregation. Erik has also authored and published two books, “God What’s Taking So Long” and “Overcoming Overwhelmed.”
Before launching Element, Erik was the lead youth pastor of Oneighty© at Church on the Move in Tulsa, where he oversaw the nation’s largest church youth program, with over 3,000 students attending each week. With an innovative communication style, a passion for empowering leaders, and practical Bible application, Erik aims to equip people to fulfill their God-given purpose and reach their full potential.
SUNNY WU LAWSON
Sunny Wu Lawson, Pastor Erik’s wife, comes to us with a wealth of knowledge, experience, and expertise, but more importantly, she has a passionate love for Jesus and His people. You can’t leave Sunny’s presence without feeling better about yourself. Her warmth and passion drive her to help others find their purpose and become all they were created to be.
Sunny holds a Master of Business Administration degree and has an extensive background in the corporate world with such major multi-national companies as Cummins, Thermo Fisher, and the ZF Group, where she served as head of Learning and Organizational Development. She oversaw their Asia Pacific region, encompassing ten countries with 50 locations and 20,000 employees. Sunny has 15 years of experience as a corporate HR executive, and six years as an executive and leadership coach.
As the Chief Talent Officer for Element Church, she uses her extensive knowledge, experience, and incredible skill set to equip the Element staff with the skills they need to make a greater impact in bringing the Gospel and making disciples in our community and around the world.
