Jenn Werner grew up in a mixed Catholic and Methodist household, but despite attending church regularly, she felt a disconnect. “I saw other people with this deep connection to God, but I just didn’t feel it,” she recalls. After her parents divorced, Jenn moved with her mom and sister three hours away. “My relationship with my dad was practically non-existent, and I think that affected my faith too,” she admits.
As she got older, Jenn would continue going to church in the hopes of keeping her mom happy. “I was curious, though,” Jenn says. “I started going to a different local church, hoping to find that connection I saw in others. And slowly, it started to happen. I began to feel God calling me by name, and I wanted to know Him more.”
When Jenn and her husband moved to Wentzville, she started coaching volleyball. Then one day, one of her students invited her to Element Church. “I remember walking into my first service, feeling a bit confused. I’d never been to a church that was so warm and welcoming,” Jenn shares. “The greeters were so kind, but I still had my guard up. Then the worship started, and it was like a wave of peace and excitement washed over me. I was in awe—I’d never felt so safe and comfortable in a church before.”
The service took an unexpected turn when Jenn noticed a strange smell, only to see exotic animals on stage as Pastor Eric shared his message. “It was different, to say the least!” Jenn laughs. “But that message dug deep into theology and philosophy, and it really began to shape my understanding of my identity as a child of God.”
Week after week, Jenn kept coming back to Element. “I started to feel comfortable in my own skin, understanding what a true relationship with Jesus is,” she says. “Serving in the youth ministry from 2012 onward was a huge part of that. Jesus showed me that everyone is a child of God, and life isn’t all about me. My life became so much more joyful as I learned healthier ways to handle stress and trauma.”
Jenn leaned into her faith, literally surrounding herself with reminders of the fruits of the Spirit. “I wrote them everywhere—on notebooks, mirrors, windows—’love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control,'” Jenn shares. “Those words became a lifeline as I navigated life.”
Reflecting on her journey, Jenn is incredibly grateful to her mother. “She worked so hard, raising my sister and me while working multiple jobs. Her strength as a woman really set an example for me,” Jenn says. “That strength helped me navigate my own career too.”
Jenn began her teaching career at Wright City High School, coaching multiple sports and waiting tables on the side. “It was overwhelming, and I seriously thought about quitting teaching altogether,” Jenn admits. But an offer to teach at an alternative school changed her path. “I taught for three years, and that experience deepened my heart for at-risk kids,” she explains. “Even as I transitioned to different roles due to restructuring, I built my teaching style around biblical principles.”
Eventually, Jenn transitioned to the Wentzville school district. “I was nominated and won National Teacher of the Year at Shape America,” Jenn says humbly. “But what really matters to me is creating an atmosphere in my classroom that incorporates Jesus and my identity, especially for the kids who come through my class.”
During this time, Jenn also helped start an FCA group with a local pastor, all while continuing to serve at Element Church. “When I started my own family, Element was right there with me,” Jenn says. “I remember Pastor Eric telling me, ‘We don’t want something from you; we just want what’s best for you.’ That assurance meant everything to me, especially during the difficult pregnancies I had.”
Both of Jenn’s children faced complications at birth. Her son’s eyes wouldn’t open, and her daughter had collapsed lungs and a blood infection, requiring a month-long NICU stay. “I hit a turning point in that hospital,” Jenn shares. “Each night, I’d pray over the babies and sing worship songs with the nurses. It was there that I learned to be brave and to walk with Jesus in a whole new way.”
Jenn’s connection to Element Church is stronger than ever. “I’ve never felt a connection to a church or community like I do at Element,” she says. “My son, whose eyes wouldn’t open as a baby, is now on fire for Jesus. My daughter, who struggled to breathe at birth, now leads worship and is a wonderful dancer. Im filled with gratitude every day.”
Through it all, Jenn has learned to “grow with the flow.” She knows life is unpredictable, but being grounded in her faith, connected to Element Church, and supported by her family gives her the strength to face whatever comes her way. “I’m so grateful for the impact Jesus has had on my life, for my family, my friends, and the way Element Church points people to Jesus,” Jenn concludes.