Zack McAnulty is the younger half of a father-son pastoral team at Poplar Bluff’s Heartland Christian Family Church, which invites area worshippers to take part in a “river of love, acceptance and forgiveness.”
McAnulty, 29, is the church’s associate pastor, whose duties include worship, media, youth and children. In his role as worship leader, he sings and plays both guitar and piano.
In his other roles, McAnulty said, he “teaches in a ministry school that equips others to serve in functional roles in the church.”
These activities include in-depth Bible studies on a variety of topics.
His father, Senior Pastor Rev. Kevin McAnulty, moved his family to Poplar Bluff from Florida in 2003 and started the church. Now located at 3025 S. Westwood Blvd., they offer worship services on at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Zack describes their congregation, upwards of 100 members before the COVID pandemic, as “a mix of young families with elder congregants—a healthy mixture.”
McAnulty says their church is “not a traditional religious experience.”
Services offer a more relaxed liturgy, a more casual environment, “come as you are” attire and contemporary music, which still integrates classic hymns of the faith.
While McAnulty has been active in ministry for many years, he also is furthering his credentials by working on a master’s degree in divinity through the Global Awakening Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania.
The church is nondenominational, and while McAnulty said they “lean more on a charismatic style,” that doesn’t fully describe their mission.
“We are Bible-believing and New Testament practicing,” he said. “We believe that God can do things that are extraordinary.
“We’re not chasing experiences; we are chasing after God.”
He says the heart of his father’s ministry is “restorative.”
One of the ministries in that area is called “Power to Choose,” a 12-step-based program aimed at people with substance abuse and addiction problems.
“We see them through that process,” he said, “and encourage them to help others who struggle in that area.”
For those interested in more information, Heartland Christian Family Church has a Facebook page. Like many other churches have done during the pandemic, worship services are available online.