Pastor Carl A. Lucas Sr. was born in Shelby Mississippi to the union of Major Lucas, Jr. and Fannie Lee-Lucas.  He was raised in St. Louis, Missouri by his mother and step father, Arthur Williams, Sr.  Pastor Lucas married his high school sweetheart Evelyn

Bryant- Lucas and they have been blessed with two children Deonna and Carl II.   Pastor Lucas graduated from Normandy High School with honors after receiving an academic scholarship. He attended Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Behavior and Development.

Pastor Lucas spent years working for a world wide company in management.  In 1990 he accepted his calling into the ministry.  He then attended Missouri Baptist College (now University) where he received an undergraduate degree in Christian Counseling and Biblical Studies.

Pastor Lucas was licensed in 1991 by the Southern Mission Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor John Mitchell, Jr.  He was ordained in 1993.     

Pastor Lucas has a quest for education and has received certification from Rankin Technical, H& R.  Block Income Tax School, Dale Carnage Human Resource, People Workshops and various management organization and people development courses.

In 1996 Pastor Lucas established and founded God First Church being incorporated by the state of Missouri in January 1997. From a humble inception of support from his immediate family, God First has grown under his leadership to over two hundred and fifty active members.

Pastor Lucas has a passion for developing church leaders.  He is the founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Gateway Christian Leadership Conference (2002). A non denominational conference designed to equip church leaders from any association with the tools necessary for effective management.  This conference has helped church leaders from an array of church denominational background.

Pastor Lucas believes in the old adage “Knowledge is Power” and has established various Biblical learning ministries within the God First Church. We have traditional Sunday School, mid-week Word of Knowledge Bible School, New Member Seminar, Internet Bible Studies, Fireside Bible Study, Youth Church, Annual Leaders’ Workshops, Ministers Workshops, church sponsored external classes. The Carl A. Lucas, Sr. Scholarship was founded to support our youth to further their education.

From his leadership, two formal associate ministers moved into pastoral roles. As of June 2008, eight associated ministers are of service under the leadership Pastor Lucas.  He has led the church in obtaining over four acres of land and valuable property. The church established a daycare that has earned the reputation for preparing our students through exceptional teaching and training, to easily transition them to a higher education while giving them a biblical background.   The church now employs a total of nine people.

This is the primary source of income for half.