We Love Our City
Meet the Garcias
Josh and Judith have lived in St. Louis for a little over a year, but their journey together began on the mission field in 2019. Josh—then Olson—was serving with the International House of Prayer Atlanta, and Judith was sent from the Antioch Movement in Waco, Texas. For more than a decade, both individually and as a married couple, have participated in and led missions in North Africa, around the Middle East, and across Asia, with assignments ranging from short‑term trips to multi‑year commitments.
After their wedding in March 2020, they sensed the Lord speaking clearly that one day they were going to move to St. Louis to develop a missions base. A place where the children of God can run after all that He has for them. From church planting to overseas missions to developing a career, the Garcias burn to create space for people to come alive in God and fortify their walk to be a life-long journey!
A couple years later after returning from a long-term commitment in the Middle East, God led them to and through several cities across the United States, giving them opportunities to serve with various ministries, church plants, and missions organizations. Each season was a place of preparation—for gathering strategy, experience, and vision for the work God would eventually call them to establish in St. Louis.
They are now parents to three beautiful children: Bodie (4), Callahan (2), and Jael (1). Their passion is to see hearts and minds transformed through intentional, life‑on‑life discipleship and to equip believers to step boldly into the unique calling and destiny God has placed on their lives.
Meet The Browns
Simeon and Madeline are St. Louis natives who deeply love their city and are grateful for the ways they have seen God faithfully move here. They are encouraged by what He has begun and remain expectant for even more—believing God desires to reveal His glory in St. Louis and bring healing and renewal as His Church walks together in genuine love and unity. Their vision is to see the beauty and reality of heaven increasingly made visible through a united Church carrying the presence of Jesus into every part of the city.
After ten years of church planting in Salt Lake City, Utah, they returned home with a renewed conviction that God’s Plan A for St. Louis is His Church. Through Devoted STL, they are committed to serving the St. Louis family of churches, believing that transformation comes as congregations walk together in love, carry God’s presence into every sphere of life, and faithfully respond to what He is doing in the city.
Simeon and Madeline bring a shared passion for leadership, discipleship, and equipping believers to live out their calling. Their diverse backgrounds in ministry, business, law, communications, and organizational leadership have shaped their desire to see people flourish, leaders strengthened, and the Church empowered to bring the reality of Jesus into workplaces, neighborhoods, families, and communities.
Joyfully married for twelve years, they are parents to three children who are their delight. Above all, they love Jesus, love people, and love St. Louis—and they are eager to see what God will do as His Church grows in unity and the city is renewed by His presence.