SPRINGFIELD, MO — Evangel University welcomes Bishop Elijah Hankerson III of St. Louis, Missouri, back to campus for a series of special events. A former Springfield pastor and an Evangel alumnus, he will speak in two chapel services and meet with students.
The chapel services are free and open to the public.
On Wednesday, January 29, at 10 a.m., he will speak at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. AGTS is located on the northern edge of the campus, facing Glenstone at Division.
Then on Thursday, January 30, at 10 a.m., Bishop Hankerson will speak in the Robert H. Spence Chapel, which faces Glenstone Avenue just south of the main entrance to the Evangel University campus.
The bishop earned his bachelor’s degree from Evangel in 1994, followed by an M.A. in Theological Studies from the seminary in 1996.
He is ordained with the Church of God in Christ (C.O.G.I.C.) and has 26 years of pastoral experience.
“Elijah is a good friend of mine, and I am excited to have him back in town,” said Alex Bryant, student life coordinator/campus pastor at AGTS. “We worked together in St. Louis, and I have great respect for his heart and passion for service.”
Springfield roots
Bishop Hankerson is the senior pastor and founder of the Life Center International C.O.G.I.C. of St. Louis. He is an active member of both the Northside Neighborhood Action Association and the police department’s Sixth District Community Outreach.
Previously, he pastored in Springfield at the Christ Temple C.O.G.I.C. and later the Timmons Temple C.O.G.I.C.
While serving Timmons Temple, Dr. Hankerson served on the Sherman Avenue Area Project Committee, the Spiritual Life Committee of Evangel University and also founded the Ann Hankerson Community Development Center.
A respected member of both communities, he has had the privilege of giving the keynote address for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday celebrations for the cities of Springfield and St. Louis.
Bishop Hankerson currently has the honor of serving as the elected president of the Saint Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition — the area’s oldest and largest minority clergy association.
Within the Church of God in Christ, he serves as president of the Department of Evangelism and representative of the General Board to the General Assembly. He has preached at the world-renowned West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, California, and has been a keynote speaker in both the 104th and 106th International Holy Convocations.
Evangel University, with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), is a comprehensive Christian university committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to serve the church and society globally. Evangel and AGTS serve more than 2,300 students from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries, offering 70 undergraduate majors and 19 master’s and doctoral degrees.
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