Queen Village church preaches R-E-S-P-E-C-T

WHEN the Rev. Warren McKnight took the helm at Queen Village's Nazareth Baptist Church in 2002, he found "a lot of antiquated practices that weren't conducive to the more modern community we were in," he said.

One example? Unmarried women who became pregnant were expected to stand in front of the congregation and apologize.

"That's not biblical. That's embarrassing and hypocritical, having people judge others as if they have no faults of their own," McKnight said. "It was causing people to stay away instead of being the inviting place we knew God wanted it to be."

Thus began the evolution of the 75-year-old church under the leadership of McKnight and his wife of 21 years, "First Lady" Cynthia McKnight. Now renamed Love Kingdom Fellowship, the church bills itself as "a non-denominational, spirit-led ministry," with a focus on Bible study.

And it's flourishing. Sunday services routinely draw about 300 people, McKnight said. The church has also seen a demographic shift in its congregation: In 2002, 70 percent were 55 and older. Now, about 35 percent are 35 and younger.

"We have a younger, vibrant congregation that wants to do ministry and we're grateful for that," he said.

But don't think this is only a youngster's show: The church's oldest member, 94, is known to walk to Sunday services from her home on Snyder Avenue more than a mile away.

Who we are: The Love Kingdom Fellowship Church is at 1009 S. 3rd St., between Christian Street and Washington Avenue. Sunday's "celebration" starts at 10 a.m., said Pastor McKnight. Weekly Bible Studies - a/k/a "Happy Hours" - are held at noon and 7 p.m. Tuesdays.

Attire is casual. "We say 'Dress down, but not low down,' " he said.

What we believe: That God is a triune being - that is to say, three persons in one: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Each has "his own function, equal in value and different in responsibility and personality," McKnight said. They also believe the Bible is the word of God.

What we're known for: Service is the congregation's hallmark, and McKnight said it can mean anything from handing out toiletries in the surrounding neighborhood to feeding the hungry in Love Park or giving blankets to the homeless.

"Christ said he didn't come to be served. He came to serve," McKnight said. "That's the mentality the church really needs to have. If we're not serving, we don't need to be there."

Good works: In addition to the aforementioned, the church holds mentoring programs for adults and children. The adult program, which runs for 12 weeks, includes lessons on financial planning. Love Kingdom Fellowship also has other, smaller ministries and offers exercise classes in its facility.

Something that might surprise people: That church can be a lot of fun.

Love Kingdom Fellowship has hosted " '70s Sundays," where congregants were encouraged to wear their funkiest garb from the disco era. (McKnight wore an Afro.)

"It's about being stretched," he said. "God's love brings you joy and laughter as a result."

Big moral issue we grapple with: "Homosexuality is an issue every church needs to deal with," McKnight said.

His church's take? God loves everyone.

"There's so much bias and hate, and that's not God," he said. "If we could sincerely love like God does, a lot of these moral issues would go out the window."

God is . . . "Love, unconditional love."

God vs. cellphones: "Love 'em!" McKnight said. He's been known to ask worshippers to pull out their phones midservice to call friends and invite them to church, or to send someone an "I love you" text.

The few times phones have gone off during sermons, he's put people at ease by quipping, "Is that Jesus calling?"

"We don't want to embarrass somebody so they don't come back," he said.

Words of hope: God can help anyone change, McKnight said. "If you still have breath, you still have time.

"If you're still living, you have the opportunity to turn your life around. It doesn't have to end the way it is."