Church Leadership

Elders

At Immanuel Fellowship Church, we believe the biblical terms of Elder, Pastor, and Overseer are synonymous. To that end we see our elder board as both the leaders and pastors of our Church. Our elder board consists of some paid staff and some volunteer “lay” leaders, but they all operate with equal authority and responsibility in pastoring our church.

Lead Pastor

Sam Tunnell

Sam is an STL native born and raised. He spent the first 12 years of his ministry life serving as a youth and family pastor at a couple of churches in the STL area. In 2017 Sam became the lead pastor of Red Tree Church where he served until Red Tree merged with West County Bible Church in 2021 to plant Immanuel Fellowship Church. He holds a bachelors in Christian Ministry from Lindenwood University and a Masters of Theological Studies from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Sam is married to his wife Kim. Outside of pastoral ministry, he enjoys walks with the family (and dog), cooking, loud music, and nerding out on all things Star Trek.

Pastor of Care & Outreach

Jim Donahue

Jim was born and raised in Florissant, Missouri. In college, he was an all-America soccer player and received his Bachelor’s in Marketing from Indiana State University. After college, Jim participated in a pastoral internship program at North County Community Church. Jim has been in pastoral ministry for 30 years as a youth pastor, church planter, lead pastor, and he now serves at Immanuel as the pastor of care, outreach & leadership development.

Jim has been married to his wife Lisa for 33 years, has 3 awesome sons Steven, Andrew and Ben – and has been blessed with 3 beautiful grandchildren; Theodore, Ephraim, and Mia.

Pastor of Admin. & Discipleship

Craig McAlevey

Born and raised in Ballwin, Missouri, Craig attended the University of Central Missouri graduating with a business degree in Graphic Arts.

Craig accepted a call to full-time vocational ministry in 2014 after working in the printing industry for 28 years. Saved by God’s grace as an adult in his thirties, Craig was raised up as a lay elder at Hanley Road Baptist Church. He currently serves part-time with Immanuel as pastor of discipleship and administration. His other job is as a bus driver for the Rockwood School District which he loves.

Craig has been married to Kim for over 28 years and they have three wonderful children: Patrick, Sarah, and Hannah.

Lay Elder

Jesse Packard

Jesse and his wife Julie moved to St Louis from Springfield, MO in 2010. Jesse has been a lay elder at Red Tree Church in 2016, and served in that capacity until the transition to Immanuel Fellowship Church in 2021, where he continues to serve as a lay elder. Jesse's primary focus has been on teaching and discipleship for students.

Jesse has a business undergraduate degree from Missouri State University and a law degree from St Louis University School of Law. Jesse has four children and enjoys writing, reading, and games.

Ministry Staff

Director of Worship & Communications

Chris Otterson

Chris was raised in south St. Louis County where he began leading worship as a teenager at his church in Webster Groves. He went on to pursue a degree in Modern Music Ministry From Visible Music College and has been serving churches in St. Louis city and county ever since.

Chris has been married to his wife Emily for 6 years and together they have a son; Ben. Outside of ministry, Chris enjoys cooking, experimental music, and time outdoors with his family.