Our Pastor

Rev. Keith D. Cornelius is a 2nd generation preacher whose message is centered around the teaching of Christ. Rev. Cornelius has been preaching and teaching the Gospel since the age of 30 and has traveled to numerous cities and towns during his Evangelistic Mission with The Sons of God Ministries in Alorton, IL.

In lieu of his passion for the work of Christ, the Church and missions, Rev. Cornelius was nominated for the Pastor of the Year Award by the WMS in 2013. He is an advocate and supporter of the missions and discipline for Christ’s Church. He provides spiritual guidance and teachings of God’s Word in accordance with the Word of God.

Rev. Cornelius is well-educated with a B.S. degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, with a specialty in Public Relations/Marketing in 1983. He received his Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in May of 2017. He has received numerous awards for service to the community and other business community-related activities.

Rev. Cornelius is the CEO of KLC & Associates, a firm specializing in customer service and financial consulting. He has worked as a Housing Advocate/Executive Manager of Cochran Tenant Management Corp. He has helped organize marches to Washington against cuts in Public Housing as it related to funding for low-income residents in the city of St. Louis. He assisted the late housing activist, Bertha Gilkey, in writing legislation for “No Drug Zone” in Public Housing.

Rev. Cornelius has served as Board Treasurer for the Ville Community Development Foundation-St. Louis. He has been appointed to the Missouri Conference Trustee Board, District Finance/Budget Committee, member of the Board of Examiners and member of the District Economic Development Committee. He is a retired Assistant Vice President of Branch Banking for US Bank, with the responsibility of managing $60 million in deposit growth, as well as leading a team of retail bankers in sales and revenue growth. During his 14-year banking career, Rev. Cornelius has received numerous banking awards for outstanding management and performance.

Rev. Cornelius is an Ordained Itinerant Elder within the 5th Episcopal District of the AME Church under the Presiding Prelate Bishop Clement W. Fugh and Presiding Elder Edmund E. Lowe, Sr., of the Gateway District. Rev. Cornelius is the former Pastor of the Historic St. Paul AME Church in Columbia, MO, former Pastor of the Historic St. John AME Church in Omaha, NE and now the current Pastor of St. Peter AME Church, St. Louis, MO.  

Rev. Cornelius is married to Dr. Emma J. Campbell-Cornelius, the father of 5 children and has 7 grandchildren. Rev. Cornelius' greatest desire is to serve the LORD and to be a blessing to God’s people.