Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirk Shull.
Hi Kirk, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Kirk Shull, and my wife, Kathy, and I have been blessed with five children: Lana, Andrew, Hannah, Maryanna, and Susanna. Our family has been a vital part of our growth and success in ministry. I have served in teaching and pastoral ministry for 24 years.
While living in Tennessee, a relative from Utah visited us in 2013 and shared about the great need for Bible-teaching churches in Utah County. Through prayer and conversation, we felt called to consider relocating to start a church, eventually focusing on the city of Springville. After an initial survey trip on my own and a second visit with my family, we made the decision to move to Springville in October 2014.
To better understand the culture of our new community, we attended an established church in Provo for three and a half years. In 2017, we launched a Bible study in our home, which laid the groundwork for the church to come. In February 2018, we officially started Art City Church.
We chose the name “Art City Church” because Springville is known as “Art City,” a nickname inspired by its well-known art museum. We wanted the church to clearly identify with the community and demonstrate our commitment to our new home.
Our first services were held in a conference room at a Holiday Inn, with two families joining us at the start. On our first Sunday, we had around 17 people in attendance. Over time, we saw gradual growth and soon needed more space.
In September 2018, we moved to the basement of a building in Springville, subleasing from a homeschool co-op. Because we only had access to the space on Sundays, we set up and tore down each week to prepare the room. Eventually, we were able to expand within the building and add classrooms and a nursery, which allowed us to serve families more effectively.
In 2020, the homeschool co-op informed us that they were relocating and encouraged us to contact the building owner. We did, and the owner agreed to rent the space to us full-time. Having access seven days a week opened new doors for ministry, teaching, and community involvement.
We remain in that building today and currently average 55–65 people each Sunday. We are once again reaching capacity, and we are prayerfully seeking a larger space to continue growing.
We are deeply grateful for all that God has done and look forward to the future with excitement. Our mission remains the same: to reach and help more people by faithfully teaching God’s Word.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The journey has not always been easy, and at times it has felt like an uphill battle. Along the way, we have faced several significant challenges. One of the greatest has been lovingly navigating and clearly identifying the differences between our beliefs and the predominant religion in the county. Being in the minority can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation—not only for our own family but also for the families we are striving to serve.
When we first began looking for a place to meet, our initial choice was a conference room at a grocery store in Springville. However, we were turned down and informed that the space could not be rented to political or religious groups.
My passion has always been teaching and counseling, but when we moved to Utah, I was not initially able to do that full time. We moved without a job in place, trusting God to provide. At the time, my wife was at home full time, raising and homeschooling our children. After settling into our 1,320-square-foot apartment, I was able to find work and took full-time jobs in various fields, gradually working my way up. By 2020, the church had grown to a point where I needed to make a decision, and I stepped away from secular work to begin pastoring and teaching full time.
As a nonprofit ministry, we currently depend on the generosity of partners who support the work we are doing. We are deeply grateful for their investment in helping us reach people with the truth of God’s Word.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Our mission is to passionately follow Jesus as we learn about Him and make Him visible to our community. Our goal is to restore lives, strengthen families, and build a Christ-centered community. We grow in our understanding of Him by studying the Bible together, believing that the greatest purpose in life is to know our Creator through His Son, Jesus.
We teach the Bible in our services and also provide counseling to individuals and families, helping them apply biblical truth to everyday life. What sets us apart is our commitment to creating an environment where people feel safe to ask hard questions about life, faith, and God. Many who come to us have experienced religious trauma or abuse, and we are intentional about offering a place of acceptance, love, and healing.
Our desire is not only to address spiritual wounds, but to walk alongside people through any type of pain or trauma they may be facing. In everything we do, we strive to be a community where healing begins and hope in Christ is restored.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People are often surprised when I tell them that I am actually very introverted. Because of the line of work I am in, many assume I am naturally extroverted—but the opposite is true. By nature, I am a quiet, reserved person. I have had to work intentionally to step out of my comfort zone and invest in people’s lives. Over time, it has become easier, but there are still moments when I feel the urge to retreat and hide.
Pricing:
- We are looking for grants or gifts toward the purchasing of land and a new building. Not sure if this is what you are looking for. We are a non-profit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artcity.church
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtCityChurch
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@artcitychurch1722
