Stories of Lives Changed

How God Is Changing Lives at the St. Louis Dream Center

No matter where someone grows up or what has happened in the past, God has a dream for their future and it is within reach. And at the St. Louis Dream Center, an outreach of Joyce Meyer Ministries, we are all about giving people hope and the tools to help them make that dream a reality.

Scott and Alycia are perfect examples, and they are the very reason the Dream Center continues to be a beacon of hope for the hopeless. Because when our hope is in Jesus Christ, we really can "live the dream" and help others do the same.

Chasing His Dreams

Looking out at the race track, Scott McClendon tried to explain how he makes turns at 90 miles an hour. "It's foot to the floor" he said, smiling big. "And pretty much a leap of faith." You could say it's become his motto for life.

Scott's road to the race track began in an unlikely place. The oldest of five kids, he grew up in the inner city, just blocks from the St. Louis Dream Center church.

Determined to get him out of the house, his mother signed him up for Redbird Rookies, the Dream Center's middle-school baseball team.

"That's where I met Pastor Tony [Gilmore], "Scott said. "He was our coach and also my mentor. It was the start of my relationship with God, and for the first time, I began to have dreams for my life."

Before long, the Dream Center became a hub for Scott's entire family. They came to church, attended youth events and volunteered in the community. It also gave Scott the courage to try new things, like kart racing. So, a few years later, when a family friend took him to a local NASCAR race, a dream was born.

"Something went off inside of me," Scott recalled. "Just hearing the loud engines fire up and watching them go 300 mph down the strip...it opened my eyes. I knew I wanted to drive fast for a living."

At 19, Scott was working full time, playing guitar in the Dream Center worship band and saving every penny to attend racing school and acquire his amateur license. However, after a long fight with lung disease, his mother suddenly passed away, leaving Scott to take care of his brothers and sisters.

Pastor Tony approached Scott with an offer: While his siblings stayed with another family, Scott could live at the Dream Center as an intern, allowing him the ability to attend racing school.

"I was so grateful for this opportunity, "Scott said. "For the next seven months, I worked full time, went to racing school and volunteered every day at the Dream Center."

The investment paid off. Today, at 22, Scott is burning up the kart racing circuit at World Wide Technology Raceway in Illinois.

Because of you, he is still chasing after God and his dreams at 90 mph. He says his ultimate goal is to become an Indy car champion who preaches the love of Jesus everywhere he goes.

"That's what it's about—being able to race and show people that through Christ you can do all things," Scott said. "God can open doors and help you be in places you never expected."

The Tatted Testimony

Twenty-three-year-old Alycia Matthis is passionate about her relationship with God. In fact, you can say it's written all over her. With more than 40 tattoos covering her arms and legs, she gets people's attention.

It all began five years ago, when Alycia moved to St. Louis, Missouri, to attend college. While working part-time at a downtown hotel, a patron began telling her all about the St. Louis Dream Center. That Sunday, Alycia attended their church service and knew that God had brought her there for a reason.

"I was always kind of an outcast and a lone wolf. I had trust issues," Alycia said. "But the Dream Center embraced me in such a way that it wasn't overwhelming. People just kept pouring into me and my faith expanded."

As Alycia continued to grow, she began to share the good things God was doing in her life in a way that's uniquely her—through tattoos.

"I'm shy, so my tattoos are the open door," Alycia said. "People come up to me and say, "What is all that ink?" And I say, "Good thing you asked!"

She holds out her arm and displays one of her favorites. It says "Romans 8:28" with an illustration of puzzle pieces coming together. "Just like life, it doesn't look like things are coming together," she said. "But somehow God pieces it into your story and it ends up giving Him glory."

Alycia quickly became known as "The Tatted Testimony." Once a lone wolf, she dedicated herself to sharing her story with anyone who would listen.

"God often uses my tattoos to reach people who are outcasts. I know exactly how that feels, and I know what God's love can do," Alycia said. "The Dream Center taught me the truth of the Word and helped me to have the courage to be who God made me."