The Holy Handoff

Love Church is Entering a New

Season!

  • Description Pastor Todd Doxzon, our Founding & Lead Pastor, will be transitioning into the role of Founding & Associate Lead Pastor. Pastor Mike O’Connell, who has been serving faithfully as our Associate Lead Pastor, will step into the role of Lead Pastor beginning January 1, 2026.text goes here

  • At Love Church, we believe leadership is stewardship. Seasons shift, and God calls leaders to serve in different capacities for the good of His church. Pastor Todd has prayerfully discerned that this is the right time to release the lead role and continue supporting Pastor Mike and the church as Founding & Associate Lead Pastor. This transition allows Love Church to remain healthy, generational, and positioned for the future.

  • Not at all. Pastor Todd and Denise are staying in Omaha and staying at Love Church. Pastor Todd’s role will shift, but Denise’s will remain the same. Together, they will continue serving, teaching, and pastoring this church family. Their commitment to the vision God gave them when Love Church was founded has not changed, and they will continue to be spiritual parents in this house.

  • Pastor Mike will become Lead Pastor on January 1, 2026. He will carry the day-to-day leadership of the church while continuing to preach, pastor, and lead our team into the future. He is deeply aligned with Love Church’s vision and has been prepared for this role over many years of faithful leadership.

  • No. The heartbeat of Love Church remains the same:

    • Motivation: For people to experience God’s best for their lives.

    • Mission: For people to love God supremely and love people supernaturally.
      Our methods and ministry rhythms (5S Life, Encounters, Groups, Love Out Loud, Next Steps) will continue.

  • This transition has been prayerfully considered over time by the pastors, overseers, and trusted advisors of Love Church. It’s not a sudden decision—it’s a Spirit-led step designed for health, clarity, and longevity.

    • Pray — Cover both pastors and their families in prayer as they step into new roles.

    • Support — Encourage them as they continue to serve faithfully.

    • Stay engaged — Be “All-In” with the vision of Love Church. Keep attending, serving, giving, and inviting. The mission is too important to slow down.

  • September 21, 2025 — Announcement Sunday | Leadership transition officially announced.

    January 4, 2026 — Commissioning Sunday | Transition takes effect.

  • Expect consistency in vision, passion in leadership, and clarity in mission. Our best days are ahead! The foundation the Lord laid through Pastor Todd and Denise will continue to be built upon as we move toward reaching and discipling more people in Omaha and beyond.

A Letter from
The Doxzons

Love Church Family,

As we sat down to write this letter, the Holy Spirit gave us so much joy in remembering all the miracles He has done in the last 17 years! The marriages reconciled, the addictions broken, the families restored, the self-feeders made, and most importantly, the countless souls saved! All praise and honor to Him and Him alone!

When we first left Fort Lauderdale in February 2008 by faith, we had a vision of what God was going to do. Thank God for Pastor Chuck Smith, who is the founder of the first Calvary Chapel church, and Pastor Bob Coy from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, who helped give us a picture of what could be. It was God’s grace, provision, and the amazing team He surrounded us with that made the journey to this point so wonderful. You all mean the world to us, and we will be forever grateful for each of you!

As amazing as the last 17 years have been, we have never been more excited about the future of Love Church. God has been faithful each step of the way and has graciously prepared Pastor Mike O’Connell and his amazing wife, Jerica, to lead us into the future with humility, passion, and creativity. We are excited to lift up their arms as we continue to introduce many to Christ and help them get to know God one day at a time in their own Bibles. The best is yet to come!

Love,

Pastor Todd & Denise Doxzon

A Letter from
The O’Connells

Love Church Family,

What a gift it has been to be part of this amazing community for the past 13 years. Love Church is where Jerica and my story began. We each arrived separately, but without a doubt, God directed our steps here. I came from Los Angeles after receiving a word from the Lord to study His Word and begin serving at Love Church. Jerica walked into Penny Slosson’s office with a stirring in her heart, and Penny invited her here.

We first met at Pastor Todd and Denise’s home. After Jerica left that night, I don’t think I’d ever prayed harder. I knew she was the one! A year later, Pastor Todd married us in August 2014. That October, Pastor Todd approached us about stepping onto the Love Church team, with me joining full-time and Jerica joining part-time. We knew this wasn’t just a career move, but we were stepping into our calling.

Over these 11 years on staff, we’ve built deep relationships with so many of you. We’ve seen God move in miraculous ways: family members saved, marriages restored, addictions broken, people equipped to walk in their God-given purpose, and heaven more populated because of your faithful service and God’s grace. It has truly been the honor of our lives.

As we step into this new role, our hearts are full of gratitude for Pastor Todd and Denise. We are standing on their shoulders. There’s nothing like going first—pioneering, laboring, and shepherding with faithfulness for 17 years. We honor how well they have run their race and served this church, and we’re grateful we get to keep building side by side.

We believe the best days for Love Church are ahead because of the foundation that’s been laid. We are committed to taking the baton, to help many more experience God’s best, to love God supremely and love people supernaturally. We are fired up to help a generation live the 5S Life: surrendered, surrounded, spirit-led, self-fed, and sent. And yes, the secret sauce will remain the same: helping people know God one day at a time in their own Bibles.

The verse that comes to mind is:

“So affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the Gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:8

Love Church, you are dear to our family. Serving you is the privilege of our lives. Let’s lean in together, the best is yet to come!

Love,

Pastor Mike & Jerica O’Connell

Still have
Questions?

We understand that this may be a lot for some people to take in. Please use the link below to submit any questions that you have!