Weekly Update from Pastor Adam - August 15, 2025
August 15, 2025
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August 15, 2025
Dear Resurrection Family,
I had such a great time this week in England with youth and young adults, emerging leaders from our various Resurrection locations, as we retraced John Wesley’s life and the story of the early Methodist movement. It was awesome! As you read this, they should be back home in Kansas City. Meanwhile, LaVon and I are back in York, preparing to re-lead this same journey with 80 young United Methodist Pastors nominated by their bishops, who are in our national leadership mentoring program for clergy called the Emerging Clergy Network. Bishops anticipate that many of these will be future leaders in our denomination.
While here in England, as I was teaching our young adults this last week, I was also recording the messages for the next three weeks. In these sermons, I’ll take all of you on the same journey I’ve shared with the young adults this last week. Read on to find out where I’m taking you this weekend in worship!
WORSHIP THIS WEEKEND – THE POWER OF A PRAYING PARENT AND PERSEVERING
Three hundred years ago this month, a 22-year-old John Wesley made a decision to live the rest of his life “for the glory of God.” He went on to become the most influential and consequential Christian of the 18th century. The Methodist movement he launched changed the world and had a profound impact on America.
Over the next three weeks, I’m going to take you along on our journey to England in the footsteps of Wesley. You’ll learn a bit of history, but what I’m really hoping is that we’ll find our own faith rekindled as we learn about Wesley and the early Methodists.
This weekend I’ll take you to a little town called Epworth in northeastern England, where John Wesley was born. I’ll begin taking you to Wesley’s childhood home, and we’ll learn how his faith was shaped by his mother, Susanna, and we’ll think about the power of a praying parent. Next, we’ll visit the church John’s father, Samuel, pastored for 39 years, the St. Andrew’s Parish Church of the Church of England. The central part of this small chapel was built in the 1100s. We’ll reflect upon the politically and religiously divided society and family John Wesley was raised in, and how that shaped his faith and led Methodism to be a bridge-building faith. Finally, I’ll take you to the cemetery outside the church where Samuel and six of his children who died in infancy are buried (Samuel and Susanna had 19 children, nine of whom died in infancy). We’ll talk about perseverance in the face of suffering and adversity.
Below is a photo of our young adults and youth at Samuel Wesley’s grave.
The photo below is of our group at the closing of our journey, standing around John Wesley’s grave in London, where we had an anointing service, anointing and praying for each of our youth and young adult leaders, that God might use them to share his light with the world.
KIDS MINISTRIES KICKS OFF THIS SUNDAY
Resurrection Kids is excited for this Sunday as our children are all promoted up to the next grade (age) level. We have a special Rubber Duckie giveaway for all kids this Sunday to connect with my messages coming from “across the pond” in England. As I speak about the power of a praying parent this week, looking at Susanna Wesley’s faith, it’s a great time to consider volunteering to serve in Kids Ministry to help shape young hearts every week. Whether you are a student, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or simply someone who loves kids, there’s a place for you in Kids Ministry. We welcome over 1,000 kids from 6 weeks old to 5th grade across nine locations every Sunday and we’ll make sure you feel confident and prepared with all the coaching, resources, and plenty of snacks – and a Resurrection Kids t-shirt! Go to resurrection.church/kids for more info and to get involved.
THREE MORNING WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AT RESURRECTION DOWNTOWN
This Sunday, August 17, we are launching a third worship service at Resurrection Downtown. You can now worship at our Downtown location, 1601 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO, at 8, 9:30 or 11 am. If you have friends or family in the downtown area who don’t have a church home, share this with them.
MEETING CRITICAL NEEDS WITH AUGUST BLOOD DRIVES
This week, the Community Blood Center put out a notice that there is a blood shortage right now, and with the Labor Day holiday coming up, they anticipate critical needs. With August blood drives at seven of our locations coming up, Resurrection has the opportunity to step up and make sure that the needs are met and lives are saved in our community. Locations, dates, and times are below. Walk-ins are always welcome, but you can just click on the link to schedule your appointment and avoid a wait.
- Leawood: Mon. Aug. 18, 8 am – 8 pm. Sign Up Here
- Leawood: Tue., Aug. 19, 8 am – 8 pm. Sign Up Here
- Overland Park: Thur. Aug 21, 2 – 7 pm. Sign Up Here
- Blue Springs: Thur. Aug. 21, 2 – 6 pm. Sign Up Here
- Spring Hill: Mon. Aug. 25, 1 – 6 pm. Sign Up Here
- West (Olathe): Mon. Aug. 25, 10 am – 7 pm. Sign Up Here
- Downtown: Tue. Aug. 26, 3 – 7 pm Sign Up Here
- Brookside: Wed. Aug. 27, 8 am – noon. Sign Up Here
DONATE BLOOD AND GET A ROYALS T-SHIRT – In addition to saving lives, donors will score a limited-edition Kansas City Royals T-shirt and have an opportunity to enter for a chance to win two tickets to the Kansas City Chiefs home opener.
NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK ABOUT RESURRECTION WINDOW
One of my favorite things to do is to read with my granddaughter, Stella, and I love to find ways to share my faith with her through the stories of the Bible. When we created the Resurrection Window for the sanctuary at Resurrection, a United Methodist Church, I envisioned a work of art that could tell the overarching story of the Bible for all generations. I’m excited to share that a new book with beautiful images is being produced to guide kids ages 4–8, and their grown-ups, in exploring the window, finding important figures, and learning a little about each one through short, engaging stories. Do You See What I See? has been written by Resurrection member Joey Peck, and all proceeds will be donated to Resurrection ministries. You can preorder the book now for delivery before Thanksgiving here.
SCREEN SANITY: DIGITAL HEALTH FOR ALL GENERATIONS AUG. 27
On Wednesday, August 27, Resurrection is joining with the Kansas City nonprofit Screen Sanity to host an event focused on cultivating practical strategies for managing technology in our lives. We’ll be talking about things from smartphone boundaries to social media safety, and we’ll have several practical ways you can better manage your screens to boost your overall digital health. This is a great event for people of all ages, from kids to students to adults, even grandparents or older adults.
The summit will be held at the Leawood location and simulcast to our locations, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. Childcare is available at some locations. Click here to learn more and register.
REMINDER OF TWO OPPORTUNITIES TOMORROW TO SERVE AUG. 16
Community Volunteer Training focused on Cultural Competency at 10 am at Resurrection Leawood. This workshop is designed to provide you with the skills and knowledge to help create a welcoming and secure environment for everyone we support throughout our partner school ministry. Learn more and register here!
Local Missions Serve Saturday offers simple, flexible opportunities for you to make a meaningful difference in our community. Discover how even small acts of kindness can create powerful ripples of positive change. Simply scroll through the opportunities, select your spot and sign up here.
MAKING SENSE OF FAITH PODCAST: WHEN OUR CONVICTIONS COST US RELATIONSHIPS
What happens when the people closest to you disagree so strongly with some dimension of your faith, believing you are terribly wrong or have turned from the faith? Several years ago, someone LaVon and I have known for nearly 40 years told us she could no longer be our friend because of my interpretation of scripture regarding the inclusion of gay and lesbian people. I know some of you have lost friends because of your faith, politics, or values. My podcast this week is taken from an event I did a couple of years ago at Resurrection, where I answered questions our members asked. I’ll share my experience, and we’ll look to Jesus’ example for practical wisdom for loving people who completely disagree with us. You can listen to or watch and share it with friends by clicking here.
Okay, I’ve got to run. I’m heading out to meet these young clergy from across the US as we help them remember their story as United Methodists and learn important leadership and faith lessons from the life of John Wesley. Please pray that God will use me and will touch the hearts of these pastors, that this trip might shape their ministries and lives for decades to come! These 80 pastors are one-quarter of the entire denomination’s young clergy. I’m hoping that they might be modern-day John and Susanna Wesleys, leading a revival of Methodism for the 21st century!
In Christ’s love,
Adam
Adam Hamilton
Resurrection Senior Pastor
Reverend Adam Hamilton is the senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection and the author of 22 books. He has been married to LaVon since 1982, and she has been a critical partner in every dimension of Adam’s work. They have two daughters and one granddaughter.
Adam’s writings are known for helping readers make sense of challenging theological questions, exploring the significance of the biblical stories, and equipping Christian leaders to be more effective in their work. He earned his MDiv from Perkins School of Theology and graduated with honors from Oral Roberts University with a degree in Pastoral Ministry.
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