Overland Park Updates Blog
Pictured here is the Ayres Family (Joe, Natalie, Suzy, Mike, Caroline and Jack)
Over the past 33 years, we have seen God at work through the generations. The investments of those who came before us planted seeds that have grown and flourished. Now, it’s our turn to make bold commitments and invest in current and future generations.
Adam Hamilton, Senior Pastor
Overland Park
Dear Friends,
One of my favorite Bible verses is in Matthew 22 when Jesus said “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
For the past five years at Resurrection Overland Park, we have been striving to live out those words each and every day. Through worship, small groups, Bible studies and Student and Children’s Ministries, we are learning and growing in our faith and our commitment to love God with all that we have. We continue to love our neighbors through our Food Pantry, Early Learning Center, Recovery programs and community involvement.
As we celebrate the ways God is at work transforming lives in our church and community we begin to imagine what God has in store for our future. This brochure outlines our plans to unlock the potential of our building to reach current and future generations. I’m asking you to join me and my family in making a financial commitment over the next three years. Mike and I, along with our children, have prayed about our financial gift to the church and have put our faith in God as we make difficult financial decisions. But when we think about what God has done for us, and the ministry and mission of this church, our sacrifice is worthwhile.
I cannot wait to see all the ways God uses us to reach new people, deepen our faith and send us to bring about the Kingdom of God. Please join me in praying for God’s direction as we move forward together.
In Christ’s love,
Suzy
Location Pastor
The Plan
Vibrant, Welcoming
Entry Way
We are focused on creating a visible, hospitable entrance. We want all who enter our building, whether they are first time worshippers, families looking for children’s or student ministries, or food pantry guests and volunteers, to feel welcomed and have the ability to easily find their way.
Click here to hear more regarding the specific plans for Resurrection Overland Park.
Reaching Every Generation
This campaign is designed to ensure our 67,000 square foot building is a place for all generations by making renovations to create an experience that enhances community connection, a hub of ministry action, and transformational faith.
Plans for the remodeled entrance are designed to create an experience that takes people from the front door throughout our building and into a community of connection.
The renovations will honor the over sixty years of ministry that have built a foundation for generational impact. This campaign will help prepare our spaces for future ministry growth within our children and student ministries.
We will relocate the food pantry, allowing for additional space to expand and better adjacency to the kitchen. This provides an intentional opportunity to connect to families with children and youth in our community, and it creates a more dignified experience for those being served.
Resurrection History
In 1990, a group of visionaries shared a dream that they could build a Christian community where non-religious and nominally religious people of all ages would become deeply committed Christians. Launching Resurrection in a funeral home, they laid a foundation for generations to come. They had no idea the number of lives that would be transformed or the impact the church would have on the community, but they trusted God and dreamed big.
Resurrection has always been about people whose lives can be transformed when they follow Jesus, and who in turn can change the world. But, as we’ve grown and expanded, we’ve recognized that facilities and resources are important tools for ministry. Today, as a thriving church with six physical locations and a growing online presence, we are committed to ensuring that our buildings and programs continue to welcome and care for our community – from those yet to be born, to teens and young adults, to our oldest adults.
Resurrection Overland Park Story
Future Resurrection Overland Park
In 1959, the founding members of Valley View UMC established a church with a dream to connect with the community of Overland Park. They opened their first sanctuary in 1961. This church would go on to become Resurrection Overland Park.
Grand Opening
In August of 2019, we welcomed over 1,200 adults and children to the grand opening of Resurrection Overland Park, marking the launch of Resurrection’s fifth location.
Resurrection Overland Park Food Pantry
Resurrection Overland Park became an outpost of hope for the community by distributing over 252,000 meals in 2021 through the Resurrection Food Pantry.
Generation to Generation
Resurrection Overland Park continues to welcome a growing number of people into our doors weekly for worship, kids and student ministry programs, recovery ministry, and community outreach.
Carol and Steve Campbell
We’re excited about giving to this campaign because the world needs more churches that make people say ‘there is a church that’s doing good within their community and you can see the impact being made.’ Hopefully that helps people realize that churches still
serve a vital part in the community.
The starting point to sacrificial giving is looking at how I spend my money, considering the things that I can put aside, so that I can give to something that’s going to have a lasting legacy.
Pay Down Debt and Expand Ministry
One of the goals of this campaign is to pay down some of our debt from previous building projects. A portion of our annual ministry budget goes to debt service. By reducing this debt and the associated interest, more funds will be directly available for programing, missions, and outreach.
A Vision for 2030
In 2019 our congregation helped shape, and then approved, a set of visions for the year 2030. Creating the right tools for ministry with new and remodeled spaces and reducing our debt will allow us to more effectively live into these visions:
- Closing the Spiritual Gap by helping our congregation and community grow in their faith
- Closing the Generational Gap by reaching future generations for Christ
- Closing the Kindness and Justice Gap by helping our city and world look more like the Kingdom of God
- Closing the Opportunity Gap through efforts focused on education with an emphasis on PreK education and by addressing poverty
Together We Can Ensure a Vital Ministry for Resurrection Overland Park for Generations to Come
Campaign Need $2.2 Million
Our leaders have prayerfully considered this campaign with faith in the future of our church, knowing that the size of our congregation and the size of our ministry budget pave the way for us to meet this realistic need of $2.2 million. But it will take sacrifice and it will take everyone’s help and participation.
How will we get there?
Capital campaigns are an investment in the future, and the legacy we leave behind. You are invited to consider the goals of the campaign, the ministry impact of the building and paying off debt, and then pray, inviting God to guide you to consider a sacrificial gift that can be given over a period of four tax years, a gift over and above your annual giving to the church.
Generation to Generation is a time of spiritual growth – for our church and for each of us individually. You have the opportunity to be part of something that will have a tremendous impact on the mission and ministry of the church. We need your commitment as we continue this incredible journey of transforming lives, renewing churches and changing the world. We hope you will join us in praying about making a sacrificial gift to ensure our congregation has a vital future caring for all our generations.
Bill and Marilyn Taylor
Our vision for the future of Resurrection is
a church full of families. And people of all ages.
Campaign Timeline & Next Steps
Two Commitments. One Purpose.
Annual Ministry Fund
Your commitment to the Annual Ministry Fund makes possible all the mission and ministry at Resurrection. Your generosity and commitment to join us in closing the gap between where the world is and where it could be is the lifeblood of the church.
Generation to Generation
This capital campaign commitment, over and above your regular offering, will make possible creating and improving facilities to help us in passing on the faith from generation to generation.
Begin with prayer.
Pray for this campaign, specifically that God will give our leaders wisdom and touch the hearts of our congregation.
Pray for personal discernment as you consider how God is calling you to invest in a church for generations today and tomorrow.
Pray this simple prayer daily:
God, you have called us to tell coming generations of your glorious deeds. Grant us vision to know the plans you have for your church, and give us the conviction, courage and boldness to pursue them. Amen.
Determine your commitment.
The success of the campaign will require a commitment from us all to complete the building designs and achieve our goals. A sacrificial gift is an opportunity to take a bold step in your spiritual journey, make a sacrificial gift to invest in God’s work, and experience the joy of knowing that you will be sharing Jesus with current and future generations.
Resources
Give as a Family
Family Resources
Parents, this is an opportunity to discuss giving with your children. Our children’s ministry team has designed activities and a Talk & Tunes resource with these conversations in mind. Share with your children how you make giving decisions. Talk about the difference you want to make, and work as a family to find other ways to make an impact. Download printable versions of these resources by clicking the buttons below.
Qualified Charitable Distribution Information
If you have an IRA, consider contributing through a Qualified Charitable Distribution. A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from an IRA custodian, payable to a qualified charity like Resurrection. These gifts expand the impact of your giving, because instead of paying taxes on the money, every dollar goes directly to mission and ministry. Seek advice from a financial advisor to determine the best way to maximize this opportunity. For more information visit cor.org/waystogive or click the button below.
Giving Online
Setting up a recurring gift at Resurrection is a convenient and secure way to manage your giving. Use this link for easy-to-use steps. As you set up your gifts, be sure to read carefully as you enter your giving amount and frequency.
Spiritual Discernment Resources
Begin with Prayer
Spiritual Discernment Guide
Our sacrificial gifts to the church, above and beyond our annual ministry fund gift or tithe, over the next three years towards the Generation to Generation capital campaign will provide resources that will impact thousands and thousands of lives for generations to come. Making a sacrificial gift is something that requires prayerful discernment, and it will take each of us to make the goals of this campaign a reality. As you embark on this spiritual journey, this devotional is designed to help you prayerfully seek God’s calling as you consider what He is asking you to sacrifice to be a part of ensuring spaces for all generations at Resurrection, today and into the future.
GPS Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
While our plans for the Generation to Generation campaign involve converting our existing storage room (room 027) into a Youth space, we believe that we will still have enough space on-site for the tables, chairs, etc that are used on a weekly basis. We believe that rest of the items in the storage room can be stored offsite (the missions center, etc), or donated to make space for ministry.
Yes – though the proposed plans (finishing our existing building and clearing debt) would be a necessary first step before expanding outside of our existing walls. This does not commit to (or against) our previously expressed long-term plans. The pandemic has changed church trends and building needs, and so we have structured a campaign that will prepare us for the broadest number of possible futures. This campaign allows us to prepare for whatever comes next (whether it is that plan or another one), while gaining clarity on post-pandemic needs and building stronger foundations.
We project this building campaign will cost $3 million, which our consultants tell us is within the reasonable range for a church our size – that would provide for the new youth space, a reconfiguring of much of the lower level, debt reduction, and key sanctuary upgrades. If we come in above expectation, our building committee will prioritize upgrades in our Sanctuary and Youth room. If we come in under projections, our building committee will guide us through the process of expansion or cutting, with the top priority as finishing out 027 into a youth space. Children’s ministry spaces and debt reduction will come next.
The campaign commitment period begins October 1, 2023 and ends December 31, 2026 making it possible for you to utilize 4 tax years to contribute to your commitment.
