This church: welcoming all

I remember sitting in worship as a young child and watching my parents get out their checkbook, fill in the information, and drop their check in the offering plate. I don’t remember if my parents gave weekly or monthly, but I do remember seeing their disciplined response during the offering time. I loved our church and all of its ministries. Over the years I continued to watch my parents give generously not only to our church, but to other non-profits whose mission matched their passion for seeing hungry people fed, children having access to resources they need, and people having support as they find more permanent jobs and housing. Their generosity and my grandparents’ generosity shaped my life, and I hope to continue their legacy.

I want to give to Resurrection because I love how our church shares God’s love and is committed to welcoming everyone. We don’t do it perfectly. No church is perfect. But I know that I, like Zacchaeus, have found Jesus in the love and care of imperfect people who were faithful members of church. As a child I felt welcome in Sunday School. I loved my youth group staff and the volunteers. And the college ministry I was a part of helped encourage me to pursue seminary so I could become a pastor. I am who I am because I was welcomed. Like Zacchaeus I want to give back.

I have given to every church I have been a part of for a variety of reasons since I started earning a regular income. One of those reasons is because I can only care for so many people by myself. On a very busy week I may have a meaningful call and/or visit with 20-25 people. But when I do the math to think about how many people receive a call, card, and/or visit from our official volunteers or regular church members reaching out to friends, members of their small group, or other people they have met through Resurrection, I can’t even begin to count how many people receive care. And when I think about all of our mission volunteers working on our campus to prepare things to send out into the community or working directly at a mission partner site, I’m blown away by how the love we have for Jesus multiplies in the community. And your financial generosity–wow! It’s amazing to think about how much ministry happens because of your gifts. I’m so grateful to serve as one of the pastors at Resurrection. I’m so honored to join with you in ministry in Kansas City and around the world. And I’m so proud to seek to welcome all people, remembering God’s generous, lavish, grace-filled love for all of us.