Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area, earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts and a Master of Divinity Degree from Southern Methodist University, where he was awarded the B’nai B’rith Award in Social Ethics.

Hamilton was named one of the “Ten people to watch in America’s spiritual landscape” by Religion and Ethics Newsweekly. For his efforts in Kansas City, he has been recognized with the first Founder’s Civility Award by American Public Square at Jewell in 2020.  He’s received numerous other awards for community service.

Hamilton launched Resurrection with his wife and two children in 1990. It has since grown to over 23,000 adults and children under his leadership. Today the church is the largest United Methodist Church in the United States and has six locations in the Kansas City area and a presence online and on television. 

Hamilton has written over 35 books including with Abingdon, Random House, Harper Collins and others.  Titles include Luke: Jesus and the Outsiders, Outcasts, and Outlaws, The Lord’s Prayer, Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White, Making Sense of the Bible and Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times. Adam and LaVon have been married over 40 years and have two adult daughters and a granddaughter.