March Connection 2

1 day ago
9 min read

March 17, 2026

DISCIPLES CONNECTION

AROUND THE REGION

Vote on our 2026 Summer Camp Shirt

This year, we enlisted the help of all creatives in the Greater Kansas City area to help us create our summer camp t-shirts. We received 9 shirt design options and are now asking for campers, parents, church leaders, and everyone in the Greater KC area to vote for their favorite design! Be sure to submit your vote by Thursday, March 19!

VOTE

Sponsor our Camper Shirts

In an effort to keep our camp registration fees accessible, we are asking for help from our community. With a donation of $100 your church or organization name will be featured as a summer 2026 camp sponsor on the back of our shirts.

This is a great way to support the youth and children's ministry in our Region!

If you or your church would like to be a sponsor, please mail a check payable to "Greater KC Christian Church" with "2026Shirts" on the memo line to the Regional Office at Merriam Christian Church, 9401 Johnson Dr., Merriam, KS 66203.

If you have any questions, please reach out to our camp and Conference Coordinator, Kylie Graham. Sponsorships are due Wednesday, April 1st.

Required Alex Congregational Reporting - March 31 Deadline

To maintain your congregations 501(c)(3) status, submitting congregation information to the Disciples of Christ national database (Alex) - is required. ALEX is the database of congregations currently and historically affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada.

Additionally - ALEX provides your congregation verification when applying for loans or grants.

Hats off to these churches that have completed their report:

Barry Christian Church
Community Christian Church
First Christian - Blue Springs
First Christian - Independence
First Christian - Louisburg
First Christian - Platte City
First Christian - Olathe
Hillcrest Christian Church
Hillside Christian Church
Longivew Chapel
Missio KC
Multi-Nations Christian Church
Raytown Christian Church
WHOSOEVER: Community of F.A.I.T.H.

To begin your reporting - go to Alex Reporting

Sign-in if you have your access information OR select:

If you need a reminder of your church pin, please use the "Contact Us" form at the bottom of this website to request the PIN from the Regional Office.

2026 Business Property Tax Exemption - Jackson County, MO Churches

Jackson County, Missouri, appears to have updated the process for submitting your churches 2026 Application for Business Personal Property Exemption/Application for Real Property Tax Exemption, or renewing/updating/validating your churches tax exemption status.

You may need to submit the IRS Exempt Organization Determination Letter issued to the General Assembly of the Christian Church on a national level as a Group exemption to the DOC and all subsidiary churches (i.e. our "national" IRS exemption).

If you need a copy of this letter, please use the Contact Us link at the bottom of our webpage to submit your request to the Regional Office.

Thank you to April at Blue Springs First Christian who discovered this and has paved the road for everyone else!

Links directly to the new 2026 Property Tax Exemption applications are below, if needed:

Real Property Exemption https://jcgis.jacksongov.org/taxexemption/newexemption.html

Business Personal Property Exemption https://jcgis.jacksongov.org/taxexemption/business.html

Hillside Christian Church Establishes George Warren Campbell Memorial Fund

Kansas City, Missouri — Hillside Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Kansas City has announced the creation of the George Warren Campbell Memorial Fund, a new endowment established to honor the life, ministry, and legacy of the late Rev. George Warren Campbell. The fund will support new ministry development and

congregational growth at Hillside Christian Church, continuing the vision Rev. Campbell championed throughout his years of service.

Rev. Campbell was widely known for his deep commitment to congregational leadership, his passion for church music, and his ability to nurture and encourage the faith of others. His ministry left a lasting impact not only on Hillside Christian Church, but also on colleagues and congregations throughout the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

The George Warren Campbell Memorial Fund will provide resources for innovative ministry initiatives and leadership development as the congregation looks toward the future.

Hillside Christian Church has launched a fundraising effort to establish the fund, with a goal of raising $20,000 by May 24, 2026. The congregation plans to celebrate the launch of the fund on Pentecost Sunday, a day that symbolizes the continuing movement of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church.

Donors who contribute during the initial campaign will be recognized as members of the Founders Circle, with their names included on a commemorative plaque honoring those who helped establish the fund. Contributions to the George Warren Campbell Memorial Fund are being administered through the Christian Church Foundation.

To contribute by mail, please send a check to:

Christian Church Foundation

P.O. Box 1007

Indianapolis, IN 46206-1007

Please include “George Warren Campbell Memorial Fund” in the memo line.

Those interested in learning more about the fund or the campaign may contact:

Rev. Andy Beck, andy@hillsidecc.com

Through the George Warren Campbell Memorial Fund, Hillside Christian Church seeks to honor a beloved minister while ensuring that his passion for faith, leadership, and congregational vitality continues to shape the church for years to come.

Donations Needed - Deaf International

"I pastor a Deaf church, and the majority of our members are Deaf refugees or Deaf individuals living on fixed incomes. One year ago, we had to leave our worship space because we could no longer afford the rent. We are now returning to that same location and are excited to restart our in-person worship services.

If you happen to have any of the items listed below and are willing to share them with us, we would be deeply grateful. We are looking for:

A projector for worship and visual communication
Communion cups (individual/disposable)
A flowering cross to hold flowers for Easter and special services.

These items will help us create a welcoming, accessible space as we return to in‑person worship. Thank you for considering our request and for any support you are able to offer."

Sincerely,

Rev. Dr. Debbie J. Buchholz

If you have any of the supplies mentioned above please connect with the Regional Office by email or call (913) 432 - 1414

UPCOMING REGIONAL EVENTS

Seder Dinner at Merriam Christian Church - April 2nd

What is a Seder Service?

This is a worship service and a meal! A Christian Seder Service is a reenactment of the Jewish Passover meal. Jesus shared the Passover with his Disciples the night before he was crucified. It's a 3000 year old commemoration of God's salvation of the enslaved Israelites, as recorded in the biblical book of Exodus. Messianic Jews and Christians celebrate God's salvation of Israel. This meal is a foreshadowing of how God has ultimately saved not just a particular people, but the whole world, through Jesus, our Christ. The Seder service is full of symbolism and scripture, helping us connect with our Old Testament roots more fully.

What is the meal?

The Seder meal will include: Brisket, Scalloped Potatoes, Apple Salad, Green Bean Casserole and Apple Cake.

We hope everyone will support this special "meal and worship" opportunity.

We hope you will bring family and friends as we eat, pray, learn, and grow in our appreciation of God's forgiveness, love , and our redemption from sin through Jesus Christ.

Tickets will be on sale through Sunday, March 22nd. Please email Margi Colerick to purchase or if you have any questions.

Cost:

$7.00 for adults

$6.50 for Seniors

$5.00 for Youth (ages 12-17)

$4.00 for Children (ages 6-11)

**The cost of the tickets is to help cover the provided meal.

***Childcare will be provided for children under age 6. Dinner will also be provided for the children.

Job Opportunity: Children's Ministry Director at Living Water Christian Church

Living Water Christian Church is currently seeking to hire a part-time Children's Ministry Director. Please see the ministry description below.

Send resume to: Pastorfred@livingwaterchristian.org

Children's Director Ministry Description

Primary function: to oversee children’s ministry (birth-5th grade) at LWCC and recruit, train, and develop a growing volunteer children’s ministry team

Reports to: Fred Herron & LWCC Council

Responsibilities:

1. To oversee children’s ministry at LWCC

2. To develop a strategic plan and outreach for children’s ministry which implements the vision, mission, and goals of LWCC

3. To recruit, train, and develop a volunteer team for children’s ministry

4. To implement creative children’s curriculum

5. To partner with families to raise children to love God and follow Jesus

6. To manage children’s ministry budget and facilities

Hours and pay will be negotiated

Nursery Worker - OPCC

Are you a caring and experienced nanny looking for a part-time job? We are seeking a nurturing and reliable nanny to provide exceptional care for children 0-4 years on Sunday Mornings.

About Us:

Overland Park Chrisitan Church is a friendly, mission-oriented community. OPCC strives to provide a nurturing, stimulating, spiritually engaging environment for our children.

Job Responsibilities:

Providing care for the children in a safe and supportive manner.
Engaging the children in age-appropriate activities that promote learning, creativity, and social development.
Assisting with light housekeeping tasks related to the children, such as tidying up the play areas and changing diapers.

Requirements:

Prior experience as a nanny or in a similar role with excellent references.
Ability to create a stimulating and engaging environment for the children.
Be willing to update parents with information about their time in the nursery.
First aid and CPR certification preferred but not required.
OPCC will be doing a back ground check before hiring.

Compensation and Benefits:

We will provide a written work agreement
Pay is $15/hr.
Paid professional development opportunities such as First Aid or CPR certificate.

Schedule: This is a 2-3 hour/week position Sunday’s 10:00-12:00 am.

If interested contact the church office @ 913-677-4646 and Pastor Lisa Engelken will be in contact.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Community Listening for Church Growth Webinar Series

In this three-session webinar, you will learn how to grow as a connection-rich congregation where everyone can make a friend and no one goes through life's hardest moments alone.

Each webinar includes times for discussion to explore how community listening applies in your specific ministry, and to identify practical next steps you can take.

Led by Ministry Consultants Joy Skjegstad and Heidi Unruch with KC's Associate Regional Minister for New Church, Rev. Amy Shoemaker. Joy and Heidi team up to help churches make God's love and justice visible through creative ministry, especially in ways that put relationships at the center. They co-authored the book Real Connections: Ministries to Strengthen Church and Community Relationships (Judson Press, 2021). Amy is excited to be joining Joy and Heidi to bring these crucial skills to the KC Disciples.

Register

Anti-Racism Pro-Reconciliation Training

Thursday, March 26, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Anti-Racism 1.0 is an introduction for clergy and lay leaders to become aware of the systemic nature of racism, see racism as sin, acknowledge the presence of racism today, and recognize ways in which we as individuals and churches function within systemic racism.

The curriculum was developed by the Reconciliation Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and led by facilitators trained by

Rev. Dr. Sandhya Jha and Rev. Dr. Nathan Hill. Thursday, March 26, 2026 10:00 am-4:00 pm, Merriam Christian Church.

$35 fee includes lunch, workbooks, and an annotated bibliography of resources and organizations active in the work of anti-racism.

RSVP by calling the Regional Office at (913) 432 - 1414

Supporting Campers Beyond the Campfire: Mental Health 101

Camp is more than games and cabin chats , it’s a place where kids bring their full selves, including their emotions. This training will help camp counselors recognize common mental health warning signs, understand what behaviors may really be communicating, and respond in ways that build safety and connection.

Join us for a FREE children/youth mental health training Saturday, April 25th from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Tall Oaks Camp and Conference Center.

SAVE THE DATES

Undergirding Our Congregation's Dreams: How Money

Impacts Our Ministry

Join us Saturday, May 2nd 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

at Merriam Christian Church

Setting the Stage for Healthy Dreaming

Key Foundation Words for Stewardship/Finance
Stewardship Theological Foundation

Potential Areas of Conversation with the Group

Building a Team Approach to Stewardship/Finances
Annual Budget/Campaign Efforts
Campaign approaches
Alternative income streams
Grants with the Denomination or Local Community
Staff support around compensation, planning, and creative encouragement
Capital Campaign Programs

Seminar Leader

Rev. Dr. Chris Wilson will lead this seminar. He is the Senior Pastor of Saint Andrew Christian Church in Olathe, KS and has thirty plus years of ministry shared in the local church. He is on the Bethany Fellows Board and has served in this role since 2012. He also serves and has served in several capacities in the wider Disciples denomination and in ecumenical/interfaith non-profits. His undergraduate degree was in Business Administration, and he has a certification as a national Financial Educator.

Register by calling the Regional office at (913) 432 - 1414

General Assembly Livestream

July 10-11

While this summer's General Assembly is vitural we invite all of the Greater Kansas City Disciples to gather at Country Club Christian Church to participate together.

The theme, BEYOND: Love Surpassing (Ephesians 3:14–21), builds on the work that God began last year and marks the first General Assembly of the new triennium as we live into our new structure. Plan to join us online alone or with others at a local assembly gathering in your area for vital worship, discernment, and connection.

Mark your calendar now and plan to participate as we are further “rooted and established in love” that surpasses knowledge. More details to come.

Stephen Ministries 50th Anniversary Celebration and Learning Event

Saturday, April 25, 2026

Founded in 1975, Stephen Ministries is celebrating its 50th year of equipping God’s people for ministry! As part of the celebrations, we’d like to invite you and others to an upcoming event in the Kansas City area.

Featuring Dr. Kenneth Haugk and other teaching faculty from Stephen Ministries St. Louis, this hope-filled, insightful event will look not only back at the past but also into the future—equipping and inspiring you for building a more caring world.