It’s a crisp evening in Kansas City, Missouri, and my wife Lindsay and I are walking through the Crossroads Art District on “First Fridays,” the evening when most of the 60-some downtown galleries are open. Several thousand people flood the streets, streaming through galleries and local eateries.
On the third floor of the “Arts Incubator,” a non-profit that houses dozens of emerging artists, Lindsay and I leave the stairway to find ourselves in an open, warmly lit space. Distressed hardwood floors creak under our feet. Brick walls frame huge windows overlooking downtown. A solo guitarist sings blues in a corner. We talk in hushed voices:
What if these artists begin to create art that reflects redemption? What if the professionals viewing these exhibits start to embody love and service in their workplaces? How will this city change?
These are the questions that keep us awake at night.
My wife doesn’t let me stay out late every evening, but for the last hour I’ve been hanging with Scott, one of our launch team members, at a tiny downtown music venue. For a hole-in-the-wall place, the crowd is good, and the 3-piece jazz/rock outfit is excellent, considering they’re probably playing for free.
I listen to the music. Moments like this help me understand the hopes and dreams of the people we want to serve. Like this drummer, like this trumpet player, most of them are improvising, making up their stories as they go.
How will these lives acquire redemptive rhythm? How will they learn the melody of Jesus?
Whether they are struggling to pay a rent check or maneuvering to make it big, downtown KC’s population is looking for honest, well-considered answers to life’s big questions. Often these are the issues centering on sex, money and power-topics the gospel speaks to in radically transforming ways.
Seven billion dollars can renew a blighted city, but only Jesus can renew blighted lives with faith, hope and love. We’re convinced that God is making room for Jesus to enter and transform downtown Kansas City with the landmarks of the gospel.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:40 AM
Good stuff….just the thought of it happening gets me excited. If y’all need some help over the summer, give me a call.
September 4th, 2009 at 3:26 AM
Came across our church on Facebook. Are you part of any group? Or backed by any group? I am a Foursquare pastor and was just curious.
September 4th, 2009 at 3:53 AM
Hey John, we’re backed by the Missouri Baptist Convention and Kansas-Nebraska Baptist Convention (both SBC) as well as a non-denom association, Great Commission Churches. We’re open to working with a variety of groups, so long as there’s doctrinal solidarity.