MARCH 30, 2022
CHINA RUINED ME
BY GARY KENDALL - LOVE KC CATALYST AND SENDING PROJECT NEWS CONTRIBUTOR
I’m privileged to have experienced 17 trips to China, serving with Project Partner, during the time I pastored the Indian Creek Community Church (now Hope Chapel). Those trips will be highlights on the reel of my life, but they ruined me for accepting the status quo of ministry in the western world.
What I saw in China was every believer living on mission, actively involved in making disciples. Their practice involved intense, early morning prayer—sometimes late at night, too. They actively shared their faith despite the risk of persecution. They used their homes for ministry and were actively in disciple-making mode. The churches were apostolic in their mode of ministry. They worshipped, and there was teaching, but they made a significant investment in meeting the needs around them.
I saw miracles. I saw people healed. Deliverance from oppression and addiction were common as Jesus set his people free. The vitality of the believers was palpable. They expected God to show up, and He moved in divine ways.
After one of my trips, I told my wife, Belinda, I saw the book of Acts lived out today right before my eyes. Then I continued, I’ve got to reconcile what I see happening there with what can happen here, or I must quit going to China.
What we attempt to do in Love KC (lovekc.net) today is to reclaim a book of Acts lifestyle for the believers in KC. We say you can live your faith with confidence and know what to say to your friends to lead them to Jesus. We think every believer should live on mission where they live, learn, work and play. Disciples make disciples—that’s what we are called to do.
We teach and equip believers to live a pray, care, share, and disciple lifestyle that starts in your circle of influence. You are the church to your neighborhood and workplace. We encourage believers to be involved in their local church and serve there. At the same time, remember that there is a priesthood of all believers. God needs you to live as a minister in every sector of society.
Love KC is not a gathering ministry but an equipping and sending ministry. We look to come alongside churches and individual believers to see a change in our city.
A first step is to adopt your neighborhood at lovekc.net/blesseveryhome and join the 3,200+ in Kansas City living on mission. You receive five neighbor names for which to pray daily.
Imagine what would happen if every neighborhood was adopted by a disciple living on mission, every family was prayed for by name, and every person in KC had multiple opportunities to hear the Good News from a friend. So let’s go live out that vision.
I’m grateful I traveled to China; I’m even more excited to live in Kansas City.
Gary Kendall
Gary Kendall is the KC Cities Lead for Gloo, Catalyst for Love KC, and a Sending Project News Contributor.