Police & Pastors Network

In response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the growing concern over policing and community relations during the Summer of 2020, several Johnson County Police Chiefs asked to meet with Pastor Clint Hall, Director of Church Relations with The Sending Project. They met to discuss how pastors might work together with their local police departments to address the issues facing their communities. Out of that meeting developed the Police and Pastors Network, co-facilitated by local police chiefs and The Sending Project. This network continues to meet regularly to encourage, educate and collaborate with each other, in order to better serve our communities.

On Wednesday, March 30 of this year, Police Chief Dawn Layman and the Lenexa Police Department hosted almost 100 local ministers and police chiefs and officers from around the KC area for the latest meeting entitled POLICE & PASTORS PRESENT: “Ministering to the Most Vulnerable Among Us.” They heard local ministry leaders speak about how the Church and local police can partner together to address issues of homelessness, human trafficking, meeting needs of the community through the Care Portal, as well as the role of fatherlessness in social issues. It was an amazing time of hearing how these local ministries are addressing their target issues as representations of the Body of Christ, and how the Church can support the key role that law enforcement plays in each of them.

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:17-18)

We believe in events like this because we believe that partnering with others for the betterment of our community is an important way we get to love the Lord and our neighbors. This is the way the kingdom of God advances. God’s kingdom advances when we, his hands and feet, bring his healing and hope and care in all areas of life to those in need in our neighborhoods and cities. Even as Nehemiah sought and received the help of King Artaxerxes in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:1-8), it is a wonderful thing to partner with those in authority to do the work of the Lord. 

The citywide Church of Kansas City has the wonderful honor and so many opportunities to address needs in our community.  While we may not solve them completely before Jesus returns, we are still called and commissioned to share the love of our King with the most needy, the most vulnerable, and the least of these in small and great ways.  

But there’s more good news! You do not have to be in law enforcement to make a difference in our community! Check out the links below to find out more about the presenters and how you can help. 

Serving the homeless with Project 1020:

project1020.org

Fighting Human Trafficking with HTTC:

humantraffickingtrainingcenter.com

Meeting needs of local children with the Care Portal:

careportal.org

Supporting the vital role of Fathers with Good Dads:

gooddads.com