Resurrection West,

Come and spend the day in service to our community this Saturday at Faithwork from 9-11:30 am at the RezWest Missions Center, located at 25000 College Blvd. All ages are welcome to serve with projects both on-site at the Missions Center and off-site in the community.

Then on Sunday join us as we begin a new worship series where we will be asking…. "What would Jesus say to the powerful of today?" Pastor Adam will be preaching as we seek to understand how to live as disciples of Christ in modern times. Invite a friend and join us at 8 am, 9:30 am, 11 am, or 5 pm with KiDSCOR Sunday School at all services and rezlife 6th-8th grade Sunday School at both 9:30 and 11 am services.

Gentlemen, save the date for the annual fly-fishing retreat this September 14-16. We will be heading to a Rockbridge, MO, trout farm for a great weekend of fishing, fun, and spiritual growth together! Registration will open soon!

Finally, I saw many of you yesterday morning on College Blvd. between 7:30-8 am as I stood in protest of the hate and judgment offered by Westboro Baptist Church picketing Olathe Northwest HighSchool. After much prayer around the knowledge they were coming, I felt convicted to be present and hold a sign that quoted Romans 8:39: "nothing can separate us from the love of God." I intentionally did not post about it on my social media outlets so as to not give them any more attention. My hope was to show teens in our community that there are Christians (and pastors) here who love and support them and do not believe that God hates them because they may be gay, lesbian, or transgender.

I share this with you because I feel a responsibility to be transparent and accountable serving as your campus pastor. These issues are complex and we are currently struggling as a denomination on how to approach them, but hate is not of God. Adolescence is difficult enough without having people who claim they represent Jesus Christ spewing hatred and condemnation toward them. Christians the world over do not agree on these issues, but surely we can agree not to condemn children!

John 3:17 reminds us that "God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." I not only believe this, but count on it (as Pastor Adam reminds us every Easter weekend)! May we each be grateful for the grace and salvation though Jesus and when called to overcome hate with His love, love beyond measure!

Looking forward to worship on Sunday,

Jason