Perspective...

May 16th, 2025

Earlier this week, I was feeling like my margins were pretty thin… another week of juggling building inspections, navigating temporary meeting locations, and doing my best to wear all my God-given hats ?.

That’s when Nina, a member of New Life who’s originally from Ukraine, set up a Zoom call for me with her pastor back home, Anatoly Raychynets. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but within minutes, I was humbled. Anatoly greeted me with a warm smile and a calm presence, despite the fact that a missile had landed nearby just an hour earlier, and he wasn’t sure the internet would even work.

He shared about the ministry he’s doing with moms who are struggling to cope with losing their husbands in the war, and the children wrestling with trauma and PTSD. His words weren’t dramatic; they were steady, full of faith and grit.

After asking how we could help, he asked for our prayers, and then he invited me and a few others to come help however we could. No pressure, just an open door.

The very next day, I talked with Alexandru, a former intern here at New Life who’s now a pastor in Romania. I mentioned the conversation with Anatoly, and before I could even finish explaining, Alexandru said, “I’ll go. I can help.” Just like that, no fanfare, just faith. A Romanian pastor volunteering to serve with a Ukrainian pastor because they both love Jesus and His people.

And that’s when it hit me. This is what the gospel does….it welcomes and weaves us together to advance God’s Kingdom.

This Sunday, we’ll be studying hospitality from Acts 10, where Peter and Cornelius, two men from completely different backgrounds, are brought together by God’s Spirit. The walls come down. The doors open. And the good news goes further than anyone thought possible.

God doesn’t just save individuals. He creates a new community. He unites people who would’ve never chosen to be in the same room, much less the same family. This is what hospitality looks like in the kingdom. It’s not just about offering coffee or smiling at the door (though we’re deeply pro-coffee and pro-smiles). It’s about making space in our lives for people who are different from us. It’s about saying “yes” to interruptions, to invitations, and to unlikely friendships.

So, whether you’re stressed about city inspections (we passed by the way) or family parties or just looking for hope, come join us this Sunday as we watch the gospel cross borders, break barriers, and build something new.

We are back to our original Church Air BnB, The Harlow Event Space, 1525 Grand Ave., Kansas City, MO. Our services are still at 8:00, 9:15 (Full KidCity available), or 10:45 am (Full KidCity available), or you can watch the Livestream on YouTube (Like and Subscribe) or on our New Life website at 9:15 am.

See you Sunday!

Troy

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