We are passionate about:
1
Praying for every Church in Greater Kansas City, to be in relationship, united and ready for crisis.
Isaiah 56:7
2
Helping the Church of Greater Kansas City own and lead in crisis response.
John 17:21
3
Equipping the Church to thrive in the midst of crises.
Ephesians 4:11-13
4
Preparing every Christian to be a Good Samaritan to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those impacted by crisis.
Luke 10:25-37
5
Assisting the Church to be the life-giver and life-sustainer of their community.
Matthew 28:19-20
“We train and equip Christians to become the Good Samaritan within their community to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those impacted by crisis.”
From the beginning of Jesus’ ministry He demonstrated the mandate of every Christian on the planet: to love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself. He demonstrated in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) what loving our neighbor looks like:
- Courageously facing someone’s reality when they are in crisis;
- Compassionately bearing someone’s reality to alleviate their suffering; and
- Completely caring for someone’s reality to help them get back on their feet.
The Good Samaritan had compassion on his neighbor in crisis, even though it was at an unexpected time. He provided for his neighbor’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
In Matthew 25:34-36, Jesus tells us, “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me. I was in prison and you came to Me.”
The Good Samaritan was called “Good” because he made himself a conduit for God’s grace to flow through him to the man in need. In times of crisis, when God’s goodness is on trial, He calls His Church to become the “Good” Samaritan, to make the invisible King visible by simply becoming a vessel for Him to use so He can reveal His goodness to those in need.
What does it mean to walk
alongside a family as a Good Samaritan?
Meeting Emotional Needs
- Spend time with those impacted, by listening and being present during times of need.
- Discuss survivors’ concerns and challenges, and help them identify solutions.
- Provide encouragement, compassion, love, prayer, and support.
Meeting Spiritual Needs
- Pray with survivors, inviting God into the recovery process.
- Demonstrate Christ-like love through which the Gospel can be shared.
- Share the hope found in knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Meeting Physical Needs
- Help survivors access resources available through UIC-KC, the Church and other agencies.
- Track each family’s progress, and celebrate God’s goodness throughout the duration of the recovery process.
- Provide additional support if appropriate (i.e. filling out forms, drive survivors to appointments, moving, etc.).
NOTE: Good Samaritans are NOT expected to contribute financially to a family’s recovery or be responsible for doing what a family can do for itself.