2023 Annual
Report

In Kansas City,
as it is in Heaven.

Dear Midtown
Church,

September 2023 officially marked Midtown Church's two-year birthday and thus we are entering the toddler phase. We are learning to walk for the first time, eat solid food for the first time, talk for the first time, and learning to share. 

In so many ways, the church feels so stable, so strong, and so healthy, and yet there are still so many firsts. Our first baptism, our first church planters in residence, three new ministry leaders, five new microchurches, and twenty-three new volunteers serving this church community. 

And thus, we are learning that even with the stability of two years, there is always something new around the corner. Growing is fun, but it almost always comes with the challenge of doing something for the first time. As we learn to walk and put one foot in front of the other, and continue to do new things, we are reminded that God builds his Church. All we have to do is follow him. 

And my, oh my, have the people of Midtown Church followed Him. Through your love for us, your commitment to one another, your generosity, and foremost your devotion to Christ, we are seeing Jesus’ kingdom revealed in Kansas City. 

It is impossible to know Paul’s feelings as he finished writing his letter to the Roman Church; but as he names friends, coworkers, and acquaintances, you get this sense that he had a deep love for those people. We feel something similar- pride for our team and microchurch leaders, love for many who exist as friends and spiritual family, and awe for our God who has continued to strengthen us and grow his church. 

We love our Midtown family and friends so much and we cannot wait to see what God is going to do in 2024.

–Alex & Cassie Ferren,
Lead Pastors of Midtown Church

  • Jacob & Katie

    “Since November 2022, Katie and I have been engaged with Midtown Church. Initially part of the "Couch Congregation" during COVID, we stumbled upon Midtown's "Latest Teaching" video and were drawn into their welcoming community of Jesus followers. Unlike other churches, Midtown embraces the chaos of family life, accommodating crying children and fostering inclusivity. Transparency is evident in their detailed Annual Report and theological resources. The leadership actively embodies the principles they preach, serving the needy and inspiring volunteerism. Central to Midtown is its Microchurch system, uniting small groups with a common goal of community impact. For us, Midtown isn't just a church; it's a transformative community that reshapes perspectives and nurtures inclusive values in our children. It's a network of friends united in making the world better one deed at a time.”

  • Molly

    “I have been so grateful for my microchurch community. It has truly given me a new and deeper perspective on midtown and what it means to be a church. My microchurch has been a place where I can be honest and vulnerable, create lasting friendships, and find joy amidst the craziness of each week. It has truly been a light in my life these past months and I could not be more thankful for this little church family who hopes, prays, and laughs right alongside me as we pursue the faith together!”

  • Harrison & Caroline

    “We moved to KC on a summer weekend and it could not have been more stressful. We decided to leave the boxes unpacked to go to Midtown on a recommendation and went in not knowing what to expect. We received warm welcome from someone in the church who made us instantly feel at home and welcomed in our new city, then watched her go up to the front to deliver the message.

    Midtown has practices in place to help you get plugged into community. When we filled out a connection card and within a week got an invitation to go to coffee (instead of an email listing upcoming events) we knew we had found something special.

    Midtown is a place where we are known by others and where we can practice our faith. Serving, teaching, living in community with other believers - this is a place to gather together to follow the ancient church practices. We are so thankful to call this community our home and we could not have done our move to KC without them.”

  • Jeremiah & Heather

    “My wife and I found the community of Midtown KC when we were at our most vulnerable. We were going through a period of churchlessness in a way, and the struggle to find our place amid heartbreak, medical suffering, and social isolation was all-consuming. Needless to say, the discovery of this earnest community felt like a Godsend. We discovered a faithful body of believers who took the gospel of Christ seriously, seeking to embody this reality throughout every facet of their lives.

    We have been comforted in some of our darkest moments and challenged at our most comfortable ones. Discipleship and Community; Scripture and Liturgy; Justice and Mission: these attributes of the Way are taken seriously, challenging and strengthening this community with a fearless unity in the Spirit of Christ.”

Revealing the Kingdom

Week after week, we gather in homes and in Midtown to declare the Kingdom of Jesus has come. That all may come to know the abundance of our King through our words and by our lives.

We aim to be the type of people who can step into eternity, in Jesus’ kingdom, and be right at home. And so, we gather around the things the Jesus-people have always gathered around; prayer, scripture, and mission. We gather to share stories, joys, and heartache. We gather to be reminded we are never alone.

In doing so we will gradually learn what it is to live as citizens of His Kingdom.

Microchurch

This last year, we saw incredible growth in our microchurches. We added FIVE new microchurches in 2023. That is 10 new leaders that were willing to step out in faith and risk opening their homes to friends and strangers in order to discover life with Jesus.

In addition to adding five, most of our groups are at or past capacity. This is an answer to prayer as we believe microchurch is not simply a strategy or a fad, but a necessary environment for spiritual growth. We thank God for their growth and look forward to their continued multiplication in 2024. 

92 people in a Microchurch
9 microchurches in Kansas City

Sunday Gatherings

Success for any local church is not the size of their gatherings, but the quality of their disciples. We believe commitment to Sunday gathering is a rhythm that helps us grow in the likeness of Jesus..

23 new volunteers added this year 
5 Lunch Parties connecting new people to the church.

Serve

As a church we are working to reclaim the word serve to mean our service to one another on Sundays and our service to the community. This year we have had 8 serve days partnering with local nonprofits like Synergy Services, Agape Pamoja, Longfellow Elementary, and Central High School. Specifically this year, we were able to throw Longfellow teachers a thank you breakfast as the school was shut down by the school district. We were also able to build a relationship with Central HIgh School by bringing lunch to the teachers twice this Fall and by participating in a new mentorship program for their students. 

8 serve events with 66 volunteers

Financial Report

We continue to thank God for his provision throughout the last year. Together, in partnership with the Spirit of God, we’re building a community of formation, justice, hospitality, and Gospel.

The following figures represent money received and spent in the calendar year 2023. We believe that sharing these figures creates accountability and trust as a faith community. If there is a figure or item you would like more information on feel free to email alex@midtownkc.church.

+$197,723.50
Total Giving

This includes $32,000 of designated funds originally given in 2022 for pastoral salaries.

-$197,486.21
Total Expenses

This includes ministry expenses, personnel & operations, global mission, and justice.

-$49,910.26
Ministry Expenses

This includes but is not limited to Sunday Gatherings, Children’s Ministry, Dinner Parties, Microchurch, Leadership Training, and Ministry Retreats.

-$99,235.87
Personel & Operations

This includes but is not limited to Salaries, Stipends, Coworking Fees, Advertising, Software, Insurance, Legal Fees, and Digital Giving Costs.

-$48,340.08
Mission, Justice, & Witness

This includes but is not limited to Outreach Events, Missionary Support, Non-profit gifts, Benevolence, Care Fund, and Neighbors Coffee & Community.

Thank you for your Generosity.

A Church of Many Workers

The biblical vision for the church is as the body of Christ: one body but with many, different parts. We want everyone – in all our differences and distinctiveness. We desire to be a place where many do a few things instead of the few doing many. In 2023, the Ministry Team of Midtown Church grew with the addition of Jared Hawks, Alycia Gareff, and Erin Ahring; as well as the addition of Justin and Sam Roberts as our church planters in residence and Christina Gardner to the Pastoral Team. 

  • Justin Roberts

    Church Planter in Residence

  • Sam Roberts

    Church Planter in Residence

  • Erin Arying

    Director of Children’s Ministry

  • Alycia Keffer

    Director of Hospitality

  • Jared Hawks

    Director of Next Steps

Neighbors Coffee + Hospitality

In 2023 we announced that we would be working toward launching a new enterprise in Kansas City; Neighbors Coffee and Community.

Neighbors Coffee will be a non-profit coffee shop in the Marlborough neighborhood. One of our defining missions will be to offer a paid apprenticeship for those aging out of the foster care system. Our aim is to build them up and eventually launch them out with a strong foundation. All while creating a safe space for learning, growing, and friendship.

Neighbors Community will be a church plant launched out of the ministry of Neighbors Coffee. Already three microchurches gathering, planning, and working toward revealing the Kingdom of Jesus in the neighborhood.

Teachings

In 2023 we reflected on Jesus’ most well-known prayer, the role of the wilderness in our formation, the practice of resurrection, the testimony of the minor prophets, and the role of the Spirit in our life.