June 12, 2026
Dear Central Church,
I have a small fascination with numbers. There isn't a statistic, chart, or infographic that I don't want to read and analyze. Perhaps it started when I was a kid collecting baseball cards. If you've ever looked at the back of a baseball card, you know that baseball counts everything!
This week has been filled with numbers as our church wraps up its fiscal year. Our team has been compiling reports for the Kansas City District Assembly in July. Yet while the numbers are meaningful, what matters most are the stories they represent—the lives that have been touched by God's grace. I wanted to share a few of those numbers with you so we can celebrate together all that God has done at Central this year.
3 – As a multicultural church, we worship and minister in three different languages. What a beautiful picture of the kingdom of God! I am grateful for the diverse expressions of Christ's body that call Central their church home. Together, we are bearing witness to the reconciling power of the gospel and accomplishing more for Christ than any of us could alone.
49 – We welcomed 49 new members by profession of faith this year. Our church family is growing as people take the important step of church membership. I've often said that we become what we commit to. Membership is more than having one's name on a roll; it is a covenant commitment to Christ, His church, and His mission in the world.
15 – Our church board issued or renewed 15 local minister's licenses this year. God continues to call men and women into vocational ministry, raising up leaders for the work of His kingdom. The future of the church is bright because the Spirit is still calling, equipping, and sending His people.
172 – This is the number of children and volunteers who will participate in Vacation Bible School this week. What an incredible opportunity! VBS is just one of many ministries at Central that intentionally invests in the next generation. We believe children are not merely the future of the church—they are a vital part of the church today.
1 – Our church is providing Lenexa families with one new option for childcare and preschool education. KidCentral Preschool will launch in August thanks to your prayers, generosity, and faithful support. Please continue praying for Mrs. Heidi, our staff, and the families who will connect with our church through this ministry. We trust that God will use it as a place where children are nurtured, families are supported, and Christ's love is made known.
There are many other numbers I could share but let me remind you why we count. We count people because people count to God. Every number represents a person. Every person bears the image of God. Every story matters to Him. Behind every statistic is a life being transformed by grace, a family finding hope, a child learning about Jesus, or a believer taking the next step in discipleship.
As we celebrate what God has done, let us also look forward with faith to what He will do next. The Lord has been faithful, and we have every reason to trust Him with the future.
With Resurrection Hope,
Pastor Mark
P.S. Here's one more number that is especially meaningful to me:
25 – The number of years I've been married to my best friend, Lauren Runyan Snodgrass! I love you, Babe! It is also the number of years we have shared in ministry together. Thank you for your partnership, faithfulness, and unwavering support through every season of God's calling.