October 15, 2026

Dear Central Church,

Exciting things are happening at Central Church! I’m struggling this week about which things to highlight, so I’ll just highlight ALL of them! 

New Sermon Series - Level Up: Becoming Next Level Followers of Jesus 

Paul writes the book of 1 Thessalonians to a group of believers who had endured intense persecution, and yet, their faith was strong and resilient. Paul invites them to take their relationship with Jesus to the next level, recognizing that we are not called to just survive, but to thrive! 

That’s the heart of this new sermon series through 1 Thessalonians. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit how he wants to “level up” our faith, hope, and love as he “strengthens our hearts to be blameless and holy.” (1 Thess. 3:13) (Also, please indulge this “baby X-er/geriatric Millennial” and prepare for multiple references to Super Mario Brothers.) 

Fall Fest - October 24 

I know your fall calendar involves football, corn mazes, trick-or-treating, and possibly Louisburg apple cider, but FallFest at Central is a must for your autumn agenda! The life-giving community of our church will be on full display, and it’s the perfect event for inviting a friend. We have invite cards at the Welcome Center, so pick one up this Sunday to share with a friend!

KidCentral Preschool Opening 

Thank you for your continued support and prayers for our preschool. Our final inspection will happen this Tuesday! Once this is completed and approved, we’ll be ready to open next week. Join me in praying for two things: 1) KidCentral becomes a significant option for parents seeking Early Childhood care in Lenexa, and 2) This ministry becomes a self-sustaining platform to connect new families to the life-giving community of Central Church. 

Faith Promise Update 

We had an incredible Faith Promise Sunday with missionary Camilo Gonzalez! As we give to support missions, Faith Promise is ultimately about trust. We don't know exactly what God will do with the gifts we give, but we know that when we place what we have in His hands, He can use it to accomplish far more than we could ever do on our own.

This year, our Faith Promise goal is $205,000—the largest goal we have ever set, and to date, we’ve received $59,000 in commitments. This is a God-sized goal to go along with the God-sized vision we have for missions. 

Will you prayerfully consider making a Faith Promise this year? Ask God what He might want you to give above and beyond your regular tithes and offerings. To learn more or make a commitment, click here. 

Staffing Update - Pastor Emma Zehr

Pastor Emma Zehr

This past Sunday we announced that Pastor Emma Zehr will be stepping into the role of Interim Young Adult Pastor at Central Church. After serving for the last 2 years as our Connections Pastor, Emma is taking on this added responsibility. I am confident that she will continue building on the good foundation of this important ministry, and I’m excited to see how God will work through her unique gifts and passions as she leads our young adults. Let’s keep her in prayer during this transition! 

I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday, and in the words of my favorite Italian-American plumber, “Let’s-a-Go!” 

Looking Upward,  

Pastor Mark