Dear Men of Resurrection,
I just returned from a brief trip to Haiti where I was visiting several orphanages run by a remarkable ministry called The Global Orphan Project. (Click HERE to learn more.) In the face of incredible poverty and need, the people of Haiti demonstrate amazing faith, hope and love. I am grateful for those who give of their time and resources on behalf of this world’s orphans and widows. Caring for them is what James calls “true and undefiled religion.”
We are just one week away from our annual Men’s Spiritual Retreat. I am really excited about this event and know it will be a great time of friendship building, learning and worship. Our retreat theme is “All IN” and it will be a challenging and rewarding Friday evening and Saturday morning as Jason Gant, Chris Folmsbee, Ron Smith and I seek to invite us to a more focused and effective life of discipleship. If you have not registered please click HERE to do so and let us know that you are coming! We have a couple of great meals planned and don't want to run short on food so please register if you haven't already! I hope to see you there!
Speaking of discipleship, I want to invite you in the paragraphs below to meet Gerry Lewis. Gerry has faithfully followed God’s calling for the past several years leading a ministry to men behind the walls of Lansing State prison. Gerry is one of my true heros of faith as he leads men in the “Gated Community” of Lansing to new life in Jesus Christ.
See you soon!
Jeff
PS...for those of you who are Facebook users, we'd LOVE for you to help us promote the Men's Retreat! Simply go to The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection facebook page, scroll down to the 2015 Men's Spiritual Retreat post andCOMMENT that you will be there, LIKE and then SHARE the post! This is truly an event your friends won't want to miss!
Interview with Gerry Lewis:
Tell us about yourself. What is your vocation?
For the past 45 years I have worked in the Telecommunications industry at a variety of jobs from system programmer to mergers and acquisitions. I am currently working at Sprint as the Manager of Capacity Planning for the IT Division, a position I’ve held for the past 17 years. My hobby is golf, and my passion is working in Prison Ministry programs. I have been married for 45 years to my high school sweetheart and the love of my life, Mary. We have two grown children, Andrea and Brad, who both work in the Kansas City area. Brad has been married 8 years to his wife, Kristen. We also have two grandchildren, Tia and Zach, who are in high school.
Tell us about your faith journey. Did you grow up in the faith or was that a later discovery?
I grew up in the Methodist Church in Independence, MO. My mother was a devoted Methodist who took us weekly to both Church and Sunday School in my youth. I would define myself as a nominally religious person until I came to Resurrection in 1999 and discovered the Disciple Bible Study program. There, I came into the word of GOD and discovered that I was becoming a more committed Christian who GOD speaks to on a regular basis and who guides me through my daily life.
Tell us how you felt called to prison ministry. Tell us how you stay motivated over such a long time.
In the spring of 2003, I was preparing for my DISCIPLE II class by doing the prescribed readings when a thought entered my mind (the Holy Spirit speaking to me): “wouldn’t it be great if DISCIPLE was taught in prisons.” Now, this thought had nothing to do with the subject matter of Disciple lessons. At that time, my soul started to argue with the Holy Spirit as if I was a listening to a debate. I remember hearing my soul saying: “I did not know anyone in prison, none of my family has been in prison; “I don’t know where to start, who to contact, how to proceed”.
Then at that moment, a picture of the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas came into my mind. In July of 2003, I attended the Cokesbury’s DISCIPLE Bible Study training program in Overland Park, Kansas. At the first night’s dinner, after the dinner blessing, it was time for anyone who wanted to make announcements to the group to speak. David Wilkerson, from the United Methodist’s Western Conference stepped up to the microphone and asked “if anyone was interested in teaching DISCIPLE Bible Study in prison”. This was an answer to a calling from God for me.
David provided me the answers to the argument that I heard earlier. David stated after the dinner that the Kansas Western Conference was interested in starting DISCIPLE Bible Study in all Kansas prisons. My first stop on the journey was to contact the Missions Department’s Executive Director and ask him if Resurrection has a Prison Ministry program. His reply was “no we do not have one and would you like to start a Prison Ministry program and the Missions Department will help you”. So together we started the New Day Prison Ministry. (click for more information!) After some false starts, in the spring of 2006, two of us in the New Day Ministry program joined with a team from Christ Church Anglican of Overland Park in presenting an Alpha Program at the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. In 2008, we started Alpha Programs at the Kansas Department of Corrections Lansing Facility.
Working with the inmates in prison has provided the opportunity to see firsthand GOD in action as inmates’ lives change from broken men to men with a new attitude on life. This new GOD fueled attitude gives these men the opportunity to overcome their past problems and to succeed in their new GOD-led life. Changing men’s lives through GOD’s work is what keeps me motivated over the long haul in the prison ministry. I have come to realize that GOD is working daily in each person’s life and is very active in this world. Through this ministry my spirit and faith have been deeply altered so now I can honestly say that I am a deeply committed Christian, and in whom God is well pleased.
Sports & Recreation
Adult Spring Coed Sand Volleyball—
League starts Sunday 3/29, runs 7 weeks. Games are played at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex (137th & Antioch), game times 3:00-8:00pm, and cost $35.00 per player. Register individually or as a team. Sign up deadline is 3/13/15. If interested, contact Pete Sawyer at 913-681-8729 or by email.
Men's Pick-Up Basketball—
2015 Adult Men's pick-up basketball on Monday and Thursday nights. Contact Brooke Nienstedt or Brad Chalker for additional details or click HERE for a fact sheet. Click HERE for the latest schedule!
13720 Roe Avenue
I just returned from a brief trip to Haiti where I was visiting several orphanages run by a remarkable ministry called The Global Orphan Project. (Click HERE to learn more.) In the face of incredible poverty and need, the people of Haiti demonstrate amazing faith, hope and love. I am grateful for those who give of their time and resources on behalf of this world’s orphans and widows. Caring for them is what James calls “true and undefiled religion.”
We are just one week away from our annual Men’s Spiritual Retreat. I am really excited about this event and know it will be a great time of friendship building, learning and worship. Our retreat theme is “All IN” and it will be a challenging and rewarding Friday evening and Saturday morning as Jason Gant, Chris Folmsbee, Ron Smith and I seek to invite us to a more focused and effective life of discipleship. If you have not registered please click HERE to do so and let us know that you are coming! We have a couple of great meals planned and don't want to run short on food so please register if you haven't already! I hope to see you there!
Speaking of discipleship, I want to invite you in the paragraphs below to meet Gerry Lewis. Gerry has faithfully followed God’s calling for the past several years leading a ministry to men behind the walls of Lansing State prison. Gerry is one of my true heros of faith as he leads men in the “Gated Community” of Lansing to new life in Jesus Christ.
See you soon!
Jeff
PS...for those of you who are Facebook users, we'd LOVE for you to help us promote the Men's Retreat! Simply go to The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection facebook page, scroll down to the 2015 Men's Spiritual Retreat post andCOMMENT that you will be there, LIKE and then SHARE the post! This is truly an event your friends won't want to miss!
Interview with Gerry Lewis:
Tell us about yourself. What is your vocation?
For the past 45 years I have worked in the Telecommunications industry at a variety of jobs from system programmer to mergers and acquisitions. I am currently working at Sprint as the Manager of Capacity Planning for the IT Division, a position I’ve held for the past 17 years. My hobby is golf, and my passion is working in Prison Ministry programs. I have been married for 45 years to my high school sweetheart and the love of my life, Mary. We have two grown children, Andrea and Brad, who both work in the Kansas City area. Brad has been married 8 years to his wife, Kristen. We also have two grandchildren, Tia and Zach, who are in high school.
Tell us about your faith journey. Did you grow up in the faith or was that a later discovery?
I grew up in the Methodist Church in Independence, MO. My mother was a devoted Methodist who took us weekly to both Church and Sunday School in my youth. I would define myself as a nominally religious person until I came to Resurrection in 1999 and discovered the Disciple Bible Study program. There, I came into the word of GOD and discovered that I was becoming a more committed Christian who GOD speaks to on a regular basis and who guides me through my daily life.
Tell us how you felt called to prison ministry. Tell us how you stay motivated over such a long time.
In the spring of 2003, I was preparing for my DISCIPLE II class by doing the prescribed readings when a thought entered my mind (the Holy Spirit speaking to me): “wouldn’t it be great if DISCIPLE was taught in prisons.” Now, this thought had nothing to do with the subject matter of Disciple lessons. At that time, my soul started to argue with the Holy Spirit as if I was a listening to a debate. I remember hearing my soul saying: “I did not know anyone in prison, none of my family has been in prison; “I don’t know where to start, who to contact, how to proceed”.
Then at that moment, a picture of the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas came into my mind. In July of 2003, I attended the Cokesbury’s DISCIPLE Bible Study training program in Overland Park, Kansas. At the first night’s dinner, after the dinner blessing, it was time for anyone who wanted to make announcements to the group to speak. David Wilkerson, from the United Methodist’s Western Conference stepped up to the microphone and asked “if anyone was interested in teaching DISCIPLE Bible Study in prison”. This was an answer to a calling from God for me.
David provided me the answers to the argument that I heard earlier. David stated after the dinner that the Kansas Western Conference was interested in starting DISCIPLE Bible Study in all Kansas prisons. My first stop on the journey was to contact the Missions Department’s Executive Director and ask him if Resurrection has a Prison Ministry program. His reply was “no we do not have one and would you like to start a Prison Ministry program and the Missions Department will help you”. So together we started the New Day Prison Ministry. (click for more information!) After some false starts, in the spring of 2006, two of us in the New Day Ministry program joined with a team from Christ Church Anglican of Overland Park in presenting an Alpha Program at the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. In 2008, we started Alpha Programs at the Kansas Department of Corrections Lansing Facility.
Working with the inmates in prison has provided the opportunity to see firsthand GOD in action as inmates’ lives change from broken men to men with a new attitude on life. This new GOD fueled attitude gives these men the opportunity to overcome their past problems and to succeed in their new GOD-led life. Changing men’s lives through GOD’s work is what keeps me motivated over the long haul in the prison ministry. I have come to realize that GOD is working daily in each person’s life and is very active in this world. Through this ministry my spirit and faith have been deeply altered so now I can honestly say that I am a deeply committed Christian, and in whom God is well pleased.
Adult Spring Coed Sand Volleyball—
League starts Sunday 3/29, runs 7 weeks. Games are played at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex (137th & Antioch), game times 3:00-8:00pm, and cost $35.00 per player. Register individually or as a team. Sign up deadline is 3/13/15. If interested, contact Pete Sawyer at 913-681-8729 or by email.
Men's Pick-Up Basketball—
2015 Adult Men's pick-up basketball on Monday and Thursday nights. Contact Brooke Nienstedt or Brad Chalker for additional details or click HERE for a fact sheet. Click HERE for the latest schedule!
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
913.897.0120
www.cor.org
What's happening in Men's Ministry?
2015 Men's
Spiritual Retreat:
"All In"
Friday, March 6
6:30—9:00pm
Saturday, March 7
8:30am—12:00pm
Click HERE for a SNEAK PEEK at the Retreat!
You won't want to miss this!
Student Center
Building C
Leawood Campus
For more information or to register, click here.
Help restore hope for those currently incarcerated and recently released offenders and their families through personal visits, Bible study, mentoring relationshipa and acts of service.
Contact Gerry Lewis for more information!
Study Topic:
to be announced
Tuesday Evenings
April 14—May 12
(No class April 28 due to a church conference)
7-8:30pm
Student Center
Bldg C, Leawood Campus
Click here for details
If you would like to receive email notifications of future TBS sessions, click here.
The Fellowship
Men's Group
Join anytime!
Tuesday Mornings
6:45—7:45am
Room C144
Click here for details.
No registration necessary
First Tuesdays for Late Night Dads
Tuesday, March 3, 8:30—10:00 pm
Room C144
Join us on the first Tuesday of every month for a time of group discussion and fellowship with other Dads.
Dads of all ages welcome! No registration necessary!
Click here for more information!
Interested in SERVING Internationally?
We have many trips forming now! There are several to choose from, all with incredible leaders and offer amazing ways to serve!
3 trips in particular are approaching rapidly and we'd love for you to prayerfully consider being a part of one of these. Click on each one for more information!
Haiti—May 23-30
Malawi—June 18-July 1
South Africa—July 17-28
Grab a friend, some family members, or just yourself and join us!
Click here for more information on the trips available or to sign up.
Jeff Kirby for Church of the Resurrection Men's Ministry
What's happening in Men's Ministry?
Spiritual Retreat:
"All In"
Friday, March 6
6:30—9:00pm
Saturday, March 7
8:30am—12:00pm
Click HERE for a SNEAK PEEK at the Retreat!
You won't want to miss this!
Student Center
Building C
Leawood Campus
For more information or to register, click here.
Contact Gerry Lewis for more information!
to be announced
Tuesday Evenings
April 14—May 12
(No class April 28 due to a church conference)
7-8:30pm
Student Center
Bldg C, Leawood Campus
Click here for details
If you would like to receive email notifications of future TBS sessions, click here.
Men's Group
Join anytime!
Tuesday Mornings
6:45—7:45am
Room C144
Click here for details.
No registration necessary
Tuesday, March 3, 8:30—10:00 pm
Room C144
Join us on the first Tuesday of every month for a time of group discussion and fellowship with other Dads.
Dads of all ages welcome! No registration necessary!
Click here for more information!
We have many trips forming now! There are several to choose from, all with incredible leaders and offer amazing ways to serve!
3 trips in particular are approaching rapidly and we'd love for you to prayerfully consider being a part of one of these. Click on each one for more information!
Haiti—May 23-30
Malawi—June 18-July 1
South Africa—July 17-28
Grab a friend, some family members, or just yourself and join us!
Click here for more information on the trips available or to sign up.
Jeff Kirby for Church of the Resurrection Men's Ministry
jeff.kirby@cor.org
Resurrection Learning Events Ministry
13720 Roe
Leawood, Kansas 66224 United States
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