Built with Love

built with Love

by Carla Garcia, Ministry Director

When people encounter Mission Adelante today, a vibrant multicultural ministry with deep community roots and a transformative impact. It’s easy to see the fruit. But what often goes unseen is the daily, faithful work that built it.

Our founder, Jarrett Meek, didn’t wake up one day with a fully formed nonprofit in his hands. Mission Adelante was built slowly, over days, weeks, and years. It was shaped by intentional relationships, consistent service, shared meals, hard conversations, and persistent prayer. The kind of work that is quiet and steady, and changes lives.

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Manhattan, Kansas with our summer interns, staying at the home of Jarrett’s parents, Palmer and Marti Meek. What I saw there reminded me of how much of Mission Adelante’s DNA comes from this legacy.

Palmer Meek, a man of quiet strength, built a life for his family one day at a time. He didn’t rush to make a name for himself. Instead, he invested in things that matter: integrity, faithfulness, and community. Now in his later years, his legacy lives on in his children and grandchildren, and in the seeds he planted through consistent action.

And Marti—Marti has built a home. Her pride and joy is her family, and it shows in every room. The photos on the walls, the way she talks about her grandkids, the warmth in her hospitality. It all speaks to a life spent loving deeply and intentionally. As we sat around her kitchen table, surrounded by family photos and laughter, I saw the result of years of quiet, loving labor. She has built a family that is now her pride and joy, and that same care echoes through the culture of Mission Adelante.

It hit me deeply, the heart of Mission Adelante, the love, the patience, the commitment to people, isn’t just something Jarrett decided to pursue. It was woven into him by the family who raised him. It made me emotional, honestly. Because in so many ways, what Mission Adelante is today is a reflection of that same kind of slow, steady love. This weekend reminded me that the most meaningful things in life are built slowly, lovingly, day by day. That’s how Mission Adelante was built. And that’s how we’ll continue.

Now, 20 years in, we believe the best is still to come. There are more families to walk alongside, more leaders to raise up, more bridges to build between cultures and hearts. And as we look toward the next 20 years of Mission Adelante, I want to invite you to be part of it.

On September 18th, we’re hosting a gala, SHINE! It’s a night to celebrate all that’s been built so far and to dream about what’s still to come. I’d love to see you there—whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or are just getting to know our heart.

Come shine with us! Let’s keep building something that lasts—together.

Be part of our programs!

Summer is here! We’d love to include you in some of the excitement during our summer trimester!

  • Come and See Nights: July 14, 15, 16, 17

    • Visit one of our programs and get a first-hand look at how you could make an impact as a volunteer. Learn more at missionadelante.org/serve

  • Summer Arts Camp: July 21-24

Summer Interns Are In Town!

Summer Interns Are In Town!

by Patrique Harris, Ministry Director

Back row from left: Erick (Monistry Apprentice), Blake, Anisha, Sonia, and William
Front row from left: Patrique, Unisha, and Josée

It’s the most wonderful time of the (Mission Adelante) year—our summer interns are here! Each year, we welcome a few eager teen leaders to join our team, and this year may just be our best group yet. Last week, Josée, Sonia, William, Anisha, Blake, and Unisha came through our doors, excited to grow in their faith, deepen their friendships, and develop as leaders.

One of Mission Adelante’s core values is developing leaders. We are committed to equipping and empowering emerging leaders from our community through hands-on ministry experience and mentorship. This summer, our interns will be leading classes and activities for kids and youth, participating in exposure trips, serving the community, and engaging in a variety of training workshops.

Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to so far!

Connecting with Past Interns
We kicked off the summer with a special breakfast reunion with past summer interns, bringing together participants throughout the years. It was eye-opening to hear their reflections—favorite memories, biggest challenges, and how their summer internship experience shaped their lives. Though the structure of the program has evolved over the years (no more 7am exercise), many of the key learnings have remained strikingly similar. What a gift to witness the legacy of this program in action! 

Visit to Epic Arts

As part of our exposure trips, we love introducing interns to other organizations doing meaningful work in the neighborhood. Our visit to Epic Arts stood out! Epic is a local clay studio on 6th Street that offers affordable pottery classes to the community. On our visit, the interns not only learned about the organization’s mission, but also had the chance to try their hand at pottery. For several of them, it was their first time on the wheel—and let’s just say the final pieces were beautiful, a few more abstract than others!

Retreat in Manhattan

Next, we hit the road for our much-anticipated opening retreat in Manhattan, KS. I’m always amazed at how quickly and deeply relationships form during retreats. We cooked meals, worshiped, explored the city, and of course, played a lot together. A favorite moment? When the gentlemen took charge of breakfast duty! The ladies (from just outside the kitchen) couldn’t help but offer a little guidance. It was a beautiful lesson in trust for the ladies and a crash course in teamwork for the guys.

The Summer Internship is intense, but our interns are already stepping up in big ways. Please join us in praying for stamina, wisdom, and continued growth for this group. Thank you to everyone who has supported this flagship program over the years. Because of you, we continue to raise young leaders who will shape the future of our neighborhood.

Be part of our programs!

Summer is here! We’d love to include you in some of the excitement during our summer trimester!

  • Come and See Nights: July 14, 15, 16, 17

    • Visit one of our programs and get a first-hand look at how you could make an impact as a volunteer. Learn more at missionadelante.org/serve

  • Summer Arts Camp: July 21-24

Shine!

Calling All sponsors for the “Shine” 20-year Celebration!

by Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director

Twenty years of work in one community, the perseverance, the fruit, the hardships, and the grace of God; all of it together is worthy of a celebration!  And celebrate we will!  On September 18th, we’ll host our first ever gala event at Children’s Mercy Park to commemorate 20 years of loving people from all places.  We are currently seeking sponsors for the event, both individuals and businesses, who would like to help us celebrate well. By sponsoring this landmark event, you will help propel Mission Adelante into the coming years as a ministry that is loving individuals and families from places all over the world. In its first 20 years, Mission Adelante has grown into a vital part of the Kansas City community. God’s favor has been plentiful. Yet, there is so much more to be done. We invite you to be a significant part of celebrating our past and igniting our future!

We have designed several different sponsorship levels, each with its own set of included benefits. Whether you’re a business seeking to invest in the community or an individual who loves what Mission Adelante stands for, there is a spot for you! We invite you to learn more at www.shinegala.com!

Let me close by telling you why I’m so excited about this event!

  • Who? We’ll include EVERYONE! Donors, volunteers, partners, ministry participants. This party is for people from all places!

  • Where? The venue is AMAZING! We’ve reserved the two best event spaces at Sporting KC’s Stadium. One walks has access to player locker rooms, media room and walks out to the pitch!

  • Who (again)? We’ll have some very special guests at the event. Dan Deeble, who is a long-time friend of Mission Adelante and a dynamic speaker will serve as our Emcee. Brad Gregory and his jazz group will be playing for us. And, Daniel Salloi, starting forward and Team Captain for Sporting KC will be there to share his own immigration story and mingle with guests.

  • Why? Because God is faithful! There are times to put our heads down and work, and then there are times to stop, reflect, and celebrate what God has done. Twenty years is one of those times!

Tell Us Your Story!

As we prepared to commemorate two decades of service with Mission Adelante, we want to highlight our incredible community of partners who make our work possible. To help us do that, we’ve developed a handful of prompts below that we’d love for you to reply to. You can pick-and-choose what questions are most relevant to respond to, or feel free to share your own impact story in the final comment box. We appreciate your time and look forward to shining a light on Mission Adelante’s impact, together! 

Be part of our programs!

Summer is here! We’d love to include you in some of the excitement during our summer trimester!

  • Come and See Nights: July 14, 15, 16, 17

    • Visit one of our programs and get a first-hand look at how you could make an impact as a volunteer. Learn more at missionadelante.org/serve

  • Summer Arts Camp: July 21-24

Genuine Community

Genuine Community

by Kristen Maxwell, Associate Director

When I returned to Kansas City in 2010, I carried with me a desire to connect with the refugee community. During an internship at a church in Atlanta, I met families whose warmth and stories left a lasting impression on me, stirring in me a desire for meaningful relationships with people from other places.

Through a high school friend, I met David and was introduced to the early days of the Bhutanese Outreach at Mission Adelante. It was there that I found fertile ground to cultivate those connections. Together, we nurtured weekly programs that eventually engaged around 100 kids and teens, supported by more than 50 dedicated volunteers. One of my greatest joys during that time was weaving together the lives of children and volunteers, fostering a community where relationships could take root and flourish.

Just this past week, I had the privilege of attending the high school graduations of three young women I mentored in our Kids Club and  Leaders in Training (LIT) programs from 2011–2017. The moment became even more beautiful as I had the chance to reconnect with two longtime Kids Club and LIT volunteers who had faithfully walked alongside these same girls over the years. To witness those relationships continuing years later, as these young women crossed the graduation stage, reminded me again of the beauty and strength of genuine community.

When Jarrett called to ask if I would consider returning to Mission Adelante to help launch a refugee resettlement program in partnership with World Relief, I was working as an ESL teacher in the KCK school system. While I enjoyed aspects of that role—supporting teachers, ensuring compliance, and facilitating communication—I found myself missing the relational side of the work. I jumped at the chance to dive back into deeper connections and to nurture partnerships within and beyond the church.

Though our time actively resettling refugees was brief—just 359 days, not even a full calendar year, we welcomed 47 families, 171 individuals—or as I like to say, 171 new friends. More than 150 volunteers came alongside us, offering their time and resources to set up apartments, teach English classes, collect hygiene kits, go to doctors' appointments, help learn how to pay bills, and greet families at the airport. New friendships were sprouting everywhere.

Though we are no longer in the active resettlement phase, I continue to pray that those relationships grow. That birthdays are celebrated, prayers are shared, and roots deepen. I’ve often heard people say that what sets Mission Adelante apart is its relationships, and that’s held true through our refugee resettlement work. The relationships have truly embodied love.

I’m reminded of 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NIV):
"Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well."

That’s exactly what our volunteers do, every single day—they show up and share their lives.

I feel like in so much of my life, Proverbs 16:9(NIV) holds true: 

“In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

When I left Mission Adelante in 2017, I never would have planned for the Lord would bring me back, but with his guidance, my steps brought me back to this place to lead for this season in a beautiful way.  Just like coming back to Mission Adelante, only the Lord could have come up with the steps I will take next.  At the beginning of June, I will be joining the Kansas City Christian School team as the Elementary Principal.

As I prepare to wrap up this second season at Mission Adelante, I am filled with gratitude for the stories I’ve heard, the relationships that have been built, and the beauty of what we’ve accomplished together. And I pray that when some of our smallest arrivals walk across their graduation stages years from now, the people who first welcomed them to their new home will be there, celebrating alongside them—because in the end, it all comes down to relationships.

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

May 27th- First week of Summer Trimester Programs- Please make note that the summer trimester will start on Tuesday after Memorial Day. 

July 14th - 17th - Come and See Nights - Come and see firsthand how our programs operate, and how you may be able to fit in.

Joy, Games, and Planning: What Happens Between Trimesters at Mission Adelante

Joy, Games, and Planning: What Happens Between Trimesters at Mission Adelante

by Erick Flores, Ministry Apprentice

Our programs are always bursting with joy, laughter, and energy, thanks to our amazing participants! From class time and activities to end-of-trimester parties, our building is constantly alive, often with plenty of messes left behind as proof. While our trimester breaks are more relaxed, they’re also an important time for us to prepare and reset for what’s next.

During the break, we take the opportunity to clean and reorganize our entire building. While our adult programs tend to leave things pretty tidy, our kids and youth programs definitely know how to use every square inch for fun, and the game closet is always the biggest challenge. Somehow, every trimester, it ends up in total disarray. I think the whole staff would agree it’s the hardest area to clean, but also one of the most important to keep ready for action.

In addition to cleaning, planning a new curriculum is a major part of our trimester break. We work hard to design educational, engaging, and meaningful programming that helps our participants grow each week. It always warms my heart to see them return week after week with smiles on their faces, a sign that they’re enjoying their time and learning something new. Of course, none of this would be possible without our dedicated volunteers, and we’re so thankful for the way they pour into our community.

On a personal note, I’m especially excited for the upcoming summer trimester, particularly our annual Arts Camp, which I’m planning with my sister and teammate, Carla. Arts Camp is one of our favorite events of the year. Over four days, kids and teens choose a class based on their interests, work on a hands-on project, and present their creations on the final day. We aim to welcome over 100 participants, and it’s always such a joy to see their creativity and confidence grow.

We couldn’t do it without our incredible volunteers. Whether it’s teaching a class or simply showing up to support, every hour makes a difference. If you have a heart for investing in the next generation, we’d love for you to hang out with us this summer. Join us at our Volunteer Orientation this Saturday, May 17th, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., to begin your volunteering journey!

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

May 17th- New Volunteer Orientation- 9:00 am-12:30 pm-  This is a time for new volunteers to find out more about Mission Adelante and how they can serve, share life, and share Jesus with people from other places.  Please use this form to let us know you will be here, and which ministry areas you are most interested in. New Volunteer Orientation Sign Up

May 19th- All Volunteer Huddle and Dessert- 6:30-8:30 pm- Join volunteers from all ministry areas to pray and plan for the trimester ahead.  Feel free to bring a dessert to share during our social time at the beginning. Please let the leader of your ministry area know if you cannot attend. 

May 27th- First week of Summer Trimester Programs- Please make note that the summer trimester will start on Tuesday after Memorial Day. 

Helping Our Neighbors: Filling the Hygiene Gap

Helping Our Neighbors: Filling the Hygiene Gap

by Kristen Maxwell, Associate Director

 We all know how much our local food pantries do for our community. They're a lifeline for people struggling to put food on the table.  But when people face tough times, their needs go beyond just food. Think about the everyday hygiene stuff we all need: soap, toothpaste, shampoo, and things like pads and tampons are essential. These aren't luxuries – they're basics that affect people's health, how they feel about themselves, and their overall well-being.

For many who are trying to make ends meet, it's a tough choice between buying food and buying these hygiene items. That's a hard spot to be in. What started as supplying hygiene supplies for newly arrived refugees has grown into a small ministry of its own. With your generous partnership, we’ve been able to designate a place in our building where people can get the hygiene products they need. It's about ensuring everyone can maintain their dignity and meet their basic needs with kindness . Seeing the relief on someone's face when they can pick up something as simple as a bar of soap or a new toothbrush is eye-opening. It reminds us that caring for our community means looking at all the fundamental things people need.

But the need is always there; we can't do this alone.

To keep this important resource going, we ask for your help keeping our shelves stocked. Right now, our needs are:

  • For healthy smiles: Toothpaste, toothbrushes

  • For clean hair: Shampoo, conditioner

  • For healthy skin: Bar soap, body wash, lotion

  • For feminine care: Pads, tampons

  • To feel fresh: Deodorant


Every donation, big or small, makes a real difference in someone's life. When you contribute these basic items, you're not just giving a product; you're helping someone maintain their dignity, stay healthy, and feel more like themselves.

If you would like to support our “Hygiene Corner,” please drop off any of the above items at our building during normal business hours (M-Th 10:00 am-4:00 pm) or program hours. Your kindness will help us continue bridging this hygiene gap in our community and ensure everyone has access to the basic necessities they deserve.  Thank you for being part of the solution. We can build a stronger, healthier, and more caring community for everyone.  

Questions? Email me at: kristenm@missionadelante.org

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

May 17th- New Volunteer Orientation- 9:00 am-12:30 pm-  This is a time for new volunteers to find out more about Mission Adelante and how they can serve, share life, and share Jesus with people from other places.  Please use this form to let us know you will be here, and which ministry areas you are most interested in. New Volunteer Orientation Sign Up

May 19th- All Volunteer Huddle and Dessert- 6:30-8:30 pm- Join volunteers from all ministry areas to pray and plan for the trimester ahead.  Feel free to bring a dessert to share during our social time at the beginning. Please let the leader of your ministry area know if you cannot attend. 

May 27th- First week of Summer Trimester Programs- Please make note that the summer trimester will start on Tuesday after Memorial Day. 

Two Are Better Than One

Two are better than one

by Elaine Reimers, Adult Ministry Director



 The birds are chirping once again, and the flowers and greenery are growing and flourishing-finally! Despite seasonal allergies flaring up, Springtime still manages to be like music to my ears and a sight for my sore eyes after our arctic-like, Kansas winters. Recently, I have been enjoying walking my young, German Shepherd pup, Lupita, around my neighborhood, rain or shine (she mostly enjoys the jumping and digging in muddy puddles part…surprisingly, I enjoy watching her do it!). Like the flowers, Lupita is growing and blossoming into the living being she was created to be. The flowers and Lupita are not the only things growing in this season, however. There is also a lot of growth going on in other areas of my life-especially in the Mission Adelante ministry community.


I see our refugee clients learning English, buying cars, and starting new jobs. Their children are showing up to our kids and youth ministry programs, learning English, and making friends that hopefully last a lifetime. All of this has been made possible by our God-inspired endeavor to foster interdependent relationships through our ministry programs at Mission Adelante. Our program volunteers and staff are not here to serve our participants with the attitude that we are the only one with something of value to offer. We all have our own God-given talents and with those talents also come our inadequacies; and those inadequacies reveal gaps that need to be filled by someone else´s gifts or talents.

I am assuming God intended it to be like this since the Word of God says in 1 Corinthians 12 that ¨there are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.¨ The Scripture then goes on explaining the variety of gifts and talents that God bestows on us and how ¨all these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines¨ (1 Corinthians 12:11). Bottom line? God created each one of us with a unique purpose on this Earth, but we need each other to survive! Take for instance, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 in the Holy Bible. It says:

¨Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.¨  

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

I have witnessed and experienced interdependent relationships several times in my adult ministry work here at Mission Adelante. I have to say that when I came on staff, I did not expect what I am experiencing now. I thought that surely the amount I would be giving of myself (my labor) would surely outweigh the amount that I would be receiving (return). I have since been proven wrong to say the least! In my specific, interdependent relationship situations, my labor in serving and loving my neighbors reaps a good return in favor of my neighbors. On the other hand, my neighbors´ labor in serving and loving me in ways that fill my cup is in my favor. It's a beautiful thing when blessing each other becomes a reciprocal desire in a friendship. The giving and serving just keeps going!

When I think about this type of friendship, the first person that comes to mind is one of my ESL students (also my son's soon-to-be mother-in-law AND one of my best friends.) Her name is Erica. Erica and I have been meeting once a week since approximately June of 2024. We chat about life's blessings and challenges. I teach her English. We encourage each other. We practice more English. We pray. We encourage each other some more. And, all in that order, basically. Erica and I have cried together. We have even laughed until we cried! We jokingly say that the time we spend together is our weekly therapy session. The more I think about it, the more I realize we´re not really joking-it IS therapeutic! Our friendship has been such a blessing to me.

The second person I would like to mention has become a dear friend and brother in Christ over the last few months. For his privacy, I will refer to him as John. We both definitely agree that our meeting was a divine appointment. When we met, John expressed that he was in a very difficult season in his life and that he lacked peace. We prayed together about this and he shared (days later) that he was feeling much better and thanked me for praying for him. From that point on, he began to have me over for lunch frequently where we would read the Bible together and pray. This time together sparked some very in depth and divine discussions about what we were reading and how it applied to us as God's children. Not only has John learned (and I quote) that ¨God lives in each of us: if you pray for food and your neighbor gives you food, you will say ´God did not answer my prayers,´ but, no, my brother, God used your neighbor to give you food!¨ Our friendship has also awakened in me a renewed love for the Word of God and a respect for the Holy Spirit living within me and all who profess that Jesus died and rose again.

The following quote (referring to our friendship) from John sums up all of what God is doing in us and through our interdependent relationship: ¨Not so long ago we didn't know each other. We were two souls who walked without seeing each other and then one day without warning we joined for the same trajectory and sometimes they say that certain encounters change everything. You are one of them; you made me a better person so, just for that, thank you.¨ I feel extremely blessed to be able to say that I have truly made a difference in John and Erica´s life. I am grateful to the Holy Spirit for guiding me in this season and I am certain that I couldn't do it without Him! I purposely left off the last part of Ecclesiastes 4:12 mentioned above. I wanted to be sure to give credit where credit is due. NONE of these relationships would be possible without Him! The last part of verse 12 is special to me! It says: ¨A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.¨ To me, this implies that two is better than one- stronger and more resilient- when God is included. Can I get an ¨Amen!¨ to that?!

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our Volunteer Orientation on May 17th. For more information visit: missionadelante.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/123/responses/new

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

Volunteers: The Heartbeat of Our Ministry

Volunteers: The Heartbeat of Our Ministry

by Carla Garcia, Kids Ministry Director


There’s something super special happening at Mission Adelante. It’s not flashy or loud; instead, it’s steady, heartfelt, and full of purpose. It happens in the subtle, quiet moments: a student lighting up when they finally understand something they hadn’t before, a gentle word of encouragement after a tough day from a mentor, a volunteer listening with compassion and patience.

It’s the kind of special moment that only happens when people live out their faith in real, tangible ways. And at the center of all of it? Our amazing volunteer team.

Let’s be real—our ministry wouldn’t be what it is without our volunteers. They’re the ones who show up eager to support our students, love deeply, and serve with dedication and compassion. Whether it’s serving meals, helping with events, mentoring youth, or just being a steady presence, our volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do in KCK. These moments may seem small, but they ripple out and change lives. Every week, I see people from all walks of life come together for one mission: to love people from all places.

I’ve seen firsthand how a simple act of kindness—like a ride, a shared laugh, a joke—can break down walls and open hearts. And the beauty of it? You don’t need a theology degree or a superhero cape to make a difference. Just a willingness to show up and love people where they’re at.

Our community here in KCK is full of stories—some heavy, some hopeful—and you have the chance to be part of someone’s journey. When you volunteer, you’re not just helping run a program. You’re building relationships. You’re planting seeds. You’re being the hands and feet of Jesus in a way that’s real and tangible.

If you’ve ever thought, “I want to help, but I’m not sure where I’d fit in,” trust me—there’s a place here for you. Whether you’re more behind the scenes or all about jumping in and getting your hands dirty, there’s something for everyone. Got two hours a week? Perfect. Want to dive in deep and lead something? Awesome! Every bit helps—and I mean that.

So if you’re reading this, I’d love to meet you, hear your story, and get you plugged in. The truth is, this ministry grows best when more people say “yes” to following Jesus’ commandment of loving our neighbor. And if that’s you, then welcome. Let’s do this together!

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to our Volunteer Orientation on May 17th. For more information visit: missionadelante.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/123/responses/new

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

Save the Date! Mission Adelante to Celebrate 20 Years on September 18th!


Save the date: Mission Adelante to celebrate 20 years on September 18th!

By Jarrett Meek, Founder, Pastor, Executive Director

There’s a first time for everything! We’re excited to announce that we’ll be pulling out all the stops to host our first ever gala event to celebrate Mission Adelante’s 20-year Anniversary. The event, called, “SHINE”, will be a night to remember as we celebrate the past and ignite the future. SHINE will be held at Children’s Mercy Park, home of Sporting KC, and will feature live jazz music, great food, and special guests, such as Daniel Sallói, starting forward for Sporting KC, and Dan Deeble, long-time friend of Mission Adelante, as Emcee.

We’re hoping to include partners, volunteers and Mission Adelante program participants together in this event. It will be a slice of heaven, as people from all places celebrate God’s faithfulness in this mission, together. Sponsorship opportunities are available NOW on the event website: www.shinegala.com and more event registration options will be available soon..

Please save the date and make plans to join us for this momentous occasion!

Volunteer Orientation: May 17, 9:00am to 12:30pm

If you’re interested in serving with us for the summer trimester, please join us for our volunteer orientation and learn about our vision, values, and how to serve as a volunteer. Visit our serve page and fill out an interest form to let us know you’re interested!

Contribute Financially

Mission Adelante is primarily supported by individual donors, businesses, and partner churches. We invite you to make a contribution today and be part of loving people from all places!

I'm officially an "Unc"

I fear I may have officially hit "unc status"! If you need to look that up, then chances are you might be an "unc" too. "Unc," short for "uncle," is a new slang term I've been called more times than I’d like to admit. It’s often used humorously to refer to someone who’s getting older and may be out of touch with what's new and trending in pop culture. But, I don’t think that last part applies to me!


So, how did I become an "unc"? Well, I’ve reached a strange but wonderful point in my ministry at Mission Adelante (almost 4 years in now!) where the high school teens I used to mentor are now full-fledged young adults. They've become my true friends, my truth-tellers, and inspiration for my walk with Christ.

Enjoying curry together.

Earlier this week, I had the chance to break bread with five Mission Adelante apprentices I’ve mentored over the years—Ashley, Mikya, Innocent, Erick, and Alana. Over a delicious curry I cooked up (their words, not mine), we played an intense game of Uno (the frustrating “No Mercy” edition) and shared stories about how we’ve seen God showing up in our lives. With our busy schedules, we don’t get together often, so there was plenty of reminiscing: “Do you remember how moody you were as a summer intern?” “Do you remember when so-and-so had a crush on you?” “I can’t believe I got away with never writing an Adelante Express article!” I won’t name names, but you can imagine how much history is shared when you’ve spent years and years together!

As we spent time together, something became apparent. This confident, funny, competitive, and purpose-driven group of young adults was filling my cup, just as any friend would. They were now encouraging me just as much—if not more—than I had encouraged them. They asked about my goals and were genuinely interested in supporting me. They gave me advice and boldly shared their opinions. It was a clear shift in our relationship that I wasn’t expecting.

As a youth leader, it’s become clear that the relationships you build with teens yield more than just "remember when" conversations. They grow into lasting bonds—proof of the deep connections formed when you truly invest in someone. These young leaders, who were once learning from me, are now teaching me. Whether it’s the latest slang, life insights, or simply the joy of their presence, they continue to shape me. It’s a beautiful reminder that when we invest in others, we never truly know how they will impact us in return.

We continue to be moved by the generosity shown in the past few months. One of the core values of Mission Adelante is Interdependent relationships. Your partnership helps relationships like the ones you just read about continue to grow deeper. We are nearing the end of our We! Campaign, identifying 50 people who will provide $100/month in new support. If you’d like to support this goal, you can give online.

10 Years of Generosity Transforming Community

10 years ago a former Hollywood Video store turned into Adelante Thrift & became a place of hope and community support. It’s easy to see what a special place thrift is when you shop there. I first connected to Thrift by taking members of my congregation to serve there one Saturday a month. While hanging up clothes we got to know each other, laughed and felt good doing something simple that would make a difference in the community.

Adelante Thrift moved into a former Hollywood Video. You can still see old movie posters around the store from the original tenant!

In November, I took over as Executive Director overseeing operations and was eager to jump into supporting Mission Adelante’s work through the proceeds generated from Adelante Thrift. Adelante Thrift started in 2015 with the goal of supporting the Wyandotte community through affordable shopping, employment, and a family-friendly retail space. Over the past 10 years the impact in Wyandotte County and Mission Adelante has been tremendous. As a non-profit community development initiative Adelante Thrift  generates funds to support the work of Mission Adelante, including English classes, Citizenship Classes, after-school programs, youth mentoring and leadership development, refugee resettlement, and more.  


Community Impact:

This Saturday as we gather for the 10-year Celebration, we recognize the hard work, prayers, and team work reflected in these significant numbers:

  • $790,000:  Money invested back to Mission Adelante’s programs and community

  • $4 Million: Money invested back into the community through staff compensation

  • $650,000: Money invested back into the community through sales taxes paid

  • 42,000: Volunteer Hours Served

Creating a community of belonging through employment

These numbers represent stories like Rosemarys- a recent new neighbor resettled through Mission Adelante from Venezuela.  Adelante Thrift was Rosemarys first job in the U.S.  Not only did it provide a stable job where she could earn income for her family, it became a place to develop friendships and practice English.  Many community members who have resettled or immigrated here arrive with little more than a duffel bag of clothing.  This past November a family arrived from a warmer climate wearing flip flops and very thin clothing- not ideal for a cold KC winter!  One of our Good Neighbor team members took the family shopping at thrift with the vouchers provided through Mission Adelante.  Together they shopped and the mom was able to pick out warm clothes for herself and her kids, toys for them to play with, and items that made their apartment feel more like home.  Being able to shop and choose items for herself during a tumultuous season provided a sense of independence and joy.

Rosemary working hard at Adelante Thrift

Customers love shopping for treasures

It’s not only a joy for newly arrived neighbors to shop here- it’s a treasure hunt for people who love a unique find, want to reuse or repurpose items, and spend less on high quality goods.  Many estate sale companies donate items they aren’t able to sell to Thrift which means that there are really good deals on name brand clothing, high-end furniture and household goods.  It keeps customers coming back because it’s the thrill of the hunt to find a Persian rug or vintage Mid Century Modern dresser for hundreds of dollars less than you would normally pay!

All ages can volunteer at Adelante Thrift

Who is my neighbor?

Volunteering at Thrift is an opportunity for discipleship and learning about our neighbors for the people who serve here from church groups, businesses, schools and teams.  A group of 10 executives from St. Lukes hospital served together hanging clothes for a team building activity and a way to support our community.  Youth groups regularly have a blast finding unique clothing as they serve here which always creates a lot of fun and laughter.  Recently a group of college students from Dordt College in Iowa spent time over Spring Break in KC volunteering at different locations, including Thrift.  When I asked them what they noticed about spending time here, they were quick to point out that they had heard at least 5 different languages spoken by people shopping here and that our community looked very different from their town.  By stepping out of their context, they were able to spend time thinking about what it is like to come to a new community and feel like a stranger.  They were challenged to think about what it meant to welcome and love people from all places once they returned to their campus.

Thanks Dordt students for volunteering!

Working hard & celebrating together

One of my favorite parts about Thrift is the incredible staff team.  Elizabeth, our general manager, has created a culture of celebration, hard work and respect.  I was wonderfully surprised that for Thanksgiving, Elizabeth arranged for a full catered Thanksgiving dinner for the staff with everyone bringing sides or desserts to celebrate.  Sitting together, eating and laughing, though we don’t speak the same languages, felt like a glimmer of the Kingdom of God. I am so proud of our staff team- their work ethic, friendliness to customers, and willingness to support and cheer each other on.  

Thanksgiving dinner at Thrift

It is a delight to serve as Executive Director and I can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring! I hope that you’ll join us for our 10 year celebration this Saturday, April 5th from 11am-2pm (3720 State Avenue Kansas City, KS 66102).  We’ll have food vendors, kids games, a 10% shopping discount and raffle tickets for anyone who brings in a donation.

Jessica Fick

Partner Engagement Director, Mission Adelante

Executive Director, Adelante Thrift

English Language Classes: Nights of laughter and learning

English language classes: nights of laughter and learning

by Elaine Reimers, Adult Ministry Director

It was Latino ESL test day at Mission Adelante and many of the students had shown up  somewhat nervous to put the English they had been learning for the past 11 weeks to the test. I was dropping by classrooms at the end of the night to see how the test had gone and as I approached the level 4 classroom I could hear the volunteers already discussing the night amongst themselves. The test was challenging for the students, they said. In fact, one of the students joked that the test ended up being a team effort since they were all getting help from each other to get through it! After wiping the sweat from their brows and turning their tests in to the teachers, the results were in! They found that one of the students did much better on the test than the other four people; however, after the students talked about it, all five students agreed they could use more instruction on the past tense and did not feel comfortable moving to level 5 just yet. They arrived at a consensus- WE STAY TOGETHER! Long story short - they moved backwards TOGETHER to the level 3 of a brand new curriculum we were rolling out that focuses on the past tense. It encourages me to see the bonds and friendships that are forming between students and volunteers and how they have been birthed through things like a generous volunteer’s will to make a difference in their lifetime, a shared interest and need to learn English, and many times through the breaking of bread.

But wait, I am just getting started! The story above is just one of many. I recall the first time I witnessed one of my beloved ESL volunteers “putting himself out there.” He had a student who was coming to class but was struggling to keep up with the lessons and whose work schedule started causing schedule conflicts. The volunteer reached out to me and was  genuinely concerned and wanted to accommodate his student as much as he was able. He offered to meet him outside of class to practice English and they went out for burgers at one point as well. That brings me to my next similar one, but with a twist! A level 1 conversation partner volunteer meets his students outside of class to practice English and, since it’s forbidden to speak Spanish during class, to allow him to practice Spanish with them! There is always a tremendous amount of animated chatter happening at their end of the table, and sometimes they DO speak Spanish to clarify things (oopsies!).

And speaking of chatter, I cannot leave out levels 2 and 5, and English Club. These 3 groups are notorious for filling Mission Adelante and the Lighthouse with boisterous laughter about the silly parts of the English language that just don’t make sense, or about how something translates (or doesn’t!). For example, an “EXIT ONLY” sign could easily be mistranslated as  “SOLAMENTE ÉXITO” which translates literally to “ONLY SUCCESS”. Haha! Please tell me which door I need to walk through for THAT! Then, there is the infamous, hilariously awkward moment (especially if you’re a dude) when someone goes from obviously already being embarrassed to wanting to teleport to anywhere but where they are currently when saying “Estoy embarazada” (“I’m pregnant.”) when attempting to say “I am embarrassed.” That one will never get old!

There is a LOT of humor when you are learning a new language!  On Monday and Thursday nights, Mission Adelante is filled with boisterous laughter during our Latino English Language classes and conversational English Club about the silly parts of the English language that just don’t make sense, or about how something translates (or doesn’t!). For example, an “EXIT ONLY” sign could easily be mistranslated as  “SOLAMENTE ÉXITO” which translates literally to “ONLY SUCCESS”. Please tell me which door I need to walk through for THAT! Then, there is the infamous, hilariously awkward moment when a volunteer tries to express embarrassment by saying: “Estoy embarazada” (“I’m pregnant.”) when attempting to say “I am embarrassed.”  For someone who is already embarrassed (especially if you’re a dude!), it is a hilarious moment of class laughing together as they are learning. That one will never get old!

We also have our quieter classes, but don’t get it twisted! The bonds and friendships are real and thriving. The volunteers in both levels 3 and 4 are really dedicated to the success of their students and show concern and follow up with students when they miss class. We have a student that was in need of some reference letters to help her in a delicate legal matter and the volunteers and I were able to write heartfelt letters for her. And, at the mention of friendship, it makes me think of the “girls class” where three of our seasoned women volunteers teach and observe the four students in the class who just happen to be women also. There are always tender smiles on their faces when I step in to say “hello!” on Thursday evenings.

During one of the test days at Mission Adelante, many of the students were somewhat nervous to put the English they had been learning for the past 11 weeks to the test. After wiping the sweat from their brows and turning their tests in to the teachers, the results were in! One of the students did much better on the test than the other four people; however, after the students talked about it, all five students agreed they could use more instruction on understanding how to speak in the past tense and did not feel comfortable moving to level 5 just yet. They decided- “WE STAY TOGETHER!” and moved backwards TOGETHER to the level 3 of a brand new curriculum we were rolling out that focuses on the past tense. Though one of the students could have progressed, the bonds and friendships that are forming between students and volunteers, sharing meals together and lots of laughter is just as important as language proficiency.  


I will close by saying that one of the few rules for ESL volunteers that I was handed down from my predecessor is “Don't tell your student you won’t be in class if you have to miss”. This handed-down rule is the product of someone coming to the conclusion that the bonds and friendships being formed through our program go much deeper than just adding a new name to a list of Facebook friends. Why shouldn’t our volunteers tell their students that they will miss class you ask? We have found that students tend to skip class when they know their conversation partner will be absent. I have not necessarily asked any of the students why this is but it’s obvious, in my opinion, that students value the open communication, reliability, empathy, and opportunities for vulnerability that develop over the first few classes with their conversation partner. At Mission Adelante, our hope is that the relationships built during class would continue to exist, grow, and thrive long after the student graduates from the program!


If you, or someone you know, is interested in experiencing any or all of the above life-giving experiences, please don’t hesitate to reach out! 

Strengthen our work by becoming a monthly partner!

Our work is only possible through the prayerful generosity of our partners. We are working on strengthening our ability to provide programs like English Language classes by inviting people to become monthly partners through our WE initiative. Would you consider being one of the 50 people who begin giving $100/month? You can support our work by giving online: www.missionadelante.org/give

Relationships are Everything

By: Erick Flores, Ministry Apprentice

Amidst everything happening in our country, people both within and outside our community continue to give, showing love to our neighbors. Donating time, money, and support is never an easy ask, but people are always willing to give without any hesitation. Our church congregation continues to grow, and I love how we, as a church, have made Mission Adelante a welcoming home for everyone. As new people join, they always feel accepted and embraced.

Working at Mission Adelante has truly been one of the greatest blessings of my life. Not only have I had the opportunity to grow as a leader and work in ministry, but I've also watched my faith grow stronger than ever.

Philippians 3:8-9 says:

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” I am forever grateful for my mentors and peers.

I recently led and completed my first full trimester of Arts Community! This trimester, I was excited to work with our Children’s Apprentice, Alana. Unfortunately, due to the challenges we’ve been facing, Alana also had to be let go. Despite this setback, I am determined to continue pursuing the big goals we had set. Arts Community is still succeeding, thanks to our amazing kiddos. It always brings me joy seeing them walk through the door, eager to play with friends, learn in class, and form lasting bonds with our wonderful volunteers! Volunteers join our kids to play games and even run around! I forget to stretch sometimes so I pay for that.

Our Leaders in Training come in every Monday and Wednesday, ready to engage and step up in their roles. They are role models to their peers and the younger kids who are gearing up to follow in their footsteps!

Kids Adelante on Thursday nights will always have a special place in my heart. Apart from leading a kids program, you don't get to really get close with the kids and do activities with them until you become a volunteer. So running around, teaching kids, and building relationships will always be top tier.  Volunteering for Kids Adelante last trimester certainly took all the energy I had at the end of my day, but knowing I could wrap up my week with our kiddos, who always manage to brighten my day, was more than I could ever ask for.

Our Leadership Training Project has also been off to a strong start! We began with 5 teens, and it has since expanded to 7! Each week, we hold a workshop, followed by rehearsing worship for our Youth Club on Wednesday nights. Youth Club has been such a joy since the beginning of the year! This trimester, we’re focusing on the road to Easter. It’s always motivating to see our teens engage in worship and stay focused on our lesson plans. As for my discipleship, it has been incredible! Recently, I was able to host a discipleship with two of our youth volunteers, Luis and Michael. We invited Youth Club to join us for a fun game of flag football! As competitive as it was, we all had a blast. With the weather improving, we’ll have even more opportunities for discipleship.

WE are stronger together! Would you consider supporting work like Erick’s and becoming a monthly partner? Click on the link below to help us continue to serve students like Luis and Michael.

Four practical ways you can help refugees

Four Practical Ways you can help refugees

by Kristen Maxwell, Associate Director Mission Adelante


About a month ago, our world at Mission Adelante shifted on its axis.  With some of the executive orders implemented, we experienced what felt like an earthquake.  Overnight, programs we had built over the last year crumbled.  This was no fault of our own, but we were left with rubble to clean up.  

Due to the funding and program cuts and freezes the first shock was to acknowledge that employing our refugee services team no longer was viable. We continue to mourn having to let our staff go and grieve the hole they left on our team, in our community and our office. 

We didn’t have much time to mourn, though, because we had to tend to the wounded.  In this situation, the wounded are our clients.  The new land they had just begun to get to know had already changed.  The sherpas, our staff that were guiding them through the mountain pass of their new lives, were gone, and they were left without guides.  We’ve spent the past few weeks helping to reorient them to the new landscape, point them in the right direction, and bandage their wounds.  


We have heard the refrain from our neighbors, loud and clear, “What can we do?” and “We want to help!” and we are so grateful for your support.  Your generous contributions towards the “Love Mercy” campaign allowed us to provide severance for our staff and enabled us to pay for rent and basic needs for refugees as they adjust to life in the US. To date over $110,00 has been given towards the Love Mercy campaign, exceeding our goal by $40,000.

Much like the aftermath of a natural disaster, the aftershocks of these shifts have left us disoriented and wondering about our next steps forward.  The landscape around us has dramatically changed in a short time. As the dust begins to settle, and the aftershocks are getting fewer, we are grateful to see that the core of Mission Adelante is still standing firm. Our mission to love people from all places is unchanged, and we are here to serve, share life, and share Jesus. 

As we continue the cleanup, the best ways you can help are to pray, give, and serve with us.  We ask you to consider how you might join us in one of the following ways: 

Pray: Pray for those we are serving, our staff, and our community. We are grieving the loss of our resettlement staff and program and praying for people to step into volunteering in areas to help with our refugee families.

Give: Financial partners are more crucial now than ever. We are currently seeking to add 50 people to give $100/month to grow our monthly support team to an additional $5,000/month. Your ongoing support allows us to respond to the needs of our neighbors. Would you consider beginning to give or increasing your monthly support?

Come and See: Join us for “Come and See” night next week, and learn how you might join us in loving and serving our refugee neighbors through ongoing relational partnership.

Come and See Next Week!

Your involvement with Mission Adelante is essential to the support of refugees and immigrants in our community. Join us next week, March 3-6th at a Come and See night to learn more!

Serve: Serve at Adelante Thrift.  The more volunteers we have, the more we can sell, and the more money that is made directly supports the work the Lord is doing at Mission Adelante! Spring break is coming up and this is a great way for students to serve locally. Contact Lori at: volunteer@adelantethrift.com to sign up.

We know many of you are grieving with us and trying to make a positive difference in our community. Thank you for standing with us to love like Jesus.

Another Hard Day at Mission Adelante

Dear friends,


Thursday, February 6th was one of the hardest days I’ve experienced in my time at Mission Adelante.  We had to let go of our entire refugee resettlement team– seven dedicated employees, who had worked, loved, and given their all to serve the 171 refugees we had welcomed over the last 12 months.  As you probably know, on January 24th funding was abruptly cut specifically for the Reception and Placement Program, which used to help newly arrived refugees with housing, food and other necessities during their first 90 days in the country.  For the last couple of weeks, funding for our other refugee services (Employment services, English Language classes, Health Care navigation, etc.) has been in limbo because of the general freeze on federal grants.  On Thursday, we heard from the Kansas State Office of Refugees, informing us that they had still not been able to access federal funds to reimburse our January program expenses. In total, unreimbursed January expenses from all federal refugee programs we were contracted to execute exceeded $123,000.  We have not counted out the possibility of receiving these reimbursements in the future, but without a guarantee, we were simply unable to continue incurring expenses for these programs at this full capacity.

The generous outpouring of support through the Love Mercy Initiative has been very important, allowing us to offer a modest severance package to our refugee team members and also ensuring that we can continue assisting newly arrived refugees with rent, food, and other basic necessities through their initial 90 days in the country.  We are so grateful for this support!  In the middle of this painful season, your generosity has been a beautiful picture of the love of Christ.


Mission Adelante will continue some ongoing services to refugee families, though with a reduced capacity. Our English Language classes for refugees will continue on Monday evenings and, in some manner, on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  We will continue offering walk-in hours, staffed by volunteers and staff, to help with practical needs, resources, and questions.  And, we will continue to provide some support in the search for employment opportunities and with healthcare navigation, as we are able.  Many of the refugee families we have welcomed have become part of the Mission Adelante church community, where they are now connected with a supportive and loving community that will help them find their way in this new land.

In the coming weeks and months, Mission Adelante will certainly need your support, whether through volunteering, praying or through financial contributions.  We’re thankful you’re in this with us!

Sincerely,

Jarrett Meek, Founder/Pastor/Executive Director

Some of the members of our Resettlement Team

When Strangers Become Neighbors

When Strangers Become Neighbors

By Amy Herman, Reception and Placement Director



Recently, a family of seven refugees from Eritrea arrived at Kansas City International Airport, marking the beginning of their new life in the United States. The journey had been long and difficult, with delays and detentions causing added stress. But what unfolded at the airport that day was nothing short of extraordinary—a reminder of the power of community, kindness, and shared experiences. As we greeted the family at the gate, we began the long walk to the baggage claim area. Their faces were a mix of excitement and uncertainty, understandably so after a journey that spanned weeks. But just as we were walking through the terminal, a woman who worked at the airport approached us. She began speaking in Tigrinya, the same language spoken by the family. It was immediately clear that this was not a mere coincidence.

The woman, who had arrived as a refugee herself 14 years ago, quickly formed a connection with the family. As she spoke with them, we learned that her own arrival to Kansas City had mirrored the family’s journey—full of challenges but also opportunities for growth and hope. She understood the weight of the moment in a way that only someone who had been through it could. The family had encountered a setback: their luggage had arrived two days earlier, but due to delays in Washington, D.C., they had not been able to retrieve it. The woman took charge, helping them navigate the airport’s systems and getting the luggage sorted out. Her familiarity with the process and her calm presence helped alleviate much of the family’s stress.

But what truly stood out was her offer of support beyond the airport. She told the family she would be happy to visit them the following day, to offer guidance on adjusting to life in Kansas City, and to answer any questions they might have. She shared that she had once been in their shoes and that Kansas City had become home for her. Her message was simple: "You are not alone."

“This act of kindness exemplified the heart of our community and the spirit of Kansas City.”
— Amy Herman

This act of kindness exemplified the heart of our community and the spirit of Kansas City. It's one thing to provide resources and services to refugees; it’s another to offer genuine, personal support from someone who truly understands their experience. This woman didn’t just act as an interpreter or a guide—she became a bridge, offering the family a lifeline to their new life in a foreign land.  She was truly loving her neighbor as herself (Galatians 5:14)

As we walked out of the airport, the family seemed more at ease, comforted not only by the practical help they had received but by the warmth of a fellow refugee who had already walked the same path. Their journey is just beginning, and there will be many challenges ahead. But with a community of people like this woman—who understands, who cares, and who offers a helping hand—the family can move forward with the knowledge that they have not only a new home but a new circle of support.  She has already connected with the family several times and they have become fast friends.

It’s moments like these that remind us all of the importance of kindness, empathy, and the power of shared human experiences. It is our hope that we can continue to build a community where every refugee, no matter where they come from, finds a welcoming home and a supportive network of people ready to help them succeed.

We are so grateful for how you love your neighbors!

Thank you for your recent outpouring of generosity of $80,000 to provide essential services for the 22 refugee families in the process of resettlement and the compensation and severance for our initial resettlement team.

Help us continue to move forward to love our neighbors in 2025!