One Mission. A New Generation.
After 21 years, Mission Adelante is passing the baton to a new generation of leadership — and we want you to be part of it.
Our Story
In 2005, Mission Adelante opened its doors in Kansas City, Kansas, with a first English class and a handful of immigrant families. Twenty-one years later, we're a growing multicultural community of disciples making disciples — serving immigrants and refugees from all places through programs that serve children, youth, and adults, a flourishing Thrift store, and partnerships throughout the community.
Twenty-One Years of Investing in People
Mission Adelante was never built to depend on one person. From the beginning, our mission has centered on making disciples and developing leaders — starting with kids and continuing all the way through internships for high school students and apprenticeships for young adults that equip community members to become leaders in our neighborhood.
Jarrett Meek, who has served as Mission Adelante's Pastor and Executive Director since its founding, put it simply:
“We’re 21 years into Mission Adelante now… I think we’re accomplishing the Mission God called us to.”
That's not an ending — it's proof the mission has worked. As Jarrett explained it:
“Leadership development is woven into everything we do here — starting with kids in elementary school and carrying all the way through our internships and apprenticeships. That’s why we have so many homegrown leaders on our staff today.”
One of those homegrown leaders is stepping into a new role this year.
Meet Patrique Harris
incoming Executive Director of Mission Adelante
“
Mission Adelante gave me my first ministry role, and it gave me a front-row seat to what it means to serve with love, not just skill. I've watched this community turn outsiders into insiders and neighbors into leaders — and now I get to help carry that forward. I'm honored, I'm ready, and I can't wait to run this next leg with all of you.” - Patrique Harris
Jarrett isn't stepping away. As he shared with our team:
“I’m not going anywhere — I’m just stepping into a new season. As Founder/Pastor, I’ll keep pastoring our Mission Adelante church family, walking alongside Patrique as she leads, and staying close to the legacy partners who’ve believed in this mission for so many years. This isn’t a goodbye. It’s a handoff and an exciting new season.”
This is why we've named this season's campaign ¡Sigue Adelante! — "keep going forward." Twenty-one years of developing leaders produced exactly the kind of leader Mission Adelante's own mission always pointed toward. Now it's her turn to run.
As Jarrett shared with our community:
“For the last six years, we’ve been asking one question: how do we do this well? Leadership transition is notoriously difficult for nonprofits — but we didn’t want to just survive it. We wanted to do it in a way that’s healthy, and in a way that could be truly celebrated.”
This campaign is how we celebrate it — and how we make sure Mission Adelante enters this new season with strength, not uncertainty.
“We really need you guys to walk through this with us, help us, kind of, pray for us, help us transition into this next season with momentum.”
Help Us Reach $300,000
Every gift helps Mission Adelante close out the year strong and launch this new season of leadership well.
Gifts to our General Fund cover ministry programs, operating expenses, and staff compensation. Gifts to our Community Leader Fund directly support leadership development, internships, and apprenticeships for emerging leaders like Patrique.
Help us finish the year strong by December 31.
Be Part of the Celebration
Thanksgiving Open House
Saturday, November 14 | 1:00–5:00 PM | Jarrett & family's home
Come meet Patrique in person and celebrate this season with us.
Share this page with someone who's been touched by Mission Adelante.
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