A Beautiful cycle of welcome
by Carla Garcia, Partner Engagement Director
As we step into 2026, we do so in a time that feels increasingly divided. It has become normal to close ourselves off, to stay within what feels familiar, and to hesitate when it comes to welcoming others. In the midst of this, Mission Adelante has been a place that lives differently, a community committed to radical welcome, even when it would be easier not to.
Longtime volunteers turned friends!
Mission Adelante has been that place for me. A community that welcomed me before I had a role, before I knew how I could serve, before I had words for what I was carrying. I was met with presence, patience, and care. And in that, I caught a glimpse of what Scripture means when it says, “You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19). Belonging came first. Everything else came later.
There were meals shared, conversations that lingered, prayers that felt sincere and unhurried. People who noticed. People who remembered. People who made space. In ways both ordinary and holy, I experienced the truth of Psalm 68:6: that God places the lonely into families. I didn’t just attend a church, I was embraced by a community.
Hugging Lucy who I met when she was 7 years old!
And somewhere along the way, something shifted. The care I received began to shape me. I realized that what had been given to me so freely was not meant to end with me. Jesus’ words began to feel deeply personal: “Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Being welcomed became an invitation to open my own hands, to pay attention, to offer the same care I had once needed.
Now, as part of this community, I carry the privilege of caring for others. Not perfectly, not with all the answers, but with the same posture of love and availability that was extended to me. This is how the church becomes the church. Not through programs alone, but through people choosing to show up for one another, again and again.
Jarrett and apprentices gathered on the beach in 2019
As we begin this new year together, my prayer is simple. That we would continue to be a community shaped by Christ’s welcome. That we would recognize Him in one another. That we would move at the pace of love. And that those who walk through our doors, whether for the first time or the hundredth, would feel what I felt: seen, received, and cared for.
Because this is how God works. He welcomes us in, and then invites us to do the same. And as 1 John 4:19 reminds us, “We love because He first loved us.”
I’m grateful to begin 2026 here, with you, in a community that has taught me what love looks like lived out.
If you feel drawn to be part of a community that welcomes in this way, we would love for you to join us in living it out. One of the ways we do this is by serving together. Join us for our volunteer orientation this Saturday, January 10th at 9am and learn how you can be part of extending this welcome to others.
Give Your Time, Heart, and Care!
We need you to continue our mission of welcoming and loving people from all places here in Kansas City! These are our current ministry needs:
Arts Community (Mondays, 6:30pm): We’re looking for a music teacher who loves to share creativity and joy. No extensive skills necessary!
Kids Adelante and Latino ESL (Thursdays, 6:30pm): We need dedicated volunteers to teach English to students, young and old.
Youth Club (Wednesdays, 6:30pm): We’re seeking mentors who want to walk alongside teens, encourage them, and share life together.
Sign up here to be a part of what God is doing! ❤️