This past Sunday, as I stood on stage during the final week of Ignite, I could feel something in the room—energy, hope, momentum. It’s hard to describe, but you could sense that God was doing something fresh and alive here at Good Shepherd.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve watched that spark grow into something truly inspiring. People across every generation have stepped forward—some committing to give for the very first time, others choosing to stretch and grow in generosity, all of them believing in what God is doing through our church.
But what’s happening goes even deeper than generosity.
During worship, I invited everyone to text me their dream for the future of Good Shepherd. Within moments, my phone lit up with message after message—dreams about serving our community in new ways, about being a church where everyone belongs, about growing our ministries for kids and students, and helping those who are struggling.
As I read through them this week, I was struck by one simple truth: this is what happens when faith catches fire. This isn’t just my dream, or our staff’s dream—this is our dream. It’s God working and uniting us around a shared hope for the future.
That’s what Ignite was really about. Not just a generosity campaign, but a movement of people saying, “God, use me.” And this has created more excitement, more joy, and more momentum around our church’s direction than at any time since I’ve been here at Good Shepherd.
And if you haven’t had a chance to be part of Ignite yet, there’s still time. You can fill out your commitment card online and join what God is already doing. Every single step of generosity—no matter how big or small—helps fuel this movement forward.
As we celebrate everything God is doing through Ignite, I’m also excited to share an exciting change. The energy and momentum we’ve felt in recent weeks isn’t just happening in our buildings—it’s growing online too. This Sunday, we’re launching a new online worship experience on YouTube.
Over the past few months, we’ve heard from so many of you who worship online—what you love about it, what’s been tricky, and how it could be better. We listened. This new format isn’t just a livestream of what’s happening in the room—it’s been created with you in mind. You’ll still be able to watch on our website and our Facebook page, but now, with YouTube, it’ll be even easier to engage, more reliable, and designed for people who are worshiping from home, traveling, or watching on their phones.
To check it out, just search Good Shepherd KC on YouTube and be sure to hit “Subscribe” while you’re there. I’m grateful for everyone who’s been part of helping us take this step forward—because it’s one more way our church is growing, adapting, and finding new ways to share hope. What began as a spark really is becoming a movement. And the best part? It’s just getting started.
Peace,
Matt
P.S. This Sunday we’re kicking off a brand-new message series called Ditch Your Cape. It’s for anyone who’s ever tried to be everything for everyone (and maybe needs a reminder that you don’t have to be a superhero to make a difference). Bring a friend—it’s going to be a good one.
