I showed you in all things that you should work as I did and help the wounded among you.  I have taught you to remember the words of Jesus, who said,
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35

The Micah Ministry is the urban, ecumenical outreach mission of Independence Boulevard Christian Church to the poor and needy in the historic Northeast area of Kansas City, Missouri.

Boulevard Hoops

For one hour every Monday, young people play basketball in the hundred-year-old gymnasium under the supervision of Kevin Batton and Bob Rennison.  Our basketball program encourages the forming of friendships and teaches team-related skills: cooperation, mutual support and group collaboration.  This winter, a brand new bike donated by a member of Country Club Christian Church was won by one young person who excelled at these skills in our basketball program.

Community Service Compliance

Persons needing to complete Community Service hours to complete Criminal Court sentencing requirements have many opportunities to serve at the Micah Ministry.  Pastor Lee works with people wishing to do this so that both they and the community outreach ministries benefit.

Ecumenical Food Pantry

Members of our church help staff the neighborhood food pantry and periodically hold drives to help replenish the food supply.  The food pantry is open Monday thru Friday, except Wednesday, from 10-2:00.

** The “Micah Ministry” **
     Urban Pastoral Counseling

“He has shown you, humankind, what is good; so what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…”
Micah 6:8

Every Monday evening, for three hours each time, specially trained suburban-based clergy from 7 denominations donate their time to staff a free, urban core ministry of compassionate presence and pastoral support to disadvantaged neighbors of our church.  Local pastors, chaplains, diaconal and retired clergy, and advanced seminary students work together in teams of 2 or 3 to envelop neighbors in need with focused listening and affirmation.  We make available the sacraments, anointings,  group problem-solving, good-conditioned used clothing and service referrals.  Lay church members provide intake.

We have a combined AA/Al-Anon group that also meets during Micah time.

** The “Micah Ministry” **
     Supper Ministry (“Robert's Cafe”)
     and Clothing Pantry

“Those who are kind to the poor, honor their Creator.”
Proverbs 14:31

Monday evenings from 6-7:30 pm, free, nourishing suppers are provided to our neighbors in need inside the church, in our Friendship Room.  This “cafe” ministry, drawn from Jesus' injunction that if we truly love him, we should “feed his sheep,” is principally staffed by church members and  advanced urban ministry seminary students.  Ida Snyder is our chief gourmet chef.  “Cafe” participants cook and serve excellent homemade meals and desserts, set long tables decorated with blue checkerboard tablecloths and flowers, and play “dinnertime” music for our guests.  Unlike most feeding ministries, we serve our guests at the table, rather than having them stand in a line to be fed.

Participation in the Feeding Component of the Micah Ministry is always open to youth groups and other visiting friends who are passionate about justice ministry and developing their own servant leadership.  “Robert's Cafe” is named for the builder of our church, Robert A. Long, and one of our longtime guests from the neighborhood, Robert, who died in the winter of 2002 at 46, after sleeping outside overnight.  All disabled guests are seated 15 minutes before regular serving begins.

While Independence Boulevard Christian Church provides most of the funding for the feeding ministry, two other area Disciples churches generously provide collateral monetary support.  With advance notice, we welcome Girl or Boy Scouts and small groups from churches to come, feed and befriend our neighbors at Robert's Cafe.

Additionally, we maintain a well-stocked clothing pantry that is open each Monday evening.  The pantry is organized by our student minister and volunteers from NewHouse.  Women from “partner” churches sew winter hats, blankets and booties for the pantry.  For those who need clothes, no appointments are necessary.

** The “Micah Ministry” **
     Mom-to-Mom Mentoring Program
     & Baby Pantry

A third component of the compassionate outreach of the Micah Ministry is a new community program staffed by lay church women.  The Mom-to-Mom Mentoring Program is designed to help underprivileged young or inexperienced mothers in need of reliable peer parenting support.  Experienced mothers undertake special training as a team in order to problem solve especially with young, single mothers, some of whom are struggling to continue their high school or vocational training.  Mentors help other mothers with parenting and childcare quandaries, building networks of support, anger management and household issues.

Leadership training for this ministry began in April 2002.  We expect to have volunteers trained over the summer so that our mentoring program can begin in earnest in September.  It will be supplemented by a fully-stocked baby pantry maintained at the church.

The national Mother-to-Mother Ministry describes the program's mission this way: “providing opportunities for women to build intentional friendships across economic and racial barriers in a ministry of reconciliation.  Volunteers learn from one another, each one giving and receiving new insights into self and society.  This learning process fosters changes in perceptions, attitudes, and in social systems.”

For general program details,

click on this link.

** The “Micah Ministry” **
     Chaplaincy to “NewHouse,”
     our Neighborhood Shelter for
     Battered Women and Children  

NewHouse is the largest domestic violence shelter in Kansas City, Missouri.  Pastor Lee is the chaplain.  She provides spiritual guidance on-site for Christian and non-Christian residents.  In July of 2002, Pastor Lee began training advanced seminary students and ecumenical pastors who counsel in the Micah Ministry's free pastoral counseling program to become a rotating chaplaincy team.  In the fall, this group of women clergy began offering on-site prayer services, spiritual direction and rites of healing for the women of “NewHouse” one evening a week.

Every Sunday morning and Monday evenings, we transport women and children from NewHouse to the church for fellowship, spiritual nurture and worship.  During Vacation Bible School we do the same.

Mutual “befriending” and soul-healing form a spiritual, community-based complement to existing emancipatory programs at NewHouse, all of which seek to upbuild and restore the lives of women and children who have been wounded by intimate violence.  Pastoral counseling, corporate worship for women, communion, religious education, and anointings with holy oil communicate God's redemptive power and bring greater wholeness to the neighbors God has sent our way who have suffered relational trauma and abuse.

** Stephen Ministry **

Since 2002, Independence Boulevard Christian Church has been a Stephen Ministry congregation.  Interested church members received their training from Linda Hanway and Jim Snyder.  This pastoral care ministry for lay persons encourages their full participation in the healing ministries of the church – in hospitals, nursing homes, for shut-ins and anyone infirmed.