New Seasons, New Opportunities
Dear Kansas Disciples,
There is something sacred about the month of August. The days are still warm, but we begin to sense a change. School supplies fill store shelves. Teachers prepare classrooms. Students anticipatenew beginnings. Church leaders begin planning fall programming, Bible studies, stewardship campaigns, and mission projects. The rhythms of ministry shift from the slower pace of summer to the hopeful anticipation of a new season.
Scripture reminds us:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18–19)
Every August, I am reminded that God is continually inviting us into something new—not because what has come before has no value, but because God’s Spirit never stops creating, renewing, and calling. Across our region, I continue to witness signs of hope.
Congregations are welcoming first-time visitors. Vacation Bible Schools have planted seeds of faith. Camps have shaped young disciples and reminded adults that God still calls people of every age. Pastors are returning from vacations refreshed. Elders and church boards are gathering to discern God’s direction. New partnerships are emerging among congregations willing to dream together.
This is holy work.
As Disciples, we believe that the Church is not simply an institution to maintain but a movement called to participate in God’s mission. That mission has not changed. We are still called to proclaim good news, welcome all people to Christ’s table, serve our neighbors, and bear witness to God’s love in a world longing for hope.
As congregations begin to make plans for fall activities, I encourage every congregation to ask a few simple questions:
Where is God already at work in our community?
Who is missing from your fellowship?
What gifts has God entrusted to us for this season?
How can we tell our story through God’s story?
Sometimes renewal begins not with a grand strategy but with faithful conversations around tables, in fellowship halls, and on front porches. The Spirit often moves through listening before leading.
Our regional ministry continues to focus on caring for clergy, equipping congregational leaders, developing new leadership, and strengthening connections among our churches. None of this happens alone. Every congregation, every pastor, every elder, every volunteer, and every disciple contributes to the health of our shared ministry.
Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for the countless acts of service that rarely make headlines but faithfully reveal Christ every single day. May we encourage one another, celebrate one another’s victories, pray for one another’s challenges, and continue to embody the unity for which Christ prayed.
The harvest remains plentiful, and God continues to call faithful workers into the fields.
May we answer that call with courage, generosity, and joy.
Grace and peace,
Rev. Dr. David Dubovich