For more than 20 years, Abundant Life has been a church that speaks the truth and is known for loving its community and being a voice of hope. We have continued down that path right in the heart of Kansas City, with the opening of a campus in Johnson County, Kansas!
Why is Abundant Life in Johnson County?
Abundant Life’s mission is to see lives changed by Jesus, and we do that by being living proof of a loving God to a watching world.
One way we carry out this mission is through multiplication. The early church cast the vision for multiplication in the book of Acts, where Paul and other apostles left Jerusalem to bring the gospel and plant churches in new cities and countries (Acts 13:2-3). The New Testament church was all about everyone living with a “sent” mentality.
This growth mindset has led Abundant Life to become a multisite movement of one church in many locations. From physical campuses throughout the Kansas City Metro, to a prison campus at the Tipton Correctional Center, to church houses around North America, we have seen many lives changed by Jesus. We anticipate God continuing this work with our expansion into Johnson County, Kansas.
The Great Commission says…
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” –Matthew 28:19-20 (emphasis added).
Jesus always intended for the church to be a movement that would change the world locally and globally. When He said to make disciples of all nations, He knew it wouldn’t be done from one location. Our goal is to be a launching pad for campuses and churches to reach people and see lives changed by Jesus.
While the need for churches is everywhere, statistically, new churches and campuses reach more people who are far from God. We are convinced that we will always reach people far from God when we launch new gatherings and places in new spaces. Whether planting a church or launching a campus, we are committed to the Great Commission vision of multiplication.
God’s Work from the Beginning
In Acts 1:8 Jesus said…
“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”—Acts 1:8 (emphasis added).
Our Jerusalem is the local community in Kansas City, and Johnson County is part of that community. Home to over 600,000 people, it is an influential part of the metro.
Abundant Life’s campus is located in the heart of Johnson County, at the intersection of three major cities: Olathe, Overland Park, and Lenexa. The renovation process to update the building has been a great opportunity to establish a gospel presence in Johnson County.
Throughout the process of launching this campus, God has done the impossible, doing more than we could ask or think to prepare the way for Abundant Life Johnson County.
We partnered with Walnut Grove Elementary School to provide volunteers for their school carnival and hosted a back-to-school meal for their entire staff. The school allows us to use their parking lots to accommodate guests on Sunday mornings and for weekly events. As the school year approaches, we are working to continue our partnership with them.
We also partnered with Shawnee Mission Schools to deliver Thanksgiving boxes for families this past fall. We are grateful for these schools' support in achieving our mission to see lives changed by Jesus.
God has truly done exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think as we prepared to launch this campus.
- “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”—Ephesians 3:20-21
The DNA of Abundant Life
If the church is a body, then there is DNA, just like a human body has DNA that defines who they are. When it comes to Abundant Life campuses, you will find that the DNA is the same regardless of the campus you attend. The physical building, people, events, and ministries may vary, but the core of who we are remains the same.
The DNA of the Abundant Life body is our mission, vision, and core values.
Mission: To see lives changed by Jesus.
Vision: To be living proof of a loving God to a watching world.
Core Values:
- Worship
- Serving
- Generosity
- Evangelism
- Discipleship
- Community
Part of preserving our DNA at Abundant Life is making a way for everyone across campuses to simultaneously hear the same message from the same person. We do this through livestreaming the same sermon to each campus weekly. By broadcasting the same sermons weekly, the church ensures consistency in its vision, mission, and message for all members, regardless of which campus they attend.
We Want to Meet People Where They Are
In the Great Commission, Jesus sent the apostles to break new ground in new places, plant churches, and reach people. The word apostle means “sent one.” In an apostolic ministry, you’re breaking new ground in new places and taking the gospel to new people. Abundant Life strives for that kind of ministry. We always seek to go somewhere new to reach people who are far from God with the gospel.
Many people are brokenhearted, going through trials of various kinds, and looking for answers and truth. Let’s point them to the One who can completely change their lives by:
- Turning anger into joy
- Replacing pain with love
- Trading bitterness for forgiveness
How the Campus Has Grown
“…I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”—John 10:10
People often care more about what they see than what we say. The heart of the Abundant Life Johnson County campus is to build real, genuine relationships with the community. The Lord has opened doors for the campus staff and volunteers to build relationships with local schools, businesses, and the city council, which builds bridges for future partnerships to advance God’s kingdom.
One of the first ministries started at the Johnson County campus is an international student ministry. The team built relationships with international students and has seen many of them come to Christ. They also offer resources to equip international students as they pursue education and careers.
The Johnson County team is also excited about their special needs ministry. The Lord has uniquely provided people and the space to lead this ministry for individuals with special needs to learn about Jesus in a safe and welcoming environment.
The campus is preparing to launch Abundant Life’s recovery ministry, Regeneration, and young adult ministry, Paradigm, this fall. These ministries have touched many lives at other campuses, and we’re excited to offer them at the Johnson County campus, inviting people to experience life change.
What We’re Believing for God to do
“Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”—Matthew 9:37-38
Abundant Life is a church for all people. Whether you are a college student or young adult looking to discover God’s purpose for your life, a high school student looking to build godly relationships, or a parent desiring a church home for your family, Abundant Life Johnson County exists to help you establish a personal relationship with Jesus.
We are praying for and believing that God will move and use this campus for all generations within the Johnson County area. We believe God will give us the ability to reach the youngest and the oldest generations to grow His kingdom.
Join Us at Abundant Life Johnson County!
We can't wait to welcome you to our new home. Discover a welcoming community and join us for weekly Sunday services, with dedicated ministries for children, youth, and adults throughout the week. Come be a part of God’s work in Johnson County! Plan your visit today.