On June 19th, 1865 in Galveston Texas the last slaves in the United States received news of their freedom. Though the Emancipation Proclamation was written and released some two and a half years earlier, it took all that time to reach them. The day was obviously significant for them but it soon began to be celebrated throughout the south as a day when freedom formally was enacted for all.More rece...  Read More

This Sunday is going to be a special one at The Gathering for two reasons. First, we will be welcoming Ezequiel Nhantumbo and his wife Celia all the way from Mozambique! Ezy has been our Mozambique Initiative Representative since the inception of our partnership. He has hosted many teams from The Gathering (and all over Missouri) over his over 20 year span in this role. He is the main link between...  Read More

I remember as a teenager, someone described life to me as a mountain. The best way to climb it is with someone ahead of you and someone behind you. The person ahead of you is a little further along the path that you are traveling. They have seen things up ahead that you have not seen and accumulated experience that you have yet to accumulate. Most importantly, these are folks who can reach back an...  Read More

CoreGroup Guide | The Christian Parent’s Field Guide - Part 4Written by Denee Bowers and Melissa RossWelcomeAs we come to the end of this sermon series, we also come to the end of our CoreGroup year. We hope you have a rich conversation about this week’s scripture, and the idea of parents as consultants. When our kids reach adulthood the dynamics of the relationship shift in ways that could apply ...  Read More

After a busy season of ministry, I spent some time yesterday doing something I haven’t done enough of recently. I rested. I didn’t sleep or lay around but instead I did a few things that bring me joy. They were pretty simple things. A morning run, reading with a cup of coffee, a conversation with an old friend that was planned, an impromptu visit with another friend that was not, and time in the k...  Read More

CoreGroup Guide | The Christian Parent’s Field Guide - Part 3Written by Melissa Ross and Denee BowersWelcomeParenting! In some ways it feels easier to focus on the early years when children’s needs are immediate and demand active responses from parents. But these “hands on” duties shift as children grow older and become more independent. So far in this sermon series we have explored the role of pa...  Read More