See Our Impact

Donors in Action

For these donors, giving to the enduring ministry of Resurrection Foundation has had a profound impact on their own lives. Listen to the legacy stories of Marty Mather and Margaret Nelson as told by our Senior Pastor, Adam Hamilton, and read the stories below to learn what has inspired them to such generosity.

Margaret Nelson

Margaret was one of our founding members, but was quiet and not as well known. She was a pre-school teacher much of her life. She wasn’t a person of great means. She married late in life and her husband had his money, and she had hers. She taught preschool and Sunday School at Church of the Resurrection, and took photos of church activities. She worshiped and served wherever needed. Margaret loved God and loved children. Several years ago her husband died, but even before his death...

Marty Mather

Marty Mather was a Methodist pastor’s daughter. She’d been a pillar in churches her entire life. She joined Resurrection almost 30 years. She devoted herself to teaching Disciple Bible Study, to leading 27 of these groups with an average of 15 people each, over over twenty years mentoring more than 400 people through our most in-depth Bible study. Her students became pastors, staff persons, lay leaders or ordinary Christians living their faith differently because they had know Marty. With...

Val and Rob Smith

Val and Rob Smith have been Resurrection members since 2004. Beginning as “nominal Christians,” they’ve been greatly impacted by their spiritual and serving experiences at Resurrection and wanted to find a way to help others have a similar experience. With no children, their estate planning focused on determining the best use and application of their residual estate for the greatest impact. They have felt so blessed in their lives and wanted to find a way to share those blessings with others....

A Legacy of Faith – Larry Hanna

Larry Hanna was a husband, father, WWII veteran, and lifelong, active Methodist. His faith journey influenced many and will continue to do so as a result of the generous gift he left the Resurrection Foundation when he passed in 2018. He lived his life by faith, raised his family with faith, and through his estate planning has ensured that others can receive the gift of faith. His gift enables the Church of the Resurrection to be a witness to faith for...

Jean Thuma and her ABC Class Seminary Scholarship

I have chosen to leave a legacy to Church of the Resurrection because I believe the church’s mission and ministry is the most important work in our community and the world. God has provided for my family through the years, and I’m thankful to be able, through this legacy, to continue supporting our church after I’m gone. The church has been important in the lives of my husband, Lowell Thuma, and me. We started attending here after his retirement, as a Pastor of 50 years, to serve God along...

Ray Smith

I began playing the organ for my church at age 14, and I am also a CPA. As such, I realize that all of the money I have saved for retirement will be taxed if I pass it on to my beneficiaries. It took me 10 minutes to change the beneficiary on my retirement accounts to the Foundation, so that 100% of the money I have saved can go tax free to benefit the church. And it required no changes to my will. As an organist, the future of our church music program is important to me, so I designated the...

Builder’s Class Seminary Scholarship Fund

Dick Radford is a long-time member of Church of the Resurrection Builder’s Sunday School class. Dick and his deceased wife, Dorothy, gave a generous gift to the Resurrection Foundation, to establish a new seminary scholarship fund. Each year the class looks forward to helping a Resurrection seminary student with a much-needed scholarship. Dick and Dorothy, as part of the Foundation’s John Wesley Legacy Society, wanted to help seminary students who will serve in the United Methodist ministry...

Tom Schmidt’s Legacy

My brother, Tom Schmidt, was born with Down Syndrome in 1957. Our family loved and nurtured him so he could become all that God envisioned. Tom graduated from the special education program at Shawnee Mission North High School. His education equipped him to enter the workforce, and he worked for 30 years in the food services industry. Our family was so proud of the caring service he gave to others. His employers were appreciative of his dependability and recognized the value he brought. Tom...

Doug and Nan Smith

In 1985, just a few weeks after Doug and I were married, we joined Metropolitan Avenue United Methodist Church. As I reflect on our marriage’s early years, I can see Jesus laying a foundation for Doug and me to eventually become part of The Church of the Resurrection foundation. Metropolitan Avenue was a wonderful place full of well-seasoned Christians who had many life experiences and lots of sage advice to share. Doug jumped right in and joined the board of trustees. I worked in children’s...

Gifts in Action

The recipients of Resurrection Foundation gifts are able to experience the love and care of God through the scholarships, grants, and funds made possible by Foundation donors. Read their stories of transformation and renewal below.

Supporting Treatment for Children with Special Needs

Due to the generous legacy bequest of Dr. James Russell, the Resurrection Foundation was able to make two grants in 2017 totaling $125,000 to the Britain Infant Development Center at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. This was in addition to a $50,000 grant provided by the church's 2017 Easter missions offering. The Britain Development Center offers holistic approaches to child development, therapy and early education. It involves family members in multi-disciplinary care. The grants from the...

Amie Littrell Hennig Family Seminary Fellowship Fund

I felt called to preach and lead the church in 2015. It was like Jeremiah, ‘an intense fire in my heart’ (Jer. 20:9 CEB). At the same time, Rod and Sharon Hennig were answering their call to set up a Fellowship Endowment with the Resurrection Foundation. Rod and Sharon‘s fellowship not only gave me the enormous gift of learning, but also formation as a leader. I served on the staff at Church of the Resurrection and learned a great deal about the practice of ministry! During my three-year...

Current Foundation Funds

All gifts are welcome. Undesignated gifts will be allocated to the Resurrection Unrestricted Fund. To establish a new donor-restricted fund, there is a minimum gift requirement.

Resurrection Unrestricted Fund

Church leaders can utilize your planned gift for any ministry or mission.

Changing Lives Fund

Church leaders can utilize your planned gift for ministries at Church of the Resurrection.

Strengthening Churches Fund

Church leaders can utilize your planned gift for ministries that equip churches and train church leaders.

Transforming the World Fund

Church leaders can utilize your planned gift for local and global missions.

Additional Resurrection Foundation Funds

Child in Crisis Fund: Grant support to assist children in harm’s way due to loss, abandonment, or crises.
Marty Mather Discipleship Fund: Grant support for curriculum and training that encourages spiritual growth.
Matthew’s Ministry Fund: Grant support for Matthew’s Ministry.
Resurrection Blue Springs Fund: Grant support for the Blue Springs location.
Resurrection Downtown Fund: Grant support for the Downtown location.
Resurrection Leawood Fund: Grant support for the Leawood location.
Resurrection Overland Park Fund: Grant support for the Overland Park location.
Resurrection West Fund: Grant support for the West location.
Traditional Music Fund: Grant support for the traditional music program.
Seminary Education Scholarship: Seminary scholarship for an active Resurrection member.
Seminary Tuition Grant Fund: Grant support for active Resurrection member who is an inquiring candidate, declared candidate, course of study participant, or candidacy summit participant.
Thuma Scholarship: Seminary scholarship for active United Methodist at Saint Paul School of Theology.
Undergraduate Ministry Education Scholarship: Undergraduate scholarship for an active Resurrection member attending a United Methodist university/college to study ministry.
Global Honduras Education Fund: Grant support for students-in-need attending school in Honduran mission context.
Seward Mission Trip Scholarship Fund: Grant support for mission trip scholarships through Church of the Resurrection.
Local Missions Support Fund: Grant support for missions within the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area.
Prison Ministry Fund: Grant support for ministry with those in prison or re-entry programs.
Facility Maintenance Fund: Grant support for long-term facility maintenance.

Ways To Give