Three Congregations Under One Roof
Central Church of the Nazarene sits on 87th Street Parkway in Lenexa, Kansas, in the heart of the Kansas City metropolitan area. What sets the church apart from most Nazarene congregations is that it does not gather as one uniform body. Since its early decades, Central has deliberately built itself as a multicultural church, and on any given Sunday the same address hosts three distinct congregations that worship in three different languages. More than thirty nations are represented in the overall fellowship, and Lead Pastor Mark Snodgrass regularly describes the church as a "Fellowship of Differents," a community where language, food, custom, story, and skin tone vary widely around a single confession of faith.
The English-speaking congregation meets in the Upper Sanctuary. The Hispanic congregation, called Ministerio Hispano, gathers in the Lower Sanctuary. The Brazilian congregation, or Ministério Brasileiro, meets in the same Lower Sanctuary on Sunday evening. All three share the same building, the same pastors' offices, the same KidCentral Preschool classrooms, and the same food pantry at the west doors. They also share an annual tradition called the March of Nations, when all three congregations gather together for one combined service on Pentecost Sunday, waving the flags of the more than thirty countries represented in the fellowship.
From a Rented Room in 1940 to 87th Street Parkway
Central began in 1940, when a small group of Nazarene believers met in a rented building in Kansas City, Kansas. The world was at war and uncertainty marked nearly every turn, but a missionary zeal pushed the early members forward. Within a short time the congregation purchased a building at 10th and Pacific, where lives were changed and the church grew enough to relocate to 18th and Barnett in the 1960s. In 1981 Central moved to its present home at 12600 West 87th Street Parkway in Lenexa.
Through more than eight decades, generations of pastors and laypeople have served at Central, and the congregation has remained a member of the Church of the Nazarene, a worldwide holiness denomination with roots in the revivals of the early twentieth century. The denomination today numbers more than 2.7 million members worshiping in over 30,000 Nazarene congregations in 165 world areas. Central's mission is shaped by that larger family: make Christlike disciples in the nations, beginning right here in Lenexa.
What Central Believes
Central's doctrinal summary lines up with the Church of the Nazarene's historic Articles of Faith. The church confesses one God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - and teaches that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the new birth and to entire sanctification of believers. The Old and New Testament Scriptures, given by plenary inspiration, are regarded as containing all truth necessary to faith and Christian living.
Central teaches that human beings are born with a fallen nature inclined to evil, and that whosoever repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is justified, regenerated, and saved from the dominion of sin. Sanctification is described as a work subsequent to regeneration, accomplished through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The church also affirms the Second Coming of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and a final judgment in which the finally impenitent are hopelessly and eternally lost.
Those convictions are lived out through five core values the staff calls a "whole-life response to who God is." They are Passionate Worship, Life-Giving Community, Christ-like Living, Abundant Generosity, and Purposeful Mission. A weekly e-mail newsletter called The Loop keeps the congregation in step with the way those values are being worked out in the days ahead.
Sundays on the Upper and Lower Levels
Central runs two English-speaking services on Sunday morning in the Upper Sanctuary on the second floor: one at 9:00 AM and one at 10:30 AM. Both services are led from the platform by the Worship Arts team and follow a similar blended flow with a full band, vocal team, and choir contributing at various points in the service. Communion is celebrated periodically, including the first Sunday of each month.
The Hispanic service begins at 10:30 AM on the first floor in the Lower Sanctuary, with Spanish as the primary language and English interpretation available for those who need it. The Brazilian service, called the Culto de Celebração, meets at 7:00 PM on Sunday evenings in the Lower Sanctuary. Children's ministry is provided during the Brazilian service so that parents can worship while their kids take part in age-appropriate activities.
First-time visitors are greeted at every entrance. The main lot off 87th Street Parkway leads to a large glass entrance, while the east and west lots funnel worshipers under covered porticos. Greeters are stationed at each door, and a Welcome Center in the main lobby offers a free gift and a Central Café coffee. The dress code is simple: come as you are, anywhere from jeans to business casual.
Life Groups: The Sunday Morning Classroom
Before and between the English services, Central runs an extensive Life Groups program for adults. At 9:00 AM and again at 10:30 AM, classes meet on both the upper and lower levels, with discussion-based studies for nearly every demographic.
Cornerstone, led by Todd Hayes, gathers adults in their thirties through fifties in Fellowship Hall 101 on the lower level, working through lessons drawn from a well-known Christian author. Journey, taught by Frank Moore, uses The Foundry Publishing's scope-and-sequence curriculum to move through the whole Bible in a lecture-discussion format at 10:30 AM in the Upper West Commons. Faith in Action, led by Jeff Sykes, is an intergenerational class that combines prayer, Scripture study, and discussion in Fellowship Hall 103. Salt & Light, led by Joe Magnant, works through Foundry material with a strong emphasis on relating ancient texts to current-day living.
Younger adults and families have their own options. The Study, with Darren Reed, follows the scripture Pastor Mark preaches from each week. In His Steps...What Now?, led by Graham MacCallum and Peggy Poteet, uses Foundry curriculum in a lecture-discussion format at 10:30 AM. Young Families, led by Jacob Taylor, gathers couples with kids and young marrieds for teaching and discussion at 10:30 AM in Fellowship Hall 101. An I-Gen Group at 9:00 AM, led by Duane Brush, draws a mixed-age crowd for topical Bible studies. Pastor Jonathan Acre leads the Young Adults Life Group at 9:00 AM in Room 230.
The Hispanic and Brazilian congregations run their own parallel small-group ministries. In the Hispanic ministry a basic discipleship class meets at 9:00 AM on Sundays, and the Brazilian ministry runs an Estudo Bíblico on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.
Wednesday Evenings Around the Tables
Wednesday is Central's second weekly gathering day, and the building fills again with kids, students, and adults in midweek discipleship. Dinner is provided for children before programming begins at 6:30 PM. Early Childhood and Nursery classes run at the same time in Room 106 on the lower level, while DIVE students in first through fifth grade meet in the Elementary Children's Center. Middle school students (grades six through eight) gather in Fellowship Hall, and the high school group fills the Student Center with worship, a game, a message, and small-group discussion from 6:30 PM until about 8:15 PM.
Adults have options too. Firm Foundation, led by Adam Rhodes, runs from 6:30 to 8:00 PM in Room 205 for adults who want to grow deeper with God. A Hispanic Bible study (Grupo de Vida) runs at 6:30 PM in Room 104 on the lower level, led by Pastors David and Tabita González. Children's Bible Quizzing takes place from August through March, with students meeting at 5:00 PM in Room 202 to study Scripture and drill one another in friendly competition.
The food pantry, one of the church's largest community ministries, opens its doors twice on Wednesday. Mornings from 9:00 AM to noon the pantry distributes groceries on the west side of the building, and on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM it reopens for working families who could not make it earlier in the day. The pantry also opens on Thursday mornings from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Children from the Nursery Through Fifth Grade
Bethany Tibbs oversees children and family ministry at Central as Pastor to Children and Families, with Heidi Holmes leading Early Childhood and Nursery as its director. The children's wing is organized around three age-graded environments: Nursery (birth through age two), Early Childhood (three-year-olds through kindergarten), and Elementary (first through fifth grade).
Nursery care is offered during every worship service for infants and toddlers up to age two. The rooms are equipped with age-appropriate toys, books, cribs, and a nursing room. Early Childhood classes meet at 9:00 AM in small-group Life Groups, then gather as a whole group for worship, storytelling, and prayer stations at 10:30 AM. Wednesday nights include dinner and discipleship from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.
Elementary children follow the same rhythm: small-group Life Groups at 9:00 AM, whole-group worship at 10:30 AM, and a Wednesday evening meal-plus-discipleship hour at 6:30 PM. Five "Faith Foundations" guide everything taught to children: God made us, God loves us, God is with us, God wants us to love Him, and God wants us to love others.
Safety protocols are visible to parents. Every child receives a sticker name tag on check-in, and each family receives a matching parent tag that must be presented for pick-up. Adults who serve on the children's team have all completed a series of trainings, passed a quiz, and run a nationwide criminal background check.
Vacation Bible School is held each summer and draws well over one hundred children and volunteers. Children's Bible Quizzing runs from August through March for kids who want to dig deeper into a specific book of the Bible, and Mom's Fellowship Time offers a monthly informal gathering for moms and their kids, whether they attend Central or not.
Middle School and High School in the Student Center
The youth ministry at Central is led by two pastors. Tyler Zehr serves as Pastor of Youth (Middle School) and Bethany Acre serves as Pastor of Youth & Discipleship, focusing on high school students. The two groups share the Student Center on Wednesday nights and a Sunday-morning Life Group time, but they meet separately on Sundays so the curriculum can speak to each age group.
At 9:00 AM on Sundays, middle school students (sixth through eighth grade) gather in Room 224 on the upper level, while high school students (ninth through twelfth grade) meet in Room 226. Both classes work through a book of the Bible, a discipleship book, a cultural analysis, or a topical series in a discussion-driven format.
Wednesday nights are the busiest rhythm of the youth calendar. Students can arrive at 6:00 PM for food and hangout time. The service begins at 6:30 PM with welcome, announcements, and a game, followed by worship at 7:00 PM, preaching at 7:15 PM, and small group time at 7:45 PM. The night wraps around 8:15 PM. Each summer, students are invited to attend the Nazarene Youth Conference, one of the denomination's marquee youth events.
Young Adults and the Gathering
Young adults between roughly eighteen and thirty-five have their own ministry under Pastor Jonathan Acre. The group meets in three rhythms. A Sunday Life Group at 9:00 AM in Room 230 and another at 10:30 AM dive into Scripture. On Tuesdays at 6:30 PM the group breaks into separate guys' and girls' small groups for more personal conversation. The Gathering, a seasonal six-week Thursday evening series, intentionally pairs a shared meal with discussion of pressing topics.
Seasonal life groups supplement the weekly schedule. A Young Adult Men's Small Group meets on Tuesdays at 6:30 PM in Room 104, while a Young Adult Women's Small Group meets in the Student Center at the same time. On Thursdays at 7:30 PM a group of twenty- and thirty-somethings gathers in the home of Hogan and Cortlyn Spencer for in-depth Bible study and community.
Worship Arts, Band, Choir, and Tech
Worship ministry at Central is led by Chad McAdory, Pastor of Worship Arts, and Brin Eisele, who serves as both Associate Pastor of Worship Arts and Choir Director. Allison Bergerat also directs the choir. The Worship Arts team describes itself as one team with multiple roles: Band, Vocal Team, Orchestra, Choir, and Tech.
The team's stated values include commitment to God through prayer and Scripture, commitment to Central Church through servant-hearted service, commitment to one another with respect and humility, and commitment to excellence both through structure and through flexibility led by the Spirit. Anyone interested in joining the team, whether as a singer, instrumentalist, orchestral musician, choir member, or tech volunteer, is invited to email Pastor Chad.
The church maintains an active livestream presence, broadcasting services on Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo. A sermon podcast (Central Church Online Podcast, available through Buzzsprout) archives recent messages, and Pastor Mark's Blog publishes a weekly pastoral letter that reflects on the lectionary, sermon series, and current events.
Men, Women, and the J.O.Y. Fellowship
Men's ministry at Central runs under the name Ironborn, with a vision of building a brotherhood of men passionate about Christ. Ironborn gathers for signature events, including an annual Steak Night in the parking lot and a Royals Tailgate, and offers ongoing spiritual-growth opportunities. Members describe the ministry using Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Women's ministry is built around the conviction that women are vital in God's kingdom and that unity within diversity is a way of life. A women's Bible study by Priscilla Shirer runs both on Tuesday mornings (9:00 to 11:00 AM) and Wednesday evenings (6:30 to 8:15 PM) under the leadership of Therese Reynolds. A Moms' Bible Study meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 9:30 to 11:30 AM, with childcare provided. Debbie Kirby coordinates the ministry and welcomes new volunteers.
Adults aged fifty and older are served by J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth), which gathers four times a year for lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the second service. The JOGGING ministry - Jesus On the Go - encourages small acts of kindness throughout the wider community. Council members organize the gatherings.
The Food Pantry at the West Doors
The Food Pantry is Central's largest local outreach ministry and serves as a temporary source of groceries for neighbors in need. It is open to the public and no appointment is required. Hours of operation are Wednesday morning (9:00 AM to noon), Wednesday evening (6:00 to 7:30 PM), and Thursday morning (10:00 AM to 1:00 PM). Entrants enter through the west doors of the building at 12600 West 87th Street Parkway.
A Johnson County photo ID is required, and each household may use the pantry once per calendar month. The pantry closes when the Shawnee Mission School District closes for inclement weather. Donations of food or money keep the shelves stocked; the church publishes a Suggested Donations list and accepts monetary gifts through the church's online giving portal.
Foster Care, Shelter KC, and Mission Trips Abroad
Beyond the food pantry, Central runs two regular local partnerships. Through Central Foster Care Communities, the church supports Joy Meadows, a faith-based neighborhood designed for children in foster care and the families who care for them. Jessica Kyle coordinates volunteer participation. On the fourth Friday of each month, a team of Central women serves lunch at the Shelter KC Women's Center at 11:00 AM; Connie Kesselring organizes that effort.
Global missions is woven into the church's identity. Central supports the Church of the Nazarene's World Evangelism Fund, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, Alabaster, World Mission Broadcast, Jesus Film, Work and Witness projects, and missionaries including Angel and Krista Sigui in Ecuador and Roberto and Kristin Encarnacion in Costa Rica.
Two short-term mission trips are on the calendar in the months ahead. A team will travel to Sarapiqui, Costa Rica to construct a new church building alongside missionaries Kristin and Robert Encarnacion. A second team will travel to Novo Airao, Brazil, traveling by boat along the Rio Negro in the Amazon to participate in church renovation, education, health, evangelism, and discipleship ministries. Lead Pastor Mark and his wife Lauren traveled to Côte d'Ivoire in the fall of 2026 to support Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and tour the Ron Farris Medical Clinic near Abidjan.
KidCentral Preschool
Central's newest ministry is KidCentral Preschool, a Christ-centered early-childhood program now enrolling children from six weeks to age five. The preschool is located in the same 87th Street Parkway building as the church, with a downstairs remodel adding classrooms, new flooring, fresh paint, and an expanded playground.
Hours run from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM during the regular day, with extended care available from 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tuition varies by age and schedule, with monthly rates published on the school's page for infants and toddlers (six weeks through age two) and preschoolers (ages three through five) on Monday-Wednesday-Friday, Tuesday-Thursday, and Monday-through-Friday schedules. Heidi Holmes leads the program as Preschool Director. The mission is to provide a Christ-centered preschool education where children can grow spiritually, thrive emotionally, flourish socially, and develop intellectually as families experience the life-giving community of Central Church.
Open Hands: Giving at Central
Generosity is one of Central's five core values, and the church offers multiple ways to give. Gifts can be dropped in the offering plates during services, delivered to the church office Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, or mailed to 12600 W 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66215. Online giving through a secure portal accepts credit and debit cards and checking or savings accounts.
An annual board report tracks how the year's ministry funds were spent across the three language congregations, KidCentral Preschool, missions, facilities, and outreach. The most recent infographic is published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Beyond financial giving, Central asks every member to find a place to serve. A Get Connected form routes newcomers to ministry areas such as Kids, Youth, Men's Ministry, Women's Ministry, Senior Adults, Young Adults, Worship, and Local or Global Missions. Internships are available for young adults exploring ministry as a vocation.
To plan a visit, anyone can fill out a short online form on the Plan a Visit page. A Guest Services team will meet new arrivals in the main lobby, give a brief tour, introduce them to a few new friends, and help them find a seat. The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and the phone line at (913) 541-2600 connects visitors and members alike to the staff.