Hi Legacy Family,

We are thrilled to announce that Dave VanDonge has accepted the call to serve as Legacy’s new Senior Pastor! After much prayer and discernment, we are confident God has led us to the right leader for this next chapter in Legacy’s journey. Dave brings with him a deep love for God’s Word, 26 years of pastoral experience, and a genuine heart for shepherding God’s people.

Dave will be a tremendous blessing to Legacy Christian Church, and we can’t wait for you to meet him! Let’s give God the glory as Dave, his wife Rachel, and their kids prepare to step into this new season of life and ministry. Thank you for your continued prayers for the VanDonge family and for Legacy Christian Church as we continue to Advance the Kingdom together!

To hear a message from our church leadership, please click here: Introducing Our New Senior Pastor.  

To hear a message from Dave, go to lcc.org/new-senior-pastor.

Hi Legacy Family,

God has been faithfully guiding Legacy Christian Church in our search for a new Senior Pastor. Over the past several months, our Search Team has spent many hours in prayerful discernment and meaningful conversations with several gifted candidates.

We are excited to share that the team has unanimously recommended a candidate to our Administrative Elders—who have also engaged with him through interviews and meaningful dialogue. Together, we clearly sense God’s hand in this moment and are hopeful about where He is leading.

We are currently working with the candidate and his family to plan a visit to Kansas City this May for further conversations and connection. Please continue to pray for wisdom, unity, and clarity as we take these next important steps together. God is at work, and we can’t wait to see what He has in store!

And speaking of what God has in store—this past Easter was a powerful reminder of how God is moving through Legacy Christian Church. We praise God that we saw more people worship at Legacy this Easter than at any other time in our 56-year history! Last week, over 3,600 people across our five campuses heard the message of Jesus Christ and His resurrection power! Praise be to God!

We are especially encouraged to see how the Project Advance initiative is helping us continue to advance the Kingdom—together. It is obvious that so many of you are living out the challenge to renew your focus to PRAY, TELL, and GIVE. We welcomed hundreds of guests this Easter weekend because of you—your intentional invitations to friends, neighbors, and family opened the door for them to encounter Jesus.

We are deeply thankful for each of you and the way you continue to live out the mission of making disciples. This Sunday, Pastor Randy Gariss will kick off a brand-new sermon series through the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. Don’t miss it—and don’t come alone! Invite a friend to join you for worship and experience what God is doing at Legacy.

Stay updated on our pastor search journey here. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Hi Legacy Family,

We have several important updates to share with you regarding our ongoing Senior Pastor search, leadership transitions, and church bylaws.

Senior Pastor Search Update
The Senior Pastor Search Team has been having meaningful conversations with several strong men of God, and it is clear that God is at work as the process moves forward. As the Search Team and Administrative Elders continue this process of discernment and engagement, we invite you to join them in prayer and fasting over the next few weeks (specific prayer requests are listed below).

Lee’s Summit Campus Transition
After much prayerful discernment, Zach Epps and the Administrative Elders agree that this is the right time for Zach to be released from his staff responsibilities at Legacy to unreservedly pursue the path God is charting for him. Our elder team has been walking closely with Zach, and there is a shared sense of clarity and unity in this transition. On Sunday, March 30, at the Lee’s Summit Campus, we will celebrate with Zach at the end of both services as he shares his heart with the campus he has faithfully served. This will be a special moment to thank him, honor his family, and spend time praying together as a church family. Please pray for Zach, Raegan, Isaac, and Baby Epps (on the way!) as they step into this new season.

We are very excited to announce that Blake Barnhart has been appointed as the next Campus Pastor for Legacy’s Lee’s Summit Campus. This transition has been thoughtfully prepared for, and we are confident in Blake’s leadership! Pray for Blake and his wife, Jaymi, as he steps into this new leadership role.

Bylaws Update
As previously communicated, the Bylaws of Legacy Christian Church have been comprehensively updated. You can find more details and access the current bylaws here.

We are grateful for all that God is doing through Legacy Christian Church! Remain steadfast in your faith in the Lord and continue supporting the staff and leadership through your love and prayers.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for wisdom and discernment in the ongoing Senior Pastor search.
• Pray for Legacy to remain united as we seek God’s will together.
• Pray for God to prepare and strengthen our next Senior Pastor and his family.
• Pray for God to sustain Legacy’s team of staff. Ask for encouragement, endurance, and unity as they continue leading faithfully.
• Pray for a spirit of patience, hope, and trust in God’s guidance for this next season.

Monthly updates from our leadership team can be found here – we are committed to keeping you informed every step of the way. Thank you for your continued prayers and support!

Mike Shelton, Chairman of the Elders
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Hi Legacy Family,

• A CALLING to lead Legacy Christian Church.
• A passion for teaching and keeping the TRUTH of God’s Word.
• Strong collaborative LEADERSHIP skills and VISION to guide the church.
• A loving PASTOR’S HEART to care for and disciple the staff, the congregation, and the community.

Given the continued discussions with the candidates, an additional member of Legacy’s pastoral staff team has started to assist in the next interview rounds, bringing supplemental pastoral experience and wisdom. Once the candidate pool further narrows, the search team will recommend the candidate(s) to the Administrative Elders for final consideration, including in-person interviews with the elders and key staff before finalizing a decision to hire.

• God’s covering over Legacy – specifically our staff, search team, and elders.
• Legacy’s next Senior Pastor and his family.
• Trust in God’s timing and preparation for Legacy’s next season.

Hi Legacy Family,

We hope your 2025 is off to a great start! As we reflect on God’s faithfulness, we are humbled and excited to share some highlights of how He blessed Legacy Christian Church in 2024:

1. Incredible Growth:

• Onsite Sunday worship attendance grew by 8%, averaging 2,044 each week.
• Including online attendance, our weekly average reached 2,437!

2. New Guests Welcomed:

• Over 1,800 first-time guests worshiped with us last year—a testament to your dedication to inviting friends and family to experience biblical community and the teaching of God’s Word.

3. Baptisms Celebrated:

• More than 180 individuals were baptized this past year – choosing to go all in with their faith and make Jesus the Lord and Savior of their life!

We thank God for building His Church through every season and are eager to see what He has in store for 2025!

 Senior Pastor Search Update
As we continue the search for Legacy’s next Senior Pastor, The Slingshot Group continues to actively interview candidates. They are very close to narrowing down a few individuals to present to the Senior Pastor Search Team for consideration. Please continue to pray for wisdom and discernment as we seek God’s guidance in this process.

We look forward to an incredible year ahead and can’t wait to see the amazing things that God has planned for all of us at Legacy Christian Church!

Mike Shelton, Chairman of the Elders 
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Hi Legacy Family,

The Slingshot Group, the firm assisting with Legacy’s Senior Pastor search, continues to receive inquiries from candidates across the nation. We remain diligent in evaluating the candidates to ensure alignment with Legacy’s principles and senior pastor profile. We are very encouraged by the candidate response and look forward to God’s leading as we move into the new year.

We understand this journey may feel uncertain at times, but we also know WHO leads us, and we will continue to be patient knowing that we are working in God’s timing to find the leader He has prepared for Legacy.

As we reflect on 2024, on behalf of Legacy’s team of staff and those directly involved in the search process, let us say “Thank You” for your steadfastness and relentless support. So many of you have dropped us notes of encouragement or told us of your prayers – while also encouraging us “not to rush” this important process and decision. Thank you. We so appreciate the heart and faithfulness of Legacy’s people!

Let’s also pause briefly to reflect on the Lord’s blessing in 2024. Legacy continues to thrive, and each Sunday is marked with the opportunity to gather with our church family, worship the Lord, and receive encouragement from the Word through Legacy’s great teaching team led by our Interim Pastor Randy Gariss. We appreciate the loving heart and enthusiasm for God and His people that our staff and volunteers bring each day in service to our Lord Jesus. It is no coincidence that God continues to bless our church with increases in baptism decisions, remarkable attendance growth, and an overall sweet spirit as we continue to serve our Lord Jesus during this time. We are so blessed.

Lastly, we want to give special thanks to Craig Casey for his faithful service as Legacy’s Board Chairman for the past four years. Craig will be transitioning off the Administrative Elder Board in 2025. His leadership and sacrifice during a pivotal time in Legacy’s history have been a tremendous blessing to us all. Thank you, Craig, for your steadfast commitment to the Lord and His church!

Legacy, we ask you to continue to be steadfast in your faith in Jesus and to support our staff and leadership during this interim time and pray expectantly for God to reveal His will and His man for the senior pastor role.

Please continue praying for the following:

• God’s covering over Legacy and her people, our great staff, the Senior Pastor Search Team, our Elders and families, The Slingshot Group, and for Legacy’s next Senior Pastor and his family.
• Strength and protection for Randy and Julie Gariss as they continue serving God at Legacy during this interim time.
• A spirit of surrender among the family of God at Legacy as we continue to trust His timing.

All monthly updates can be found here to catch the history and latest news on our pastor search journey. We’re dedicated to keeping you informed every step of the way.

Mike Shelton & Joel DeBoer, Senior Pastor Search Team Leaders

Hi Legacy Family, 

Here’s a quick update on the Senior Pastor search—plus some additional exciting news about what God is doing at Legacy. Keep reading the entire message so you don’t miss out! Mike Shelton and Joel DeBoer, the Senior Pastor Search Team leaders, continue to work diligently with Slingshot Group, a professional staffing and coaching firm, to ensure the search process continues to make progress. Slingshot Group is rigorously processing and evaluating hundreds of candidates to identify the ones best aligned with Legacy’s vision, mission, and culture. They continue to lead the effort well and we are committed to trusting God’s perfect timing while waiting for Him to reveal the man He has chosen as our next Senior Pastor! 

This past Sunday evening was an incredible night as individuals from each of Legacy’s campuses gathered for an unforgettable banquet. We are grateful to everyone who worked behind the scenes to make this annual event such a resounding success and to each of you who attended. Your presence was such a blessing as we celebrated Legacy’s rich history and looked forward to the many exciting things that are ahead. The banquet included so many reminders of how God has been and continues to be incredibly faithful to this church. Please take the opportunity to enjoy all or part of this amazing event in the life of Legacy Christian Church by clicking this link. 

We are excited about the news that was unveiled during the banquet. Project Advance is our bold, forward-looking, strategic initiative designed to unite Legacy Christian Church as we partner with God to advance His Kingdom by creating life-changing opportunities to reach more people for Jesus! The success of Project Advance depends on all of Legacy coming together with a renewed focus over the next two years to PRAY, TELL, and GIVE. Please take time today to discover more about this initiative and make your commitment to “Go All In” with God on Project Advance! 

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders 
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor 

Hi Legacy Family,

The Administrative Elders have recently hired a professional firm, Slingshot Group, to assist our ongoing search for Legacy’s Senior Pastor.  Slingshot Group is a staffing and coaching firm with experience in assisting churches like Legacy that are connected to the rich heritage of the Restoration Movement. Since the last update, we have met with the professionals from Slingshot Group to continue the search process. Using their networks and uniquely designed process, Slingshot Group will expand the search and provide Legacy with quality candidates to which we would otherwise not have access. 

Slingshot Group will also assist us in promoting staff health and providing coaching to Legacy’s elder and staff teams to “prepare the soil” for our next leader as God leads us in launching this next chapter of Legacy Christian Church.

After meetings with the Administrative Elders, Shepherding Elders, and Staff, Slingshot Group is now working to develop refined candidate profiles tuned to Legacy’s DNA and culture. Slingshot Group will provide updates to the Senior Pastor Search Team and the Administrative Elders as they fine-tune the search for Legacy and provide vetted candidates for consideration. In keeping with the established process, the Senior Pastor Search Team will prayerfully consider the candidates provided by Slingshot Group and interview those of interest. After much prayer, fasting, and consideration, the Search Team will recommend a candidate or candidates to the Administrative Elders for their consideration, interviews, and final decision.

We do not know the exact timing of when God will provide His man to fill the role of Senior Pastor at Legacy Christian Church. We trust the Lord and His perfect timing and plan and ask you to do the same as Slingshot Group joins us in continuing this diligent process. We are so blessed that during this interim time, Randy Gariss has graciously agreed to continue serving as interim pastor and will continue sharing the pulpit with Legacy’s team of teachers. 

Legacy, we encourage you to remain steadfast in your faith in Jesus and to support the staff and leadership during this interim time and expectantly pray for God to reveal His will and His man for the Senior Pastor role.

Please pray for:

• Slingshot Group as they seek the Lord to discover potential candidates that are the right fit for Legacy.
• The Search Team and the Administrative Elders as they seek God, especially in the next phase of this search.
• Pray that the family of God at Legacy will fully surrender to the Lord’s perfect timing and for clarity.
• Pray for strength and protection for Randy and Julie Gariss as they continue serving God at Legacy during this interim time.
• Pray for God’s covering over Legacy, the Pastor Search Team, our Elders and families, our great staff, and for Legacy’s next Senior Pastor and his family.

All monthly updates can be found here to catch the history and latest news on our pastor search journey. As promised, we will continue providing monthly updates even if there isn’t much new information to report.

Mike Shelton & Joel DeBoer, Senior Pastor Search Team Leaders

Hi Legacy Family,

On Friday, August 30, we shared our most recent update on the senior pastor search. Since then, Legacy has continued meeting with a professional church staffing search firm, and we have now officially contracted with them. This week, our Search Team Leaders began working closely with the firm. The next step is for their team to visit Legacy in October to meet with our Search Team in person.

As a reminder, we are committed to providing regular updates as this national search continues. Even if there are no significant changes, we will keep you informed monthly regarding the current status.

We ask for your continued support of the staff and leadership during this season and for your expectant prayers that God will reveal His will and lead us to His man for the senior pastor role.

Here are specific prayer points we encourage you to pray for daily:
• Legacy’s Teams and their families – Staff, Elders, and Pastor Search Team
• Randy and Julie Gariss as they continue faithfully serving God at Legacy
• God’s peace and protection over the family of God at Legacy Christian Church as we trust in His timing
• God’s covering and continued blessing over Legacy Christian Church
• Legacy’s next Senior Pastor and his family

You can find all previous monthly updates here, along with the latest news on our pastor search journey.

We’re dedicated to keeping you informed every step of the way.

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Hi Legacy Family,

God has recently guided the Administrative Elders to a clear next step in the senior pastor search process. For an extended period now, the primary focus of the Senior Pastor Search Team and Administrative Elders has been to thoroughly consider our internal candidates from Legacy and to seek God for clarity and consensus regarding His will for the next Senior Pastor.

After a great deal of time focused on prayer, fasting, and listening for God’s direction, we have decided that the search for Legacy’s Senior Pastor will now be exclusively focused on external candidates. We want to emphasize the extraordinary talent of the internal candidates, and we trust that God’s perfect plans are unfolding exactly as He wants them for the candidates and for Legacy Christian Church.

Moving forward, our search will include seeking additional help from professional church staffing experts and reaching out to a few candidates who have directly contacted us. Legacy, your work is to continue to support the staff and leadership during this interim time and expectantly pray for God to reveal His will and His man for the senior pastor role.

Please pray for:

• The Search Team and the Administrative Elders as they seek God, especially in the next phase of this search.
• Pray for the family of God at Legacy to surrender to His timing and for clarity.
• Pray for strength and protection for Randy and Julie Gariss as they continue serving God at Legacy during this interim time.
• Pray for God’s covering over Legacy, the Pastor Search Team, our Elders and families, our great staff, and for Legacy’s next Senior Pastor and his family.

All monthly updates can be found here to catch the history and latest news on our pastor search journey. We’re dedicated to keeping you informed every step of the way.

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders
Mike Shelton & Joel DeBoer, Senior Pastor Search Team Leaders

Hi Legacy Family,

The Senior Pastor search continues according to God’s leading and in His timing. We have held interviews and discussions with candidates this summer. We also continue to seek wisdom and council from leaders within the greater Restoration Movement leadership community. We remain committed to providing regular updates, such as this, as it becomes appropriate.

As in previous updates, a primary focus of this update is to earnestly ask that you pray over the following prayer points:

• The Search Team and the Administrative Elder Team are seeking the voice of God in very intentional, specific ways. Please pray for clarity and peace.
  
  
• Pray for God’s timing. Pray that God would fill the Search Team, the Administrative Elders, and the people of Legacy with patience as we actively seek answers from Him. The timeline for this search remains totally in God’s hands.
  
  
• Pray that God would fill the members of the Search Team and the Administrative Elder Team with wisdom and that these teams continue to discern the candidate God has clearly prepared for Legacy.
  
  
• Pray for strength and protection for Randy and Julie Gariss as they continue serving God at Legacy during this interim time.
  
  
• Pray for God’s covering over Legacy, the Pastor Search Team, our Elders and families, our great staff, and for His next Legacy Senior Pastor and his family.
  
  
• Stay in the loop with our monthly updates! You can always visit  here to catch the history and latest news on our pastor search journey. We’re dedicated to keeping you informed every step of the way.
  
  
• Finally, please be in prayer for Legacy‘s newest shepherding elder nominees. Pending the approval of these men, we will celebrate their ordination on September 8. You can review the shepherding examination process and more about ordination by tapping here.

Mike Shelton & Joel DeBoer, Senior Pastor Search Team Leaders

Hi Legacy Family,

Last July, we committed to maintaining clear and consistent communication regarding our search for a Senior Pastor. While the process involves sensitive and confidential steps, we have kept our promise to provide monthly updates. The search is progressing, and the team is taking proactive steps, but there currently isn’t much new to report. The process of determining God’s chosen man for the role of Senior Pastor at Legacy Christian Church is still ongoing. The Senior Pastor Search Team and Administrative Elders continue to be dedicated to this task, investing hours in prayer and counsel. We are blessed to have such a terrific group of leaders at Legacy who are committed to seeking God’s will above all else!

Although this season may seem like a waiting period, we are encouraged and strengthened as God continues to work and move through His people at Legacy. His faithfulness and blessings are evident during this season as Legacy continues to experience spiritual, numerical, and financial growth. Thank you for your commitment to being a Biblical Community Living the Word! Life-change is a key result of making disciples. Seeing and hearing stories of life-change within Legacy’s biblical community is extremely encouraging and exciting. Please take a moment to praise God for the lives changed for eternity so far this year as nearly eighty individuals have gone all in for Jesus and been baptized! We anticipate even more decisions for Christ as Legacy Kids and LSM middle schoolers hear the Gospel message at church camp next week.

Psalm 95 reminds us that everything is in God’s hands; everything is in His control; and nothing surprises Him. Be encouraged and take heart in this season knowing that God’s timing is perfect. We trust Him and ask you to confidently rest in the truth of His perfect timing. Keep making disciples as you continue to pray for God’s blessing on Legacy Christian Church!

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Hi Legacy Family,

The Senior Pastor Search Team continues to work with the Administrative Elder Team in seeking God’s will for the next Senior Pastor for Legacy Christian Church.  The search is progressing according to God’s leading and in His timing.  In an effort to broaden the collective wisdom and the leading of God’s Spirit, the Search Team and the Elders have been in frequent communication and have met to discuss potential candidates. We are committed to providing regular updates, such as this, as it becomes appropriate.

As in previous updates, a primary focus of this update is to earnestly ask that you pray over the following prayer points:

• The Search Team and the Administrative Elder Team are seeking the voice of God in very intentional, specific ways. Please pray for clarity and peace.
• Pray for God’s timing. Pray that God would fill the Search Team, the Administrative Elders, and the people of Legacy with patience as we actively seek answers from Him. The timeline for this search remains totally in God’s hands.
• Pray that God would fill the members of the Search Team and the Administrative Elder Team with wisdom and that these teams continue to discern the candidate God has clearly prepared for Legacy.
• Pray for strength and protection for Randy and Julie Gariss as they continue serving God at Legacy during this interim time.
• Pray for God’s covering over Legacy, the Pastor Search Team, our Elders and families, our great staff, and for His next Legacy Senior Pastor and his family.

Stay in the loop with our monthly updates! You can always check here to catch the history and latest news on our pastor search journey. We’re dedicated to keeping you informed every step of the way.

Mike Shelton & Joel DeBoer, Senior Pastor Search Team Leaders

Hi Legacy Family,

As the summer season begins, we are reflecting on all that has happened over the past year. It’s hard to believe that ten months have passed since Pastor Reggie went to be with Jesus last July. Many significant events have taken place during this season, and we want to share some key highlights from Legacy’s Senior Pastor journey.

• July 6, 2023 – Pastor Reggie graduates to glory. He served 23 years of leadership at Legacy Christian Church.
• July & August 2023 – We grieved the loss of our pastor, leader, and friend while making plans to stabilize the church and begin the search for Legacy’s next Senior Pastor.
• September 2023 – The Senior Pastor Search Team was assembled under the leadership of Mike Shelton and Joel DeBoer (two godly men who have served for many years in the role of Elder at Legacy Christian Church).
• September & October 2023 – The Leadership team worked diligently to define the profile for Legacy’s next Senior Pastor as well as the process for finding this individual.
• End of November 2023 – Randy Gariss began as Legacy’s Interim Pastor.
• November & December 2023 – Many hours were spent praying and developing the Senior Pastor Search Team into a cohesive team dedicated to seeking and fulfilling God’s will.
• January & February 2024 – A list of approximately 40 potential candidates were reviewed and ongoing discussions were held with individuals who were considered possible candidates for the Senior Pastor role.
• March & April 2024 – Ongoing prayer and additional discussions took place with potential candidates.
• Present – The Search and Leadership Teams continue to diligently pray and seek God’s will for the best candidate for the role of Senior Pastor.

We know this may seem like a long journey, but remember this process is about God’s perfect timing and plan. God is faithful and we continue to trust Him!

As we continue to put our trust in the Lord, we want to express our deep gratitude for the members of the Senior Pastor Search Team. We can’t say thank you enough to these men and women who have spent countless hours praying, seeking, and working together to find the next man to lead our church. We also want to express our gratitude to Randy Gariss for his continued investment in Legacy Christian Church during this transition period. Randy and Julie have sacrificed many weekends (and hours during the week) ministering to the flock at Legacy. Finally, we want to express our gratitude to you! This church family is amazing. Thank you for your continued support, patience, grace, and prayers. Please keep praying for and supporting the Search and Leadership Teams as they continue with the work of finding God’s man!

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Hi Legacy Family,

The Senior Pastor Search Team continues to prayerfully vet potential senior pastor candidates. The Team has held additional interview discussions and is currently seeking God’s guidance relative to these men. The Team is very much in the thick of the process currently. We are committed to providing regular updates, such as this, as it becomes appropriate.

The focus of this update is to earnestly ask that you pray over the following prayer points:

• The Search team is seeking the voice of God in very intentional, specific ways. Please pray for clarity and peace.
  
  
• Pray for God’s timing. Pray that God would fill the Search Team, the Administrative Elders, and the people of Legacy with patience as we actively seek answers from Him. The timeline for this search is totally in God’s hands.
  
  
• Pray that God would fill the members of the Search Team and the Administrative Elders with wisdom. The Search Team continues to discern the candidate God has clearly prepared for Legacy and they will eventually recommend this man to the Administrative Elders for their evaluation.
  
  
• Pray for strength and protection for Randy and Julie Gariss as they continue serving God at Legacy during this interim time.
  
  
• Pray for God’s covering over Legacy, the Pastor Search Team and our families, our great staff, and for His next Legacy Senior Pastor and his family.

Stay in the loop with our monthly updates! You can always visit this web page to catch the history and latest news on our pastor search journey. We’re dedicated to keeping you informed every step of the way.

Mike Shelton & Joel DeBoer, Senior Pastor Search Team Leaders

Hi Legacy Family,

We want to express our deep gratitude for your patience, unwavering dedication, and steadfast support during this season of growth and transition at Legacy. Your prayers, encouragement, and commitment to the work of God continue to be a testament to His faithfulness. We are incredibly blessed to have such a great church family. It truly is exciting to see so many individuals living out Legacy’s vision of being a Biblical Community Living the Word!

In our previous all-church communication in January, we highlighted the necessity of updating Legacy’s by-laws to better align with the vision, mission, and strategy of our multi-site congregation. This update is a collective effort to strengthen our church body and showcase Legacy Christian Church to potential Senior Pastor Candidates. The Administrative Board of Elders is unified that this update is necessary, and thus, we request that all covenant members of Legacy Christian Church prayerfully consider voting “Yes” for the proposed change. On Saturday, March 16, 2024, all active covenant members will receive an email containing a link to review the proposed amendment and then cast their vote electronically. Voting will conclude at 11:59pm on Sunday, March 31, 2024. For those unable to vote electronically, paper ballots will be available at all of Legacy’s Connection Centers for the next two Sundays. Should you have questions regarding this update or the process, please email or call the church office, and a member of our team will respond promptly. This voting process will serve as the congregational meeting referred to in previous communication.

God is on the move, and we continue to see Him use each of you to make disciples! As we approach Easter Sunday, be encouraged and mindful that this special day offers us a unique opportunity to share the love of Christ. We are praying that you will be bold and intentional in your witness, knowing that the power of the resurrection compels us to share the Good News with everyone we encounter!

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders 
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Hi Legacy Family,

• Please praise God for His blessing on Legacy and her people. God is moving and is growing Legacy. We are sensing God’s Spirit moving among us and preparing us for the next chapter.
  
  
• Pray for Randy and Julie Gariss as they serve God during this interim time. What a blessing they are to us all!
  
  
• Pray for God’s covering over Legacy, the Pastor Search Team and our families, our great staff, and for His next Legacy Senior Pastor and his family.
  
  
• Please pray specifically that the Senior Pastor Search Team and leadership surrender self, listen, discern, and submit to God’s will.

The Senior Pastor Search Team asks that you, as Jesus’ followers:

• Practice patience and positivity.
• Pray for these same disciplines of surrendering, listening, discerning and submission to God’s will in your lives.
• We urge you to add moments of listening to God into your prayer life. “Pray without ceasing,” 1 Thes 5:17.

Hi Legacy Family,

We are praying that you have had a great start to 2024! The Legacy Staff Team spent time this past week reflecting on the many ways God has amazed us with His unwavering faithfulness over the last year. Take a moment to see some of the ways He has moved: 

1. Legacy Christian Church experienced immense growth in 2023. We witnessed a 13.7% growth in onsite Sunday worship attendance, averaging close to 1,900 each week. If we add in our best estimates of all those tuning in online, that drives our average up to almost 2,300 weekly! 
2. Over 1,500 first time guests chose to worship at Legacy in 2023, a testament to our commitment to preaching God’s Word and individuals living out biblical community as they continue to invite their friends and family!
3. God doubled last year’s number of baptisms at Legacy, with over 160 individuals choosing to go all in with their faith and make Jesus the Lord and Savior of their life! 

We are thanking God that He is building His Church no matter what the season holds! 

As God continues to guide us in the search for Legacy‘s next Senior Pastor, we have pursued and received valuable counsel from seasoned consultants and respected leaders in our brotherhood. Drawing on their expertise in navigating transition like ours, we are updating Legacy‘s bylaws to better reflect the evolving needs and values of our multi-site congregation. This update is a collective effort to strengthen our body and showcase Legacy Christian Church to potential Senior Pastor Candidates. Stay tuned for details about an upcoming congregational meeting where we’ll explain these changes and answer your questions. 

Please continue to join us in prayer for wisdom and discernment as we position ourselves to hear from God. We’re excited for the incredible year ahead and look forward to being in awe of God together! 

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders 
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Hi Legacy Family,

What is happening?  The search for the next Senior Pastor for Legacy is progressing as led by God and according to His timing.  The Senior Pastor Search Team continues the gathering of potential candidate names and has begun the process of vetting candidates, both internal and external. Through the vetting process candidates will emerge that will be recommended for interviews with the Senior Pastor Search Team first, then with the Administrative Elder Team upon recommendation by the Senior Pastor Search Team.

The Elders and the team have received counsel from several godly leaders from our brotherhood. These wise men have provided great encouragement and advice for us, including the call for patience and to diligently follow God in the search.

In that light, the Senior Pastor Search Team is growing together and aligning more closely with discerning God’s will through the study of the book, “Pursuing God’s Will Together” by Ruth Haley Barton. The team is committed to praying for one another, our families, and Legacy as we move through this time of discerning God’s will.

The sermons from Randy Gariss on living “Life on Life” and “A One Goal Life” are spot-on with the heart of our team’s devotions and focus. The team is growing together by surrendering to God, listening to God, discerning, and then submitting to God’s will. It is critical that the team, Legacy’s leadership, and her people allow God to lead us to the Senior Pastor that He has prepared for Legacy’s next chapter. We must not get ahead of God nor veer from His leading in this very important search.

The team and the leadership are very excited about the spiritual and numerical growth God is providing in Legacy’s people during this interim time. Randy’s teaching and pastor’s heart are both healing and challenging to us as we advance to Legacy’s future. God is blessing Legacy even as we grieve and recover from the loss of Pastor Reggie.

What can you do?  Please keep praying…

• Praise God for his blessing on Legacy and her people. God is moving and is growing Legacy. We are sensing God’s Spirit moving among us and preparing us for the next chapter.
• Pray for Randy and Julie Gariss as they serve God during this interim time. What a blessing they are to us all!
• Pray for God’s covering over Legacy, this team and our families, our great staff, and for His next Legacy Senior Pastor and his family.
• Please pray specifically that the Senior Pastor Search Team and leadership surrender self, listen, discern, and submit to God’s will.
• I also ask that you, as God’s church, pray for these same disciplines and growth in your lives. Add moments of listening to God into your prayer life.

Mike Shelton & Joel DeBoer, Senior Pastor Search Team Leaders

Hi Legacy Family,

Thank you to everyone who attended Legacy’s annual Stewardship Banquet this past Sunday. Your presence was such a blessing as we celebrated Christ, our Firm Foundation, and reflected on everything the Lord is doing through your generosity. The banquet included so many reminders of how God has been and continues to be incredibly faithful to this church.

When God is on the move, we can anticipate impactful changes. As we prepare for the upcoming season, we are striving to communicate well to make sure you are aware of what is coming next in the life of Legacy.

As Pastor Luke Wright shared with us on Sunday, November 5th, God is calling him and his family to a new journey. Luke has been a blessing to our congregation, and while we’ll miss his presence, we know he’s embarking on a new adventure filled with God’s calling and purpose. It is our desire to celebrate Pastor Luke, Shanna, and their family, so please plan now to join us for a come and go reception at the Olathe Campus on December 3, from 4:00-6:00pm. Also, you won’t want to miss hearing Luke preach his 100th sermon as he concludes his time on staff with Legacy on December 31, 2023.

For those who may have missed Pastor Luke’s announcement about his upcoming season, you can watch that announcement here.

As God’s plans continue to unfold at Legacy, we are very excited that Randy Gariss, Legacy’s Interim Pastor, will lead us as we return to our biblical study through the book of Philippians on November 26. Randy comes to us with a wealth of experience and a heart full of love for Legacy Christian Church. His leadership promises to be a source of inspiration and growth for our faith community. Currently, we are actively seeking housing options for Randy and his wife, Julie. If you or someone you know has any leads or resources that could assist us in providing a comfortable, private housing option for Randy beginning in January of 2024, please send a message to Jamie Schools as soon as possible. Your kindness and consideration are truly valued as our church family works together to welcome Pastor Randy and Julie!

Please join us in praying that this next season will be a time of joy and love as we strive to keep Christ at the center of everything. With God’s grace and your support, our congregation will continue to thrive.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous Thanksgiving. We are genuinely thankful for each one of you!

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Dear Legacy Family,

Greetings Legacy family! We continue to praise God for His many blessings as He leads us through this transition in the life of Legacy Christian Church. The psalmist reminds us of the character of the God we serve in this season: 

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  

God is good indeed! 

As the search process has progressed, we are excited to provide some additional details about our journey to finding Legacy’s next Senior Pastor. 

The Senior Pastor Search Team 
We recently announced the formation of our Search Team led by two of Legacy’s Shepherding Elders – Mike Shelton and Joel DeBoer. Both Mike and Joel have served multiple terms as an Administrative Elder, and Mike has served as Chairman for several terms in the past. We have since added six additional members from the congregation that represent each of Legacy’s five campuses. We are excited to report that the team includes a great diversity of age, gender, background, occupation, and race, while sharing a deep passion for both the Lord and Legacy. To maintain the integrity of the search we will not be disclosing the names of the additional Search Team members, however Mike Shelton or Joel DeBoer remain available throughout the process should you want to discuss anything regarding the team or the search itself.  

The Candidate 
Pastor Reggie was truly unique, and his impact on Legacy was profound. While we can never fill the void left by a man of God like him, we can search for individuals who embody the qualities important to Legacy’s heritage and trust in God’s plan to guide us. 

Over the past several weeks, the Elders and various staff members have spent much time creating and refining a Senior Pastor candidate profile. 

While not exhaustive, three primary traits were identified that the next Legacy Senior Pastor must possess: 

• A clear calling of God to lead Legacy Christian Church. 
• An unwavering dedication to the Word of God and its Sufficiency, Clarity, Authority, and Necessity for the Church. 

• A seasoned and experienced preacher of the Gospel with demonstrated leadership and vision to move Legacy into its next chapter of fulfilling its mission to make disciples. 

The Process 
Functionally, the Senior Pastor Search Team works directly for the Administrative Elders and has been charged with all the tasks necessary to surface and recommend qualified candidates. The final Senior Pastor selection will be made by a unanimous vote of the Administrative Elders. 

The general roadmap ahead for the Search Team: 

• Continued networking within the Christian community including Bible colleges, Christian churches, lay leaders, and other avenues to generate potential leads for candidates. 
• Continued vetting and narrowing of qualified candidates. 

• Prayerfully and systematically engaging potential candidates to gauge interest and identify who is experiencing God’s call to lead Legacy. 

We endeavor to maintain a transparent search process and provide monthly progress reports along the way. We have created some tools to this end: 

• An information page has been created. 
• An email account is now available should you have information or questions related to the search. 

Keep Praying! 
We know that God is sovereign and forever faithful. He may move quickly, or He may choose to move in a manner that some consider slow. But we are confident that His timing is always perfect, and we will not wilt during this season. It is very common for a Senior Pastor search process to take many months to complete, and we are prepared to be patient as we collectively wait on God and seek His will for Legacy. 

Legacy is fortunate to have Randy Gariss stepping in to serve as Legacy’s Interim Pastor, which allows our church to prayerfully focus on finding the individual that God has prepared to lead His church at Legacy.  

Please continue to pray for our Legacy family, the Search Team, Legacy’s leadership, and that God will send us His senior pastor to lead us into the future.  

As always, Mike, Joel, Jamie Schools, or Craig Casey are available should you want to discuss anything related to the search. 

Mike Shelton & Joel DeBoer, Senior Pastor Search Team Leaders 

Dear Legacy Family,

We wanted to take a moment to provide an update concerning the incredible journey we’ve been on at Legacy Christian Church. We are deeply grateful for God’s guidance and providence every step of the way. Over the past month, we have witnessed God’s hand at work in remarkable ways, and it’s important for us to acknowledge and give Him glory for His care for Legacy.

First and foremost, we want to praise God for the exceptional teaching team He has provided. Roger and Nancy Storms have been a tremendous blessing to Legacy during this season. Join us this Sunday with a Bible and a friend as Roger preaches his last sermon with us on the character of God. Please be sure to express your gratitude to the Storms as we are profoundly thankful for the way they have ministered to our church family.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce the start of our upcoming sermon series on October 1, where we will delve into the book of Philippians. Members of our talented staff team and one of Legacy’s Missions Partners, Andrew Bowers, will team together to preach the first six weeks of this series. Following this, we will take a brief two-week hiatus from Philippians to focus on our annual Stewardship emphasis. Then, Legacy’s Interim Pastor, Randy Gariss, will step into the pulpit starting on November 26, and will continue to preach on most Sundays until we find Legacy’s next Senior Pastor.

We give specific praise to God for how He has worked to assemble the Senior Pastor Search Team. This team has been prayerfully assembled and includes members from all of Legacy’s campuses representing a great diversity of age, gender, backgrounds, and race. This group of individuals, led by Mike Shelton and Joel DeBoer, are deeply committed to discerning God’s will for our church and serving all of Legacy’s campuses with a unified purpose. The Search Team members are aligning now to embark on an extensive search to identify candidates who align with Legacy’s vision and mission. We recognize you may have additional questions concerning the process itself, the team, the timeline, or other aspects of the search. We are actively working on this, and as soon as we have firm details, we’ll share more information. Should you have any immediate questions, please feel free to contact Mike, Joel, Craig, or Jamie. Thank you for your continued trust and patience while we lean on God during this next chapter for Legacy.

We earnestly ask for your continued prayers for this team and for God’s blessing on Legacy Christian Church. Please join us at the Night of Prayer this coming Monday at your local campus as we collectively seek God’s will. In this remarkable season in the life of our church, we see God’s hand at work in every detail, and we are continuously opening our eyes to His providence. Your prayers have been a source of great strength and encouragement, and we thank you for your unwavering support.

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Dear Legacy Family,

We are thanking God for His provision as we transition in our church during this season. Daily we see God move and work in the details because of both His faithfulness and your prayers. Please continue praying for Legacy Christian Church as your prayers mean so much in this time of seeking God’s will!

We are excited to announce that Randy Gariss will be Legacy’s Interim Pastor! We plan for Randy to begin preaching the last Sunday in November, and he will continue to preach most Sundays until a new Senior Pastor is hired. You may remember Randy preaching through “Christmas at Legacy” last year during Pastor Reggie’s illness. Randy is a solid man of God who is gifted in both leadership and teaching. He served as the Senior Minister of College Heights Christian Church in Joplin, Missouri from 1982 to 2015, and now serves at Ozark Christian College as the Director of the Life and Ministry Preparation Center. We will continue to share additional details about Randy as we prepare for him to join us in November.

It is exciting to see how God has orchestrated His perfect plan and prepared our church to embrace Randy as our Interim Pastor. We praise God for working out the details to open the door for Randy and his wife, Julie, to join our Biblical Community Living the Word. We are confident that Randy will continue to provide biblical teaching in the pulpit and keep us focused on the vision and mission of Legacy as he helps prepare the way for the coming Senior Pastor.

God continues to put the pieces together as we build a search team for Legacy’s new Senior Pastor. While we are eager for God to reveal His plans for Legacy, we trust that every detail He puts into place is within His sovereign and perfect timing. Right now, we are still in the early stages of assembling Legacy’s Senior Pastor Search Team. Please pray as we continue working to secure this team of Legacy members committed to chasing after God’s will for this church and serving all of Legacy’s campuses with one heartbeat. We ask each of you for your help by diligently praying as we seek God’s will as this team comes together.

Once the Search Team is finalized, it will conduct an extensive search to identify ideal candidates who align with Legacy’s vision and mission. The Search Team will approach this process of finding a new Senior Pastor with much care and patience. Again, please continue to pray knowing that God is preparing and working all things together for our good in His perfect timing.

We promise to provide timely updates and information as available. Your support, faithfulness, and grace are valued as we navigate this journey. We truly believe the best days are ahead for Legacy Christian Church. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us!

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Dear Legacy Family,

This weekend is full of celebrating and honoring the life of our Senior Pastor, Reggie Epps. Anyone impacted by Reggie’s life and ministry is invited to attend his Celebration of Life tomorrow, August 5, at 3:00pm (Doors open at 2:30pm).

God is unfolding great plans for Legacy Christian Church. While we navigate the loss of Pastor Reggie and enter the search for a new Senior Pastor, here is what you can expect as we travel together through the upcoming seasons at Legacy.

This Sunday, we are so excited to welcome guest speaker, Dudley Rutherford, Pastor Reggie’s brother-in-law, to preach about the Name of Jesus. He serves as the senior pastor of Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch, CA. He is an excellent communicator who is passionate about preaching God’s Word without compromise, leading people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Bring a friend and your Bible this Sunday!

Entering Season 2:

Starting on August 13, Legacy will welcome a gifted shepherd and friend of Pastor Reggie, Roger Storms. Roger will minister to our congregation as he provides exegetical preaching each Sunday. He has many years of preaching experience and has led churches through seasons of both grief and transition. It was Pastor Reggie’s desire that Roger would come for a season to minister to Legacy, and we are thrilled to honor his wishes and have Roger join us for August and September.

We are so eager to see what God has in store for Legacy, and how He is even going to move in your hearts over this next season.

See you soon!

Dear Legacy Family,

We continue to see the presence of God’s hand at work in the life of Legacy Christian Church, as we remain steadfast in our commitment to Live the Word and Make Disciples. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” As I think about the current season that Legacy is in, I believe God is unfolding great plans for this church. While we navigate the loss of our Senior Pastor and enter the search for a new one, I want you to know what to expect as we travel together through the upcoming seasons at Legacy Christian Church.

What to Expect for Season 1:

Legacy will continue the sermon series, “Road Trip” through Sunday, July 30. You can expect to hear from two of our pastors on staff: Luke Wright this Sunday and Ryan Fletcher next Sunday. This biblical study through the book of Luke has been a blessing as we’ve learned about the life of Jesus.

On Sunday August 6, we are so excited to welcome guest speaker, Dudley Rutherford, Pastor Reggie’s brother-in-law, to preach! He serves as the senior pastor of Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch, CA. He is an excellent communicator who is passionate about preaching God’s Word without compromise, leading people to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

What to Expect for Season 2:

Starting on August 13, Legacy will welcome a gifted shepherd and friend of Pastor Reggie, Roger Storms. Roger will minister to our congregation as he provides exegetical preaching each Sunday. He has many years of preaching experience and has led churches through seasons of both grief and transition. It was Pastor Reggie’s desire that Roger would come for a season to minister to Legacy, and we are thrilled to honor his wishes and have Roger join us for August and September.

Ongoing Seasons:

In adherence to the by-laws of Legacy Christian Church, we are diligently forming our Senior Pastor Search Team, which will be led by Mike Shelton. Mike has served as Chairman of the Elders in past years, and he currently serves as one of our elders at Legacy’s Overland Park Campus. The plan is to finalize this team and begin the search for Legacy’s next Senior Pastor during the month of August. The Senior Pastor Search Team is committed to conducting an extensive search to find the ideal candidate who aligns with Legacy’s vision and mission. This search will include considering current Legacy staff members.

At the same time, we are working to secure an Interim Pastor, in the event this is needed. This individual would help provide stability in the pulpit each week, build unity, heal hurts, and promote fellowship while focusing on the mission of the church and preparing Legacy for a new Senior Pastor.

I can’t express enough how much your prayers mean, especially in this time of seeking God’s will for Legacy Christian Church. We are expectant to see Him move in big ways! Thank you for your faithfulness and grace as we navigate the upcoming seasons and lean into God. As we move forward, we are committed to maintaining clear and consistent communication as God leads His church through these seasons. Rest assured, we will diligently share updates as they become available, ensuring you are well-informed, with a minimum frequency of monthly updates.

Craig Casey, Chairman of the Elders
Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor

Dear Legacy Family,

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that our Senior Pastor, Dr. Reggie L. Epps passed away this morning. The Epps family loves all of you and they know how much we love them. The best way we can express this love right now is to provide them with the space they need to process and grieve.

It has been our prayer that God would restore Pastor Reggie’s health on this side of heaven. We have great confidence in knowing that he is now free of sickness and suffering and is resting in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The worship center at every Legacy Campus will be open today, Thursday, July 6, from 7:00-8:00pm for anyone who would like to spend time in this space reflecting and praying together. We are also planning a special worship service at every Legacy campus this Sunday at 9:00 and 10:45am where we will worship God together and continue ministering to one another.

My prayer is that we all find hope in these words that Pastor Reggie prayed when he recently preached through a biblical study on heaven: “Lord, for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. May your will be done in my life.” (Philippians 1:21)

In Christ,

Jamie Schools, Executive Pastor