159 Years of Faithfulness: Why Generosity Is Just Saying Thank You

What would it look like if your church had been meeting since 1867? What stories would the walls tell? What would it mean to be part of something that has outlasted wars, depressions, pandemics, and cultural upheaval — and is still standing? That's exactly where we find ourselves at The Summit Church, and the story God has been writing here is nothing short of remarkable.

A Story That Started in a Grove of Maple Trees

The Summit Church began in 1867 at the corner of 4th and Market in downtown Lee's Summit — a small congregation meeting in a clapboard building in a grove of maple trees. From those humble beginnings, the church thrived for 50 years before relocating in 1921 to 3rd and Douglas, where ministry would happen for the next nine decades.

Expansions came in 1955 and 1965. A new sanctuary was built in 1981 for $1,100,000. For 18 years, the church paid only interest on that debt. A Family Life Center was added in 1999 for $3,200,000, bringing total debt to $4,300,000. When Pastor Jim Preisig arrived in July 2002, that debt equaled 5.2 times the church's entire annual budget.

Then, in November 2014, with a 95% approval rate, the congregation voted to launch a bold new chapter — a new campus at the corner of Chipman and View High. On June 3, 2017, we moved in. And the story kept going.

A God-Sized Story of Progress

Through a series of capital campaigns — Build Your Kingdom Here, Greater, For The Future, and now Waymakers — this church has been chipping away at that debt with remarkable faithfulness. When the Waymakers Campaign began, our debt stood at $3.5 million. As of June 30, 2026, our debt is $1.49 million.

That's worth celebrating.

Buildings changed. Names changed. Pastors changed. But through every season, one thing never changed — the faithfulness of God. As Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) reminds us, "The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."

This church is a living testimony to that reality.

Why Jesus Followers Are Generous People

So where does the motivation to keep giving come from? Here's the thing that sets Christianity apart from every other belief system in the world:

Every other religion starts with what people must do for God. Christianity — following Jesus — starts with what God has done for people.

Before God ever asks for anything, He demonstrates what generosity really means. As Paul writes in his letter to the church at Ephesus, in Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT), "God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it."

The cross is God's declaration that He is a generous God — giving, quite literally, until it hurts. And when that reality sinks in, it unlocks a completely new motivation. Instead of giving out of obligation, you give from gratitude.

The data actually backs this up. Studies consistently show that people who actively practice their faith are more likely to give money and possessions to those in need. A study by Indiana University found that people of faith give 129% more than those without one. Why? Because generosity isn't about earning something. It's about saying thank you.

You Don't Have to Be a Statistic

My hope for our church isn't based on the economy or fundraising strategies. It's built on the transforming power of the Gospel. Consider where most Americans find themselves right now:

• 59% of American families live paycheck-to-paycheck

• 40% of Americans have no retirement savings

• 47% carry credit card debt from month to month

But you don't have to be a statistic. It's not always that we don't want to be generous — it's often that we simply haven't planned for it. Overextending, carrying debt, looking out for number one — that's average. But genius, as Napoleon put it, is "the man who can do the average thing when everyone else around him is losing his mind."

Maybe today is the day you discover your genius.

The Greatest Gift Deserves a Response

From the time my kids were little, we had them write thank-you notes when they received gifts. Whether it's a handwritten note or a quick text, there's something powerful about simply acknowledging the kindness of another — even when the words don't come out perfectly.

The greatest gift you will ever receive is the grace of God through Jesus Christ. You can't earn it. You can't repay it. You can only receive it. And once you've received that kind of generosity, it changes the way you live — the way you hold your money, your possessions, your time, and your life.

Every gift is simply a thank-you to the God who gave first.

Putting It Into Practice

We are closer than we have ever been to total financial freedom — freedom that will unleash resources back into ministry, into our kids, into our community, and into the future of The Summit Church. Our goal is to eliminate our remaining debt by December 2027.

For 159 years, thousands of ordinary people in Lee's Summit have stepped up and said yes — meeting in maple groves, building small clapboard buildings, making bold moves, and stepping out in faith. We are standing on the shoulders of generations who were moved by the generosity of Jesus to build a home for us. Now it's our turn.

Here's how you can respond today:

• Catch up — if you've made a pledge and fallen behind, our team can help you find a path forward

• Bump up — if your situation has changed and you're able to give more, consider increasing your commitment

• Sign up — if you haven't yet jumped in, now is your chance to become a Waymaker

Whatever your spot in life — husband, wife, teacher, nurse, retiree, delivery driver — you can be part of writing the next chapter of God's story at The Summit. We don't give to say we did. We give in response to the great gift of salvation that has been given to each one of us.

So, how will you respond to the gift God has given you?