Cory and Celicia McElvain are Kansas City natives with a passion for reaching students in a generation where students are rapidly walking away from their faith. Cory began planting microchurches with REACH starting in 2007 and continued until 2012. After moving to Lawrence, Kansas, in 2012, he began planting collegiate-focused microchurches alongside his CrossFit gym, which operated as a “business as missions” for a little over two years. After a break from ministry to jump back into the fitness industry, Cory realized he was missing his relationship with students. He began working as the youth pastor at Colonial Presbyterian in 2017 and continued to build those relationships even after his departure in late 2018.

Celicia has always had a passion for students in some capacity. However, it wasn’t until volunteering consistently alongside Cory at Colonial that the passion grew. In 2019, Christ Community became the McElvain’s church home, and they began volunteering with middle school students during the winter and spring semesters.

Through all of these moments, Cory knew God had something more planned for him. After starting a job at a gym in Overland Park in July 2018, he was still feeling a constant tug at his heart to reach students. Cory and Celicia began praying for where they would be called next.

In the summer of 2020, the McElvains decided to come underneath the Kansas City Underground to launch Zero Hour Ministries. Zero Hour Ministries facilitates catalytic trips for the next generation of leaders to help students own their faith and mobilize them to lead. Cory is now following that call further by joining the Underground in a full-time position as the Catalyst of Citywide Student Initiatives. In this role, he will support a disciple-making movement within Kansas City by empowering students to live in accordance with their gifts and passions and equipping them to live a life on mission within their spheres of influence. KCUG strives for gospel saturation in every neighborhood, workplace, third space, and network of people in the Kansas City metro.

**Kansas City Underground Church is a registered 501(3)c nonprofit. Contributions are solicited with the understanding that KC Underground has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds