Courtney Kelly • Disciple Maker
When a House Fire Sparked Deeper Community
In this story from the Kansas City Underground, Breanna Wiebe sits down with Courtney from the Independence Hub to reflect on how years of faithful presence prepared the way for meaningful care during a family’s crisis.
“Sometimes the long game of prayer and presence doesn’t feel dramatic—but when crisis comes, you realize God has been building something all along.” — Courtney Kelly
Courtney shares how her family had lived in their neighborhood for seven years before hosting their very first block party. After passing out flyers to surrounding homes, they met a family who had just moved in two months earlier. That simple invitation—to eat hot dogs in the backyard while kids played—became the starting point of a growing relationship. Over the following year, small interactions at a nearby coffee shop and on neighborhood walks slowly built familiarity and trust.
Then came the unexpected news: a house fire sparked by a patio candle left the family facing eight months of renovations and a temporary move 30 minutes away. In a moment that could have easily created distance, Courtney felt a quiet nudge to move closer. Though the family initially said they didn’t need anything, she couldn’t shake the prompting to act. She gathered other neighbors and assembled a thoughtful care basket—small comforts that communicated a bigger message: you are not alone.
What stands out most in this story is the “long game” of neighboring. The care basket wasn’t random kindness; it was the fruit of intentional rhythms already in motion—prayer walking the neighborhood, listening closely, sharing meals, and serving when the opportunity arose. Through these simple BLESS practices—beginning in prayer, listening, eating, serving, and sharing story—trust was formed long before crisis hit.
And in a beautiful turn, the family who experienced the fire later initiated a playdate, inviting deeper connection. What began with a block party grew into mutual pursuit—a sign that relationship had taken root.
This story reminds us that disciple-making often unfolds slowly. Faithful presence over time creates space for love to be tangible when it matters most.
Are you walking with people, planting the gospel, or seeing new life emerge in your context? Your story can strengthen and inspire the wider KC Underground family.
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