When people think of church, they normally think of Sunday morning services. But TCC proves that the life the church body is more than a morning! As an example, consider what was taking place on a random weeknight recently:

• Women's Bible Study Fellowship classes, with ladies meeting to dig into God's Word
• Missions Team meeting, with members discussing how to support the spread of the gospel message around the world
• Evangelism Team meeting, with members coordinating plans for the National Day of Prayer, encouraging our church to go to the throne of grace with confidence and ask God for help
• Genesis School Board meeting, with board members making decisions to help our Christian school thrive
• Church Treasurer working late in her office to ensure our church's integrity in financial matters

You come to church looking for spiritual power…so why not be equipped to go to the Source of spiritual power yourself?! That’s why we’re talking about prayer.

Over the next few sermons we’re going to talk about prayer and give guidance to help you pray more effectively. We’ll give you some examples of prayer to understand what people in Scripture prayed for…and how they prayed for them.

Our goal is not doctrine. Our goal is action. This is a “YOU CAN DO IT!” series! We want to encourage you and equip you to do better....because prayer is important!

Only something as special as the resurrection could lead these guys all to dress up this fancy on a Sunday morning! (L to R: Derek Novotney, Steve Howell, Colton Graham)

The 2nd Annual Color Run on April 4th at TCC was true to its name! Colors were everywhere! Whether in an explosion of powder at the start of the run, kids soaked in colorful foam at the end of the race, or eating a rainbow of snow cones, participants had a vibrant morning to share with friends and the community.

Nearly 150 people joined us at the event, growing our numbers significantly from the first year.

Thank you to all the volunteers who made it happen!

Our worship team is always excited to lead others in worshiping Jesus...but it does happen in the morning! Rehearsal sometimes needs a little extra energy. Here's a quick pic of what fuels our team.

Last night, our church was blessed to welcome Chaim Dauermann of Chosen People Ministries for a special presentation called "Messiah in the Passover."

Chaim is from Brooklyn, NY, so this trip to Kansas was a little different than his hometown! In Brooklyn, he is able to serve a community of Christ-following Jews and try to reach out to the greater Jewish community to help them recognize their Messiah. In Kansas, he was using his role as part of Chosen People Ministries to teach Christians about the Jewish connections to our faith, raising awareness as well as support.

Those who attended the presentation were able to learn more about the Jewish Passover meal (the Seder) and how its elements point to Jesus. Since Jesus celebrated the Passover at the Last Supper and used its elements to institute communion, there were many meaningful connections to be made!

“For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.” (1 Corinthians 11:23–26, NLT)

We were blessed to be able to observe the meal and share in the experience!

From Derek Novotney (one of TCC's Elders) after the January 4th worship services:
 
"Full of excitement fora new year, new sermons, continued time changes, and the everlasting Words of Jesus Christ. I believe we saw about 120 with worship team and congregation in the 8:30 service. Good times, and good things to come!"

Thanks to the crew who helped shovel snow after an unexpected five inches here at TCC!
Ron Seetin, Dave Ayers, Joe Krivjansky, Dale Walker, and John Beach all contributed to clearing paths on sidewalks and parking lots. We are blessed to have amazing people at the church!

TCC is thankful to serve as a host for local Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) classes, and the feeling is mutual. We received a heartfelt card from one of the ladies' groups that meet on Tuesday. Two groups for women meet at the church, plus one group for men. All three have been going through a study this year on the prophets and the exile described in the Old Testament.

This fall, several different groups of TCC members have been meeting for meals and to build relationships. We are thankful for the bonds that are being forged, and we pray that these "Who's Coming to Dinner?" groups will strengthen our church in the months and years to come.

If you are interested in being part of the next round of groups in 2026, contact the church office at tccinfo@tongiecc.org or (913) 845-2821.

Adults pictured L to R: Kathy Shaulis, Matthew Saathoff, Hanna Saathoff, Elizabeth Gehri, Glenda Stoppel, Chris Gehri

Get ready for the Christmas season with a new sermon series at Tonganoxie Christian Church!

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.”
(John 1:4–5, NLT)

As we celebrate the season with lights on homes, trees, and businesses, let us remember that an even greater Light shines for us!

On Saturday, November 15, our Kid’s Minister, April Swang, took a group of elementary school girls on a different kind of shopping trip. They weren’t looking for clothes or toys for themselves—they were picking out gifts for children around the world as a part of Operation Christmas Child.

Every dollar they spent came from the offerings raised during Vacation Bible School this past summer. The kids gave generously, and now their gifts were being converted into 30 Shoeboxes that will share joy, hope, and the message of Jesus with children who need it most this Christmas!

It was a simple outing with a big purpose, and a great reminder that discipleship starts young and grows stronger when kids put their faith in action.

It’s starting to feel like Christmas around here! On Saturday, November 15, the women of TCC gathered for a cozy wreath-making event, and the room was full of laughter, creativity, and a lot of hot glue. Everyone designed their own ornament wreath, each one unique and gorgeous in its own way.

Madeline Graham, who led the event, said it best: “I think everybody enjoyed it.”

If you’re looking for a fun way to connect, meet new friends, and tap into your creative side, keep an eye out for the next Women’s Ministry gathering. You’ll fit right in.

On Friday, November 14, TCC was blessed to spend some time with Sasha Lukmanov, a church planter from Russia who is also part of a missionary organization we support - Mission to Russia, International (MTRI).

Sasha and his driver (an MTRI member from St. Louis) were on their way to Wichita, but they carved out some time to meet with members of the Mission Team from our church. He shared about his family, his church, his country, and the work that MTRI is doing...and also shared a few samples of Russian chocolate!

We are excited to be partners with MTRI, as well as their school in Kostroma. Please be in prayer for them as they share the good news of Jesus with others!

You can learn more about Sasha and his church here.

Our annual Trunk or Treat event was a big success! With nearly 30 trunks, dozens of volunteers, over 750 hot dogs given away, and over a 1000 people passing through with kids and costumes galore, it was a great way to interact with the community.

We continue to pray that the connections will be a steppingstone for people to come to Jesus!

Check out the trunks in the photo gallery!

"After dinner on Wednesday night, we got all the tables and chairs picked up. Everyone was in the youth room getting snacks and preparing for some worship. I saw Ethan out in the gym sweeping the floors. No one had asked him to do this, he just did it because he saw a need. I went out and talked with him, and he had a smile on his face just serving God. Great example for all of us!" - John Pebley, Elder/Youth Sponsor

Communion. The Lord’s Supper. The Eucharist.

Christians have called this activity many things over the years. It has been an ever-present part of our weekly worship routine. But is the ceremony important? Is it precious? Or has our attitude toward it slipped into complacency?

Anything we do frequently runs the risk of becoming routine. And when that happens, we do well to remind ourselves of what it is we possess. Perhaps it is time to renew our appreciation and understanding of this important sacrament! Perhaps we should take the opportunity to consider how we approach the table and what we remember as we do.

Whatever your church background, or how you were raised to think about communion, or how you’ve practiced it over the years… we want you to remember that communion is a significant supper!

Over the next three weeks, we are going to ponder and appreciate communion. We will go back to the roots of communion, see its centrality in worship, and respect its elements. At the end of the series, our reverence for the Lord’s supper should grow. Remember that it is precious!

Communion is a significant supper! 

Wednesday evenings at TCC are busy! Check out some of the action in these pictures. We love our volunteers, kids, and adults!

Many kids from our church had a fun, fall adventure at Gary's Berries in September. Check out some of the photos here!

From Steve Howell:

"After wrapping up our series on Artificial Intelligence last week, I decided to take us in a more pastoral direction. I chose to take us to a part of Scripture that fits – to a part of the New Testament sometimes called the pastoral letters (“epistles,” if you’re fancy). These are letters written by the apostle Paul to his coworkers, Timothy and Titus. Paul wrote to these coworkers to give them some directions on how to care for others.

In other words, he was trying to shepherd some shepherds.

My focus for the next several weeks will be one of those three pastoral letters: the letter to Titus. I want to dig deeper, not just skim over some of the surface points. This series will be more like a slow-motion instant replay, allowing us to look with greater detail and clarity than we could going at normal speeds. I want us to be shaped by God’s Word, learning from a man who was great at planting churches and raising up leaders who could strengthen the church after he was gone."

Get ready to explore Titus! 

Each week at our Wednesday Nite Life program, TCC offers a family meal. Volunteers cook and prepare the food, serving up delicious creations for those who come at 5:45 pm. But that food can't be prepared if the ingredients aren't in the pantry!

Gary and Patti Menhusen have been faithful volunteers for the past couple of years, driving to Sam's Club to pick up the food order. They get the items and unload them to the kitchen.
 
We're thankful for their service!!!

TCC’s annual congregational meeting will be held after each worship service on Sunday, October 5. At this meeting, members of the church will have a chance to affirm our elders’ selections for men joining our leadership team this year. The selections being presented are:
Steve Lindsay (Elder), Tyler Hultgren (Deacon), Chris Martin (Deacon), and Matthew Satthoff (Deacon). Please be in prayer for these men!

On Wednesday nights during NiteLife this semester, our high school students have had the chance to be led by two amazing men in our Deep Dive class. Together, they’ve been walking through Kyle Idleman’s book Not a Fan, a study that challenges students to look at the difference between simply being a fan of Jesus and truly being a follower of Jesus.

Our leaders, Michael Smith and Chris Martin, have stepped up in a powerful way. Both have a deep heart for serving students and a passion for helping them grow closer to Christ. Through their guidance, students are being encouraged to take their faith seriously, ask real questions, and take steps toward living as true followers of Jesus

Ron Seetin has served as TCC's Maintenance Worker for nearly two years. While the position is part-time, Ron gives it full-time effort! He makes the most of his hours, doing jobs small and large at the church.
During the summer, Ron spends a lot of his time on grounds maintenance. He mows the grass weekly and does his best to keep weeds under control. During the winter, he helps keep the sidewalks free of snow and ice. And in the building, whether rain or shine, he deals with the constant stream of projects including lighting, HVAC, plumbing, painting, and more.
This week, Ron helped remove two evergreens that had reached the end of their life. It's tough work, but Ron is faithful and he always finds a way!
Thanks for your service!

Every Wednesday night at Nite Life, families gather for a meal, laughter fills the building, and at the front door you’ll almost always find a friendly face ready to welcome you. For years, that face has often been our deacon, Joe Krivjansky. He’s a steady presence, faithfully greeting and helping collect meal money week after week.

But this past Wednesday, something special happened. Joe had a young helper at his side—Braxtin Erwin, son of Tyler and Kelli. Braxtin came with plenty of excitement and a big smile, eager to serve. Joe and fellow volunteer Jenny Kessler stepped back and let him take the lead, coaching him along the way. They showed him how to count change, keep track of payments, and greet each family that came through the door. Of course, Braxtin didn’t need much encouragement to strike up conversation—he jumped right in with confidence!

It was a sweet picture of what the church is meant to be: one generation passing along both skills and a servant’s heart to the next. Thank you, Braxtin, for reminding us that no one is too young to serve.

And if you’d like to get involved, we’d love to find a place for you too!