Our story is definitely an interesting one and reflective of the providential and awe-inspiring work of God. What once were two separate churches merged as of February 20, 2011. Let's trace the diverse backgrounds.
Truth Bible Fellowship was an urban church-plant in the historic Northeast section of Kansas City, MO. It was an ambitious effort by founding Pastor Damon Horton to strategically impact neighborhoods in the Kansas City metro ravaged by crime, poverty, and the doctrinal pollution contributing to these manifestations of sin running rampant in the urban core. Starting with a handful of people, Truth Bible Fellowship joined to itself almost 100 people over the course of a few short years. Predominantly, the church was comprised of minorities ranging in age from their young twenties to late thirties.
New Hope Bible Church was a multicultural church plant by two founding pastors Ray McKelvy and Cory Null. New Hope Bible Church was founded with the intention of putting together a multicultural work of God pictured by the two founding pastors, one black and one white, that would impact the Southeast Kansas City/Raytown area with the Gospel. In its heyday, New Hope Bible Church boasted a multi-service thriving community of believers. However, the Lord saw fit to call away both founding pastors to other works of ministry; therefore, New Hope suffered a substantial membership decline and sought to externally find a Lead Teaching Pastor.
After months of meetings between the two Elder boards, joint services between the congregations, and with a lot of prayer, it was voted and decided that the churches would merge--later to become known as Koinonia Bible Church.
As God would have it, in the winter of 2010 through a mutual relationship, New Hope Bible Church asked Pastor Damon to come deliver a message to encourage their congregation. Upon learning that Truth Bible Fellowship was currently looking for a permanent place to call home, having never possessed a permanent place to hold worship, the Elders of New Hope Bible approached the Elders of Truth Bible Fellowship to see if there could be any consideration to possibly merge churches. New Hope Bible Church was a dwindling church but possessed the seasoned wisdom of mature saints while Truth Bible Fellowship had hit a plateau due to its youthful congregation and needed a greater generational diversity and wisdom.
After months of meetings between the two Elder boards, joint services between the congregations, and with a lot of prayer, it was voted and decided that the churches would merge--later to become known as Koinonia Bible Church. Even as many people have since been added and led away to other works for Jesus Christ, including Lead Pastor Damon Horton, it is amazing to see how God is fulfilling both the visions of New Hope and TBF in His own unique way.
Koinonia Bible Church is a multicultural, multi-generational, and multi-ethnic urban church seeking to impact the Kansas City metro area with the Gospel.