Unity on the World Stage: A Conversation with Kwan Porter
A Conversation with Kwan Porter
Courageous Conversations Study Guide
Episode Overview
As Kansas City prepares to host the World Cup, Kwan Porter (Life Mission KCK) shares why this moment is bigger than logistics—it's a Kingdom opportunity. From job fairs that honor people with dignity to a citywide vision for worship and unity, Kwan challenges the Church to lead with hospitality, courage, and love.
Key Question: What happens if thousands of believers simply choose to "do one good thing" at the same time?
Part 1: Personal Reflection (15-20 minutes)
Opening Prayer: Ask God to open your heart to see opportunities for unity, hospitality, and Kingdom impact in your own community.
Reflect on These Questions:
1. The KC = Kingdom Come Vision
Kwan shares that God gave him a prophetic word: "When you see KC, I see Kingdom Come." What does it mean for God's Kingdom to come "on earth as it is in heaven" in your neighborhood or city?
Where do you currently see glimpses of God's Kingdom in Kansas City?
2. Your Personal "Groundhog Day"
Ray describes how most of us follow the same routine every day—same coffee spot, same route, same conversations. What does your typical day look like?
When was the last time you intentionally broke your routine to connect with someone different from you or to serve someone unexpectedly?
3. Hospitality as Ministry
Kwan describes hosting both families (his and his wife's) for the holidays as "United Nations at your house." When have you experienced the challenge and blessing of radical hospitality?
What fears or concerns come up when you think about welcoming people who are different from you (different race, culture, language, background)?
Part 2: Group Discussion (30-40 minutes)
Discussion Guidelines:
Listen with curiosity, not judgment
Share from your own experience
Honor different perspectives
Ask clarifying questions
Commit to confidentiality
Question Set 1: The Better Job Fair Model
Kwan describes the Better Job Fair where employers do on-the-spot interviews, job coaches walk with participants, and everyone rings a bell and celebrates when someone gets hired. The atmosphere is marked by honor, celebration, and the presence of Jesus.
What strikes you most about this approach to serving the community?
How does this model differ from typical charity or social service approaches?
What would it look like for your church or small group to create an atmosphere of "honor and celebration" in your community outreach?
Kwan mentions that young people said, "We can't believe this is in a church." What does this reveal about people's expectations of the church? How can we change that narrative?
Question Set 2: The World Cup as a Kingdom Opportunity
Kansas City will host 6 World Cup matches over 21 days, bringing an estimated 500,000-720,000 visitors to the city. This will strain every system—housing, food, transportation, sanitation—while also creating unprecedented opportunities for hospitality, evangelism, and unity.
Gary compares the World Cup to a "manmade crisis" similar to a natural disaster. Do you agree with this comparison? Why or why not?
Some church leaders are hesitant to invest time and resources in World Cup ministry because it's only 21 days and may not directly benefit their church. How would you respond to this concern?
Kwan says, "This may never happen again in Kansas City... let's rise to the moment." What "once in a lifetime" opportunities might God be placing before you or your church right now?
Two Muslim nations will be represented at the World Cup. People from these countries may never hear the gospel in their home countries. How does this reality change your perspective on the World Cup?
Question Set 3: Unity Across Differences
The conversation touches on multiple dimensions of unity: racial unity, denominational unity, cultural unity, and musical/worship style unity.
Ray jokes about worship style conflicts: "When we start talking about the music, come on now. We got some fights that we got to deal with." Why do you think worship style can be such a divisive issue?
Kwan's response is powerful: "I want to be more interested in what you bring to the table and be a learner... put my preferences aside for the sake of honor, for the sake of unity and love for my brother." What would it look like to apply this principle in your church or community?
Kwan shares that God's dream is "that we would just see people from different places come together and not pound the table for what they want, but just say whatever it is that you desire for today, that's what I want to see." How does this challenge your understanding of unity?
What specific barriers to unity exist in your church, neighborhood, or city? What would it take to overcome them?
Question Set 4: Hospitality and Fear
Ray shares a powerful quote from someone who said, "I just got over my fear of talking to white people. And now I got to... how am I going to approach [people from other countries]?"
What fears or anxieties do you have about engaging with people who are different from you (different race, language, culture, religion)?
Kwan's advice for hosting his diverse family was: "We love the Lord and we have the spirit of God. He is an inviter... we're going to deal with each thing as it comes and just welcome people with the spirit of hospitality." How does this perspective help address fears about cross-cultural engagement?
Some people plan to "grit their teeth and bear it" during the World Cup—staying home, avoiding crowds, waiting for it to pass. What message does this send to visitors? What alternative does the Church offer?
How can we prepare ourselves and our communities to welcome the world with genuine hospitality rather than fear or avoidance?
Part 3: Practical Application (20-25 minutes)
The "Do One Good Thing" Challenge
Unite KC's motto is simple but powerful: "Do one good thing." Ray explains: "If you look at your day, it probably resembles Groundhog Day... it is so easy to follow that track instead of stepping out and going, 'Alright, today I'm going to pay for somebody's coffee, or today I'm going to speak to somebody that I don't know.'"
Individual Commitments:
1. This Week: Identify one way you will intentionally break your routine to connect with or serve someone different from you. Write it down and share it with the group.
Examples:
Strike up a conversation with someone from a different background at work or in your neighborhood
Attend a worship service at a church from a different denomination or cultural background
Learn a few phrases in another language to welcome international visitors
Volunteer with a ministry serving a community different from your own
2. World Cup Preparation: Choose one of the World Cup ministry tracks mentioned in the episode and explore how you or your group could participate:
Hospitality: Housing for visitors or displaced residents (contact: Greg Topping, United in Crisis)
Anti-Trafficking: Supporting efforts to rescue women and children (contact: A Re Hope)
Outdoor Evangelism: Rap, skateboarding, dance outreach (contact: Yvonne Fritos, YWAM)
Prayer: Organized prayer efforts throughout the city
Practical Service: Handing out water, Bibles, offering prayer
Watch Parties: Hosting viewing events in homes or churches
Citywide Worship: Cross-denominational, multiracial worship gatherings (Kwan Porter's vision)
3. Unity Practice: Kwan emphasizes being "more interested in what you bring to the table" and being "a learner." This week, intentionally practice this posture:
In a disagreement, ask "Tell me more about that" instead of defending your position
Attend or participate in something outside your comfort zone (different worship style, cultural event, etc.)
Defer your preference to honor someone else's
Group Commitments:
1. Plan a "Do One Good Thing" Day: Choose a day when your entire group will intentionally do one good thing in the community. Share your experiences at your next gathering.
2. Cross-Cultural Connection: Identify a church or ministry in Kansas City that serves a different community than yours. Reach out to build a relationship and explore partnership opportunities.
3. World Cup Ministry: As a group, commit to participating in at least one World Cup ministry track. Attend an upcoming Unite KC gathering to learn more and connect with track leaders.
4. Hospitality Training: Practice radical hospitality by hosting a meal or event where you intentionally invite people from different backgrounds, churches, or communities.
Part 4: Going Deeper (Optional Extended Study)
Biblical Foundation for Unity and Hospitality:
Read and discuss these passages in light of the conversation with Kwan:
1. John 17:20-23 - Jesus' prayer for unity
Why does Jesus pray for unity among believers?
How does our unity (or lack thereof) impact the world's perception of Jesus?
2. Hebrews 13:1-2 - Hospitality to strangers
"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."
How does this passage challenge or encourage you regarding the World Cup?
3. Matthew 25:31-46 - "Whatever you did for the least of these..."
Gary references this passage when talking about serving during the World Cup
Who are "the least of these" in the World Cup context?
4. Acts 2:1-11 - Pentecost and the diversity of languages
On the day of Pentecost, people from many nations heard the gospel in their own languages
How might the World Cup be a "Pentecost moment" for Kansas City?
5. Ephesians 4:1-6 - Unity in the body of Christ
What does it mean to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit"?
How do we balance unity with diversity of expression (worship styles, cultural practices, etc.)?
Historical Examples:
Research and discuss historical examples of the Church leading in hospitality and unity during major events:
The early church's response to plagues in the Roman Empire
Churches providing sanctuary and aid during natural disasters
Examples of racial reconciliation in church history
International church partnerships and missions
Additional Resources:
Visit unitedkc.org for upcoming events, resources, and ways to get involved
Connect with Life Mission KCK to learn more about the Better Job Fair model
Follow Unite KC's World Cup preparation efforts and track leader meetings
Explore the "KC = Kingdom Come" vision and how your church can participate
Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
Pray together as a group, incorporating these themes:
Gratitude: Thank God for the opportunity to welcome the world to Kansas City
Humility: Ask God to help you put aside preferences and pride for the sake of unity
Courage: Pray for boldness to step outside your comfort zone and engage across differences
Vision: Ask God to help you see Kansas City as He sees it—as a place where His Kingdom comes
Commitment: Dedicate your "one good thing" commitments to God and ask for His strength to follow through
Unity: Pray for the Church in Kansas City to come together across denominational, racial, and cultural lines
Hospitality: Ask God to give you His heart for strangers and visitors
Key Quotes to Remember
"When you see the letters KC, you see Kansas City. But when I see KC, I see Kingdom Come." - Kwan Porter
"You can do a job fair or you can do it the kingdom way." - Kwan Porter
"We love the Lord and we have the spirit of God. And he is an inviter. He invites, he says, welcome people and just love them." - Kwan Porter
"When you've done it to the least of these, you've done it unto me." - Gary Kendall quoting Jesus.
"My God-sized dream is that we would just see people from different places come together and not pound the table for what they want, but just say whatever it is that you desire for today, that's what I want to see." - Kwan Porter
"If we do one good thing and we do it all at once, man, we are going to have... you'd hear it on the national news." - Ray
"When we walk in [unity], I think we'll be unstoppable. I really do." - Kwan Porter
Next Steps
1. Subscribe to the Courageous Conversations podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at unitedkc.org
2. Share this episode with friends, family, and church leaders
3. Attend an upcoming Unite KC event or World Cup planning meeting
4. Connect with a World Cup ministry track that aligns with your gifts and calling
5. Start having courageous conversations of your own about race, faith, unity, and loving your neighbor
Remember:
Unity doesn't mean uniformity. It means choosing to honor, learn from, and love people who are different from you. It means putting the Kingdom of God above your personal preferences. It means being more interested in what others bring to the table than in getting your own way.
The Challenge:
What if thousands of believers in Kansas City simply chose to "do one good thing" at the same time? What if the Church led the way in welcoming the world with the love, hospitality, and unity of Jesus?
The Invitation:
Will you be part of making "KC = Kingdom Come" a reality?
For more information, resources, and to connect with the Unite KC community, visit unitedkc.org
To learn more about Life Mission KCK and the Better Job Fair, visit their website or contact Kwan Porter through Unite KC.
This study guide is designed to facilitate meaningful conversations about unity, hospitality, and Kingdom impact. Feel free to adapt it to fit your group's needs and context.
