As we close out another year of ministry at BR-KC my first impression is that the last year has seen more change than any year in my nearly 10 years of service. The world emerged from Covid. Jennifer left BR-KC to work for Restoration House (REHOPE). Amy Cox became our new administrative assistant. She has done a fabulous job, and that is saying something because Jennifer was a hard act to follow. Yet, no one has endured more change than Dr. Hammer and his wife Debbie. In the last two years, he has lost both of his parents and Debbie’s dad. He experienced a life-altering stroke, witnessed his son, Luke, get married to a wonderful young woman, he endured the Covid flu and made the difficult decision to resign from BR-KC and devote himself fully to the leadership of Restoration House (REHOPE).
As we close out 2022, we mark the end of an amazing era of ministry at BR-KC under Dr. Hammer’s competent, visionary leadership. Any discerning person knows that we have come to the end of a special era of ministry and leadership with Dr. Hammer’s parting.
Because of his leadership, BR-KC ministered to our churches and pastors in the most timely and essential ways; ministries that other associations and even state conventions quickly emulated because they recognized their value to pastors and churches.
Because of Dr. Hammer’s forward-looking leadership, BR-KC has been a trendsetter in ministries such as church planting among immigrant groups in KC, Church Revitalization, Leadership Development, and in creative responses to the challenges the Covid Pandemic handed our churches. Additionally, Dr. Hammer brokered an MOU with Dr. Steve Pringle, owner of Diakonos Christian Counseling, to provide our pastors and their families with personal counseling at a greatly reduced cost. Though the counseling is anonymous, we have had pastors who utilized this counseling confide to us afterward that it was a lifesaver for them or their family member.
No doubt, Dr. Hammer’s greatest accomplishment while at BR-KC Association is the founding of Restoration House, recently renamed REHOPE. Over the last 8 years, Dr. Hammer envisioned and founded an internationally known anti-trafficking ministry that has seen dozens of women and minor girls rescued from the awful reality of sex-trafficking. Nearly 30 of these women have given their life to the Lord and followed him in believer’s baptism. We know of one of the minor trafficking victims who was adopted into their forever-Christian home through REHOPE and is thriving now. Some of our adult women graduates now work for Restoration House (REHOPE) and many have gone on to productive lives and careers with renewed hope. A ministry that began 8 years ago with prayer, a small financial gift, and two donated homes is today a 17-acre, multi-facility operation that is known and sought out by others in the anti-trafficking movement for their expertise and knowledge.
One thing I know about Rodney is this; he is very uncomfortable with this kind of recognition. I know he would say that his successes and accomplishments are not his alone, but ours together. He would be the first to admit that he couldn’t have done any of the things I’ve mentioned without the Lord, and, without the faithfulness and sacrifice of our BR-KC churches, pastors, and his staff. That may be true, but he was the impetus and initiator.
He is the one who was inspired with so many great ministry ideas and he led the charge. There are no words that adequately express our gratitude for Dr. Hammer’s and Debbie’s tireless service to the churches and pastors of BR-KC, and to the Kingdom! Dr. Hammer, you have made an indelible and eternal impact upon this corner of the Kingdom known as Kansas City and beyond. We will be forever grateful!
