New Leadership Announced
for La Misión de San Lucas
May 4th, 2023
Dear Financial Partner of La Misión de San Lucas
and the Rev. Gene Flannery,
We are so grateful for your generous financial partnership with Rev. Gene and his work over the last 10+ years among the Latino community in the Kansas City area through Misión San Lucas.
We are excited to announce that his work will be continued by Fr. José and Carmen Zurita. They are long time ministers and missionaries among the Latino community in the Dallas area where they have lived for over 40 years. They have been engaging with San Lucas over the past several months coming up for services as well as connecting over zoom. The congregation has warmly embraced them. They are also on the leadership team of C4SO’s Diaspora Network, a ministry focused on strengthening and encouraging immigrant churches like San Lucas.
Fr. José Zurita
They are making an incredibly sacrificial commitment to this work by leaving their current home, jobs, children and grandchildren to relocate to Kansas City this summer. In order for their ministry to be possible they will need considerable ongoing financial support. We are encouraging current and past donors to Gene and to San Lucas to consider continuing their support by giving towards their ministry on a monthly basis. (See giving details below).
Thank you once again for supporting Rev. Gene and honoring his legacy by considering supporting the Zuritas and Misión San Lucas.
Board of Directors, La Misión de San Lucas
the Rev. Jonathan Kindberg, C4SO Diaspora Network Mobilizer
Ryder Mills, Director of Outreach, CCA
Giving Instructions:
Recurring giving can be made online here:
and by selecting “Rev. Jose Zurita” from the pull-down menu. Donations can also be mailed to:
The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others
P.O. Box #989
Franklin, TN 37065
Checks can be made out to The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others with “Rev Jose Zurita” in the memo line.
The Rev. Gene Flanery
Director of La misión de San Lucas
July 20, 1954 - April 30, 2023
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Gene Darrell Flanery passed away from cancer on April 30, 2023, at his home in Kansas City, Kansas. He was 68 years old. His family is deeply saddened by losing him while grateful that his suffering has been replaced by joy in his heavenly home. He is finally free to go on further adventures.
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Video Streaming of Gene's Celebration of Life on May 13th at Christ Church Overland Park can be viewed here.
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Gene was born on July 20, 1954 in Muskegon, Michigan and lived in that town until he was 18 years old. He attended Muskegon High School and later graduated with an MBS from the Christian Missionary Alliance Seminary In the Philippines.
He often told a story about how his early views of God were shaped by James Taylor’s song “Fire and Rain”. In that song, Jesus is portrayed as a supportive figure but nothing more. When a friend gave him a copy of the Gospel of John, Gene read it, and scratched out all of the parts that he did not agree with namely the parts where Jesus claimed to be God. However, after that, while walking in the Michigan woods that he loved so much, Gene recalled a personal encounter with Jesus that would forever change his life and shape the lives of the hundreds of people he came into contact with. Gene devoted his life to serving God.
Following high school, Gene moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas to attend Bible School. There he met his future wife and co-adventurer, Gloria Brown from California. After some years serving as Youth and Worship Leaders, Gene and Gloria moved to Texas to attend language school – both learning Spanish.
From there, they moved to Ciudad Madero, Mexico as part of the World Indigenous Missions organization. Gene worked with a local pastor and raised up local leadership while Gloria worked in music and home schooled their children. They cherished their time in Mexico and became life-long
friends with many.
From Mexico, the Flanery family moved to the Philippines where they served for 11 years. Gene again worked with a local pastor to start a church and found a Bible School. Gene trained young people in scripture and helped serve the community. Gene loved to travel and took teams to India and to various islands in the Philippines.
After 15 years of serving in other countries, the Flanerys moved to Kansas City, Kansas where they began new service. In Kansas, Gene taught Spanish to dental students, nurses, and doctors. He also taught ESL
to the immigrant community while serving them in multiple ways. Gene has pastored many people and loved each one dearly. He was passionate for being God’s hands to those in need.
We are thankful for the example he lived in our presence, the blessing he was to many, and all the multiple adventures we experienced with him. At times, the journey was difficult, but never boring. We are confident that this husband, father, pastor, and man has been greeted with the words “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matt. 25:21).
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Gene is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Gloria Flanery and their 4 children, Jenny Albertson and her husband Bill Albertson, Nathan Flanery and his wife Crystal Flanery, Andrew Flanery, and Timothy Flanery and his partner Charissa Zachariou.
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He will be forever remembered by his siblings, Eliot and Karen Taylor and Wayne Flanery. He has 7 grandchildren – Bailee Widman, Luella, Jack, Alice, and Vivian Flanery, and Elon and Aspen Flanery. Gene was predeceased by his parents Ora and Nina Flanery.
A celebration honoring his incredible life will be held at 10:00 a.m. May 13th, 2023, at Christ Church Anglican,
5500 West 91st, Overland Park, Kansas 66207
We Are Saddened to Announce the Passing of Fr. Gene Flanery
Sunday April 30
Director of La misión de San Lucas
Kansas City
The following is a message about Fr. Gene from Bp. Todd Hunter of the Diocese, Churches
for the Sake of Others.
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I am sad to announce the passing of the Rev. Gene Flanery after a long battle with cancer. Since 2011, Gene served as the church planter, founder and director of La Misión de San Lucas, where he led a Spanish-speaking church service and outreaches such as Bible studies, ESL classes and camps.
Gene joyfully dedicated his life to reaching Latino immigrants with the gospel and serving the community in the Metro Kansas City area.
We express our sincere condolences to Gene's family and friends, while celebrating his vibrant ministry and life well lived. Please be in prayer for his family as they grieve, and for the parishioners of San Lucas. Together, we will work on a leadership transition and seek to continue the important work Gene invested his life in.
The Rev. José Zurita will lead a Spanish language memorial service this Sunday, May 7, at 4 p.m. CDT at San Lucas with Gene's family and the congregation. We will provide information about other upcoming funeral service arrangements when we receive word from Gene's family.
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Grace and Peace
Bishop Todd Hunter
Nos entristece anunciar el fallecimiento del P. Gene Flanery domingo 30 de abril
Director of La misión de San Lucas
Kansas City
El siguiente es un mensaje sobre el P. Gen de Bp. Todd Hunter de la Diócesis, Iglesias por el bien
de los demás.
Me entristece anunciar el fallecimiento del reverendo Gene Flanery después de una larga batalla contra el cáncer. Desde 2011, Gene se desempeñó como plantador de iglesias, fundador y director de La Misión de San Lucas, donde dirigió un servicio religioso de habla hispana y actividades de divulgación como estudios bíblicos, clases de inglés como segundo idioma y campamentos.
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Gene dedicó su vida con alegría a alcanzar a los inmigrantes latinos con el evangelio y servir a la comunidad en el área metropolitana de Kansas City.
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Expresamos nuestras más sinceras condolencias a la familia y amigos de Gene, mientras celebramos su ministerio vibrante y su vida bien vivida. Estén en oración por su familia mientras están de duelo, y por los feligreses de San Lucas. Juntos, trabajaremos en una transición de liderazgo y buscaremos continuar con el importante trabajo en el que Gene invirtió su vida.
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El reverendo José Zurita dirigirá un servicio conmemorativo en español este domingo 7 de mayo a las 4 p.m. CDT en San Lucas con la familia de Gene y la congregación. Proporcionaremos información sobre otros próximos arreglos de servicios funerarios cuando recibamos noticias de la familia de Gene.
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Paz y gracia
Obispo Todd Hunter
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We are a Mission sharing the Gospel in Spanish with the Latinos of Wyandotte County
and the Kansas City Metro Area.
Somos una misión que comparte el Evangelio en español con los latinos del condado de Wyandotte y el área metropolitana de Kansas City.
Look for Our Schedule of Services and Other Activities Here in the Near Future
Busque nuestro horario de servicios y otras actividades aquí en un futuro próximo
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