Rev. Darryl Answer will receive the Martin Luther King, Jr. Living Legacy Award from MidAmerica Nazarene University on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., at College Church of the Nazarene, 2020 E. Sheridan in Olathe. The public is invited to join students, faculty and staff at the 20th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration. The theme for this year’s event is “Called to Beloved Community: Our Sacred Work.”
Born and raised in London, England, Rev. Answer is a bi-vocational pastor, community development practitioner, and urban strategist based in Kansas City, where he has spent over fifteen years working at the intersection of discipleship, justice, and neighborhood renewal. As a church planter, he co-founded New Community Church—a multiethnic, multi-class congregation committed to racial justice and holistic transformation. Rev. Answer has led community development initiatives in disinvested neighborhoods, collaborated with city leaders and grassroots organizers, and facilitated leadership formation cohorts for emerging leaders of color across urban contexts.
The event’s purpose is to celebrate and promote the legacy of Dr. King, a pivotal leader in the fight for Civil Rights and a recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of individuals, businesses, and community organizations. These financial contributions provide on-campus student diversity programming and activities in honor of Dr. King’s legacy. Sponsorships are available for individuals and corporations. For sponsorship questions, please contact Eric Bryant at ebryant@mnu.edu or 913.971.3462. Access information about this free event at mnu.edu/events/mlk-jr-community-celebration.
