Adam Hamilton (pastor)

Hamilton was raised in Prairie Village, Kansas.^[5] His parents married as teenagers and divorced while he was a child. His father was Catholic and his mother was raised in the Church of Christ. The family rarely attended church during his childhood. In high school, he started attending a Pentecostal church after a door-to-door evangelist invited him to service. He subsequently began regularly attending church and became the head of the church's youth group.^[6]

In 1982, Hamilton graduated from Blue Valley High School in Overland Park, Kansas.^[7] He then attended Oral Roberts University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in pastoral ministry in 1985.^[8] His undergraduate studies and exploration of his personal faith led him to the theology of John Wesley and the United Methodist Church, and he went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, where he received the B'nai B'rith Award in Social Ethics.^[9]

Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.^[10] The church began in 1990 with a few people meeting in a small chapel at a local funeral home^[11] and grew into the largest United Methodist congregation in the U.S.^[12] It has an average weekly attendance of about 25,000 across its nine locations and online and televised services.^[10]

Hamilton preached at the National Prayer Service as part of the 2013 presidential inauguration festivities,^[13] and was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in 2016.^[14]

Hamilton has written more than 30 books.^[10] His books cover Christian faith, biblical interpretation, and contemporary personal and social issues.^[15] By 2014, his books and related products published by Abingdon Press had sold more than one million copies.^[16] His video-based lessons are used in church Sunday school classes across the U.S.^[2]

Hamilton announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Kansas in April 2026.^[17] On August 4, 2026, he secured the Democratic Party nomination by winning the party's statewide primary for the Senate seat.^[18]

Hamilton had previously registered as both a Republican and a Democrat, and initially considered running as an independent before deciding to seek the Democratic nomination. He was encouraged to run as a Democrat to avoid splitting the vote against the Republican incumbent, Roger Marshall.^[2]

Hamilton describes himself as a centrist and has said his congregation is a near equal mix of Republicans, Democrats, and independents.^[19]

Hamilton is married to LaVon Hamilton.^[20] They have two daughters.^[10]

• Named one of the "Ten people to watch in America's spiritual landscape" by Religion and Ethics Newsweekly in 2000.^[21]
• Recognized as United Methodist Person of the Year by the United Methodist Reporter in 2012.^[22]
• Recognized in Kansas City with the first Founder's Civility Award by American Public Square at Jewell (APS) for his efforts in bringing the diverse Kansas City community together.^[23]
• Named the Distinguished Evangelist of The United Methodist Church in 2000 by the Foundation for Evangelism,^[24] and was recipient of the Harry Denman Award in Evangelism in 1995.^[25]

• 24 Hours That Changed the World (ISBN 978-0-687-46555-2)
• Christianity and World Religions: Wrestling with Questions People Ask (ISBN 978-0-687-49430-9)
• Christianity's Family Tree: What Other Christians Believe and Why (ISBN 978-0-687-49116-2)
• Confronting the Controversies: A Christian Responds to the Tough Issues (ISBN 978-0-687-04567-9)
• Creed: What Christians Believe and Why (ISBN 978-1-7910-2788-9)
• Enough: Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity (ISBN 978-1-4267-0233-4)
• Final Words From the Cross (ISBN 978-1-4267-4680-2)
• Forgiveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go (ISBN 978-1-4267-4044-2)
• Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn't Say (ISBN 978-1-5018-1387-0)
• Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of Christmas (ISBN 978-1-7910-1641-8)
• John: The Gospel of Light and Life (ISBN 978-1-5018-0533-2)
• Leading Beyond the Walls: Developing Congregations with a Heart for the Unchurched (ISBN 978-1-4267-5485-2)
• Love to Stay: Sex, Grace, and Commitment (ISBN 978-1-4267-5951-2)
• Making Sense of the Bible: Rediscovering the Power of Scripture Today (ISBN 978-0-06-223496-4)
• Moses: In the Footsteps of the Reluctant Prophet (ISBN 978-1-7910-1514-5)
• Not a Silent Night: Mary Looks Back to Bethlehem (ISBN 978-1-4267-7184-2)
• Revival: Faith as Wesley Lived It (ISBN 978-1-4267-7884-1)
• Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White: Thoughts on Religion, Morality, and Politics (ISBN 978-1-4267-6662-6)
• Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic: Seven Simple Keys to Growing Churches (ISBN 978-0-687-34384-3)
• Speaking Well: Essential Skills for Speakers, Leaders, and Preachers (ISBN 978-1-5018-0993-4)
• The Call: The Life and Message of the Apostle Paul (ISBN 978-1-63088-262-4)
• The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem (ISBN 978-1-4267-1425-2)
• The Lord's Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught (ISBN 978-1-7910-2125-2)
• The Walk: Five Essential Practices of the Christian Life (ISBN 978-1-7910-2638-7)
• The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus (ISBN 978-1-4267-5251-3)
• Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times (ISBN 978-1-5247-6033-5)
• Unleashing the Word: Preaching with Relevance, Purpose, and Passion (ISBN 978-1-4267-0700-1)
• When Christians Get It Wrong (ISBN 978-1-4267-7523-9)
• Why? Making Sense of God's Will (ISBN 978-1-4267-1478-8)
• Wrestling with Doubt, Finding Faith (ISBN 978-1-7910-2998-2)