Back in November I interviewed Bruce Winter and Kirk Nelson. At that time, we were in the middle of a pandemic and so we met through a StoryCorps site where I could interview them and where the interview would be available on the national archive of StoryCorps. This past week Glynda and I along with our friend Gary Banta were able to go see Bruce perform as Melinda Ryder and to meet them in person. Melinda met us as we walked in the Hamburger Mary’s https://www.hamburgermarys.com/kc/ like we had know each other for years. Without doubt Melinda has the gift of hospitality that was demonstrated to us as well as a packed audience that evening. It’s rare to see someone engage a group as quickly as she did that evening. Melinda came out on the stage in an amazing multicolored gown over a sequined multicolored dress. As she started to sing she walked through the audience where people showered her with money which was used as donations to Kansas City Anti-violence Project https://www.kcavp.org/.
Between these
donations, bingo and raffle tickets Melinda Raised over $3000. Amazingly this is something that she does
week after week for a variety of causes and charity organization.
The event was fascinating, and I am glad that we were able
to meet Melinda and Kirk in person. On the surface a “church person” might
conclude that the loaded humor and LGBT focus did not have anything good to
offer. I would, however, disagree. We witnessed a grace of giving, a spirit of
love and a sense of community. Ironically, similar words that are often used to
describe the goal of the church.
I am grateful for the ongoing friendship with Bruce and Kirk
as well as our good friend Gary who introduced us to them.
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