At the base of Pikes Peak in Southern Colorado the mission of Foundation Lutheran Church has moved out of the middle school where we’ve worshiped during the last eight years and into a very comfortable worship venue with chairs that don’t have to be put away and a church that does not need to be packed into a trailer. It’s a great blessing for a group of worshipers, who now know the location where we worship is available 24/7 for missions and outreach gatherings.
The positives of a brand new building and an outreach-minded group of worshipers are too many to list. The visitors and first timers are coming from every direction, and our own members genuinely love and welcome for these new people to find new peaks weekly.
Almost none of our members had ever been part of a new church start, but all were excited about the opportunity to bring the Word of our Savior to another growing area in Colorado. From there, our local district mission board surveyed, studied, and presented our synod’s Board for Home Missions with a plan and budget, which was approved, and a pastoral call was accepted by our current pastor, Rev. Steve Prahl.
Blessed then with a gifted pastor, along with a core group of believers whose spiritual gifts were not yet fully known in this mission setting, there were the makings for “something” and the belief that the Lord of the Church would lead us “somewhere.” Now, taking just a moment to look back (but mostly to look forward) there’s no question that the leader of our core group was the Holy Spirit himself. The abundance of wisdom given, along with loving and mission-faithful hearts can only be attributed to a gracious God who gives the very best gifts to his people and gives generously.
The Holy Spirit enabled a group of sinners to work joyfully together for his purposes and allowed so many new families and individuals to be brought to faith through the preaching of his Word.
And, the gifts keep coming. This past Sunday, I counted more visitors and new members than regular attendees. So many new faces that after worship fellowship was dominated by visitor talking to visitor, and new member talking to new member. The Holy Spirit intervening as if he’s standing right there with us for a casual cup of after-worship coffee and fellowship as one of our own members . . . of which he IS and for which we are humbled at his presence. A new ministry, a new building, and new families to hear God’s Word so willingly.
The benefits of a new mission congregation have been amazing to witness and give us a Spirit-enabled opportunity to pray with thankfulness!
Written by Matt Dettmann, District Mission Board member for the Colorado District
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