Church Health & Development

By Jim Walters

About ten miles north of Durango, the Animas River winds through Hermosa Valley and can’t make up its mind about being “whitewater” or “lazy water.”  No one rafts it--there are only a few real rapids; few people try to canoe it--because there are, in fact, a few serious rapids.

One morning my two nephews and I made like Lewis and Clark and headed downstream in our fifteen-foot canoe.  That first run was great--no problem with the rapids.  Well, no problem because we beached the canoe and walked around the big scary one that made a sharp turn.

By Tammy Bachman

On Sunday, January 20, 2013 First Baptist Church of Lake City held a Pastor Installation for Chris Stoker. Pastor Chris, Gail and their 5 daughters have become well loved in this small, close knit community in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Almost 100 people came to celebrate with the Stoker family, many of whom are from other churches. That’s exciting news in a town with a population of just over 400! It was great to see Lake City come together to welcome this new pastor.

By Dr. Matthew Perry

When I took my first pastorate at a rural church in Lexington, KY, I was 31 years old.  The church, I might add, was 225 years old.  During my first couple of years there, I heard a number of different comments about my age.  One came from a woman who stayed for a year and then left the church.  I saw her at a hospital visit when her father was having surgery—and she confessed, “I left because I couldn’t handle being preached to by a child.”  O-K.  Ouch!

Many pastors and church leaders desire to reproduce churches through starting new churches. Often there seems to be more questions than answers on how to accomplish this task. Many would love to have a guide that would assist their congregation in making this church planting dream a reality.

 “Churches Planting Churches” Training (CPCT) is a biblically-based, practical resource. The event is a “workshop” for planting new churches, not a conference.  You will actually work with your team to complete an implementation assignment before you leave the CPCT.

By Jim Walters

It was a lovely spring day; a graduation day for a class of Air Force pilots for whom I had been a flight instructor.   Anytime our base conducted a graduation ceremony, it included a big parade and I hated marching in those things.

So, when offered the chance to drive in the VIP motorcade, I quickly accepted.  How hard could it be?  Check out a blue USAF station wagon from the motor pool, pick up the Wing Commander’s wife, drive her around to the parade grounds, and drop her off in front of the bleachers.  It sounded like just the kind of job for a dashing young Lieutenant like me. 

By Amber Cassady

AURORA, COLO.- Twenty-three individuals accepted Christ on Sunday July 29 at The Edge Church  after Aurora theater shooting victim, Pierce O’Farrill shared his message of forgiveness.

Pastor Ryan Heller conducted a question and answer session with O’Farrill in all three services.  O’Farrill shared his recount of the shooting and his personal salvation story.  When Heller asked Pierce how he is able to forgive the shooter he responded that it is through Christ’s strength and grace alone.

By Amber Cassady

Severance, Colo.- Pastor Ken Mowery of New Life Community Church felt God pulling the church toward Severance in 2008. It’s population exploded from 597 people in 2000 to 3,165 in 2010 according to cubitplanning.com. However, the reality in Severance is there are thousands of people living without a healthy and thriving church body in their community.

By Kent Shirley

Grand Junction- Grand Valley Baptist gathered in very good numbers for four consecutive nights of doctrinal messages from God’s Word proclaimed by eight different pastors of Grand Valley Baptist Association churches and missions.

Each night, members of 14 participating churches in the association met for a meal, fellowship, praise and preaching from basic biblical doctrines selected from the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message.

By Doug Lohrey

Associate Executive Director/ CFO with the Colorado Baptist General Convention

No, the value of volun­teer work you do for the church can never be a contribution.  

No, the church is not allowed to add this amount to your contribution state­ment, but they can cut you a check and then you give that money back to the church. It would be best to cash the church check and then write a personal check to the church, but you can just endorse the church check back over to the church.