Ministry in Colorado is both a privilege and a challenge. We serve in a culture that is spiritually diverse, often skeptical, and deeply independent. Many of us carry our own stories of loss, failure, and struggle into this context. Yet it’s precisely those stories that God uses to shape us into the kind of pastors and ministry leaders our communities need.
What follows is not just my story—it’s a testimony to how God shapes a minister over time. My prayer is that it will equip, empower, and encourage you as you serve in this unique place that we call home.
Your Start Does Not Determine Your Finish
My dad died when I was 12. As a teenager, I would go to church occasionally, but to be honest, I hated it. I was angry with God for taking my dad, and I acted out that anger in ways that pushed me further from Him.
I had two stepfathers. The first man was kind but also an alcoholic; the second guy was violent and lazy. I learned a lot about what not to do from both of them. My greatest spiritual influences growing up were my brother Mark and my dad, Bob, who was saved three years before he died.
The most impactful thing my father ever did for me was to give his life to Christ. Later, when I was far from God, I thought back on life with my dad. It was his decision and God’s willingness to receive him that pulled me back to God myself. My dad’s salvation convinced me that God can really forgive anyone of anything.
In Colorado, where many people have little or no church background, our imperfect heritage may be exactly what God uses to bridge the gap. Rick Warren said it best, “What kind of ministries last? Ministries that are led by real, authentic, vulnerable, and honest leaders who aren’t hypocritical about sharing their weaknesses. I have met many pastors who are very interested in declaring their spirituality, but I haven’t met many who are interested in declaring their humanity. We want to hide it. But to deny your humanity not only does a disservice to you, but it does a disservice to your church. In fact, I believe your humanity is actually one of your greatest strengths. You see, God puts his greatest gifts in ordinary clay pots so that he gets the credit.”
Lessons learned:
- God can redeem a painful past.
- What Satan meant for evil, God can make good.
- Authentic humanity strengthens ministry.
Never Underestimate Small Acts of Faithfulness
The night before Easter, April 7, 1990, my brother Mark called and encouraged me to go to church. I felt ashamed to return to my home church, so he suggested Bellevue Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, where a friend of his, Andy Hornbaker, was serving.
I went, and I hated it.
When my brother called and asked about my experience, I was honest. I told him that I felt like an outcast. He encouraged me to go to church one more time—and if I would, he would not ask again. I agreed and went back to Bellevue confident that I would hate it again and Mark would leave me alone. I kept my word and went back the following Sunday. During the welcome time, a little old lady walked up to me and said, “Welcome back, Mike.”
She remembered my name.
That simple act of kindness became the difference between spiritual victory and defeat for me. Her compassion helped me feel seen by God. That moment became a turning point: I chose to stand up for God and, like her, love the unlovely. I joined the church that day.
Lessons Learned:
• Never underestimate the power of remembering a name.
• A short conversation in the lobby can alter someone’s eternity.
• The way your people welcome guests might be the most evangelistic part of your Sunday.
In Colorado’s often transient and disconnected culture, small faithful actions—eye contact, a warm greeting, an invitation to coffee—can make the gospel tangible.
Practical idea: Train your greeters and leaders to look for the “one person on the edge of the room” every Sunday. Remind them that heaven may tell the rest of that story.
Let Hunger for God Drive Your Ministry, Not Just Activity
The Christmas after I returned to church, my brother gave me a contemporary English version of the Bible. I read that Bible intensely. In a short time, I grew significantly in my walk with God.
I became deeply involved in the singles ministry. I taught Sunday School, mowed the church lawn, worked in the nursery, and served on various committees. Whatever God wanted me to do, I did. I believe the openness of my heart allowed me to hear from God clearly in those years.
Lesson Learned:
• Busyness is not the enemy—emptiness is. Activity can be life-giving when it flows from hunger for God.
• Seasons of “doing whatever needs to be done” often prepare us for later leadership.
• Guard your heart so that ministry doesn’t become mechanical. Ask: Am I still hungry?
In our Colorado context, where performance and outdoor achievement are prized, we must make sure our spiritual hunger outpaces our ministry output.
Acknowledge Your Wounds—and Let God Use Them
When my dad died, my 12-year-old brain believed that God had killed him, and I was furious. I chose violence as my outlet. My teen years were full of fistfights, and I developed a belief that problems were best settled with my fists.
Yet even in those years, I had a deep love and appreciation for people. Losing someone so meaningful to me made me want to hold tightly to those I still had. At the same time, there was always a fear that anyone I loved could die suddenly. Because of that, part of me wanted to keep a protective distance.
To this day, I love deeply—but at a deep level, I still battle the assumption that everyone will leave eventually.
Lessons Learned:
- Our unresolved grief will show up in your leadership—either as over-attachment or emotional distance.
- Counseling, spiritual direction, or trusted pastoral friendships are not luxuries; they are stewardship.
In Colorado, where independence and self-reliance are celebrated, it’s tempting to hide our wounds. But the people we lead need shepherds who know what it means to hurt—and to heal in Christ.
Guard and Invest in Your Home
I’ve had the joy of being married to my wife, Chrissie, for 32 years. We were blessed with two amazing sons, Caleb and Joshua. Our home was a place filled with faith, warmth, and love.
My wife is a 20-year cancer survivor and the strongest person I know. She was diagnosed with breast cancer while we were serving a church in Scarborough, Maine. That was hard, but it was good. Spending our boys’ formative years away from extended family forced us to rely on each other. Fighting something together brought us closer together. Knowing that life is fragile made us stronger.
Lessons Learned:
• Your first congregation is your family.
• Ministry in Colorado can be demanding; guard family rhythms—meals, rest, shared activities.
• A healthy, Christ-centered home is one of the most powerful testimonies you can offer your church and community.
If you’re feeling torn between ministry and family, remember: a neglected home will eventually weaken your ministry. Investing in your family is investing in your long-term effectiveness.
A Final Word of Encouragement
God is up to something in our lives; let’s trust Him. I have been the Senior Pastor of Heart of the Springs Church since August 4, 2008. Heart of the Springs Church used to be called Bellevue Baptist Church. Yes, the same church that I attended all those years ago (and hated)—the place where the little old lady remembered my name. I now pastor the church where I gave my life to Christ, accepted His call into vocational ministry, preached my first sermon, was licensed into the ministry, and where I met and married my wife.
God is good –all the time.
Michael Hensley is the Pastor of Heart of the Springs Church in Colorado Springs.
