Pastor Craig Babcock of Calvary Evergreen Church announced my appointment in church this Sunday morning as an Associate Campus Pastor with the task of starting a Calvary Evergreen Campus Church in Idaho Springs.
He and I have been discussing the idea of starting a Campus Church here in Idaho Springs for the last month or so. And, now it is becoming a reality. I have been looking for a venue for worship and ministry along with people in town who are interested in organizing a fellowship which will concentrate on serving the marginalized, the poor, the homeless and especially those who have been burned by more traditional churches whose focus is on building large expensive edifices, creating flashy programs but sometimes neglecting the weightier matters of life.
The existing churches here definitely have their place and to be sure they play an important role in the life of this little mountain town in Colorado. But, their focus seems to be more inward and less on the community at large. That's where I hope this new campus church comes in to play.
The folks over at Calvary Evergreen Church have a huge heart for Idaho Springs and all of Clear Creek County. We see needs that daily go unfilled with the working poor in some cases living with their children out of their vehicles or in the piney woods outside town or under the bridge over I-70.
When they do muster up enough courage to walk into a church on a Sunday morning with their long hair, scruffy beard and tank top they get the "look" and stares from we who are better heeled. I know. I've seen it myself. Do you think they come back next week? Not on your life!
We're going to try and make it as comfortable as possible for them to come to church. And, we're going to see how we can help them during the other 6 days of the week too. We don't have a lot of money but we have a lot of heart and compassion and that in the end is what we all need. But, of course we do have some resources and people who can contribute to this new outreach here in Idaho Springs, Colorado.
We are having an "interest meeting" next Sunday at the Frothy Cup Coffee Shop June 5, 2016 at 6:30pm for all of those who would like to get involved on the ground floor. We are planning on holding services with worship music and a message at the Frothy Cup on Sunday evenings at 630pm with coffee and donuts.
Ideas for ministry and outreach are being examined such as cooking a weekly community supper, organizing an extension of the Tin Shed Food Pantry, a soup kitchen, homeless ministry etc.
Clear Creek County has approximately 9,000 residents but you'll only find about 120 people in all of the churches combined on any given Sunday! Some residents travel "down the hill" to Denver for church but that number isn't significant. Over 96-98% of Clear Creek County residents simply aren't members of a local body of Christ followers.
There are many theories as to why our County is so vastly unchurched but I'm not sure that any one theory accounts for this situation. It could be that most residents live here in the mountains to get away from people and civilization so they don't want to be "bothered" with connecting with a church.
Whatever the reasons, my task is to get this campus up and running by finding Christ disciples as well as the uncommitted and undecided to join in sharing life and provision for Idaho Springs and all of Clear Creek County.
I'm hoping for the first worship service to start in the next 2-3 weeks. Those of you who follow my blog and live in or near Idaho Springs please call me at 309-660-4823 or you can find me over at my "office" at the Frothy Cup Coffee Shop for details on how you can help this fledging fellowship of Christ followers.
So, in conclusion, this means that I will not be walking out of Idaho Springs next month for Seattle, WA as I had previously planned, but, instead, will stay on here in town for the near future. But, do not be alarmed (Hahahaha) I must continue my journey across America in due time. This is likely just a mere bump( time wise)in the road so to speak.
So pray for this new fellowship and it's leaders that we will be a shining light on a hill...read "mountain."
See you all on the sunny side of the road! Shalom!
BR Schoenbein
May 29, 2016- Sunday
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