On December 2, 2018 about 90 people shuffled into the downstairs gym of Deer Creek Church in Littleton, Colorado. Many of them were there out of curiosity, some were there for the free bagels. But most were there because they wanted to be a part of a new work of the gospel in Metro Denver in some way. Out of that gym, and from this surrounding community, came a group of about 35 adults, toddlers, children and teens who formed the Launch Team of Elevate Hope Centennial: a church for people who aren’t perfect and don’t pretend to be, bringing the real and lasting hope of Jesus to Metro Denver and beyond. We didn’t know what was going to happen, but we knew that God’s plan for reaching cities with the hope of the gospel is to plant more churches. And we would hear His call to start a new church in Centennial, Colorado where people could Connect with God, Connect with Others and Connect Others to God who were far from Him. In the last part of our Scripture passage this morning, people wanted to debate where the long awaited Savior would come from but Jesus wanted them all to know what kind of Savior would he be. And as I was prayer walking around this building a couple of weeks ago, I believe that our going to Dry Creek elementary was not about the “where are we going to be a church this summer?” but “what kind of church are we going to be when we return?” What does it look like to live out Jesus—to embody Him—in our communities so that His glory expands to every corner of South Metro Denver. That is what being a disciple of Jesus is all about!
