Holiday Missions Partner Highlight: Denver Rescue Mission

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love our neighbor through the joys of life and through its pains. We are called to be there in times of righteousness and in times of injustice. During this holiday season, we’re inviting our community to engage with and care for our neighbors by actively participating anew with one of our Mission Partners. We will share about several of these partners in our weekly email over the upcoming month, including specific ways to serve.

Denver Rescue Mission

Mission and Action:

Denver Rescue Mission is committed to helping those experiencing homelessness and addiction in the Denver Metro Area and providing opportunities for change and rehabilitation. DRM serves our city by providing emergency housing services, rehabilitation, housing transition, and continued community outreach.

Who is Served?

Denver Rescue Mission serves those experiencing homelessness and addiction in our city.

Why Is This Work Important

Approximately 9977 people experience homelessness in Denver. 71% of these individuals rely on organizations like Denver Rescue Mission for temporary places to stay safe amidst nights and the weather. (Source: Metro Denver Homeless Initiative). Learn more about the realities of Homelessness in Denver here.

How Can You Serve?

While there are many ways to serve, here are a couple of good starting places for individuals and groups:

How Can You Give?

To give to the mission, visit Denver Rescue Mission’s giving page.

in Blog

Artwork: “Earnestly Desire the Spiritual Gifts” & “Spirit Come & Consume Us”

This fall, our series in 1 Corinthians has focused much of our attention on the spiritual gifts. To that end, we’ve enjoyed hosting a workshop on the Spiritual Gifts and releasing a Park Church Music single by Becca Griffis.

These shared efforts have shared artwork: an image of a building under construction with a “murmur” of birds flying overhead. The intended meaning is simple: in 1 Corinthians 14:12, we who are “eager for manifestations of the Spirit” are charged by Paul to “strive to excel in building up the church.” Likewise, in John 3:8, Jesus tells us, “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Though our individual lives feel much smaller, the Church in whole is not. How grand is the scope of what the Spirit is building up? In the same way, though we can’t visualize the wind, how do God’s people move like a flock of birds, born of One who works even higher? However, as with all artwork, this is just one interpretation. What does it make you think?

in Artwork • Blog

Ministry Partner Highlight: Scarlet Hope

This past Sunday, we had the opportunity to hear from Cassidy, the Director of Scarlet Hope Denver, about the work they do in Denver. If you missed her invitation to action and partnership, you can re-watch her announcement above.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to love our neighbor through the joys of life and through its pains. We are called to be there in times of righteousness and in times of injustice. At Park Church, we encourage everyone who calls Park home to live this mission. As always, we are inviting our community to participate, loving and serving our neighbors by getting involved with one of our Missions Partners. Scarlet Hope is a great example of this kind of opportunity!

Mission and Action:
Scarlet Hope seeks to love and serve those who are in the adult entertainment industry and to share Jesus with those who are exploited and trafficked.

Who is Served:
Scarlet Hope serves those in the adult entertainment industry and often connects with and serves those who are being trafficked.

Why is it Important:
There are 65+ adult entertainment establishments in Denver. Colorado is ranked 15th in the U.S. for highest volume of signals to made to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Learn more about trafficking and exploitation in Denver. (Source Scarlet Hope).

Ways to Serve:
There are opportunities to serve with Scarlet Hope’s Outreach (going into clubs to share Jesus and care for the women there) or by providing meals taken to the clubs.

Give:
You can give by visiting Scarlet Hope’s website.

in Blog

Praying for Missions Partners in Lebanon

On Sunday, October 6, we highlighted the ongoing conflict in Lebanon, where our Global Missions Partner, Marwan Aboul-Zelof, and his family live. Marwan helped plant City Bible Church, an English-speaking church in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. As the conflict rages around them, we are calling our community to pray for Marwan, his family, their church, and peace in Lebanon.

Below you will find a resource guide to pray through, in addition to other ways to engage. Please lift up our brother Marwan and pray for safety, protection, and peace.

Pray & Engage

Prayer Resource: Prayer & Lament for Lebanon

View & Download Guide

October 1 Podcast with Marwan

Marwan recently was a guest on The Check-in Podcast by the Telos Channel. In the episode linked below, he shares more on the conflict, additional ways to pray, and more context into what is happening in Lebanon.

On Spotify:

On Apple Podcasts:

For the Nations CCB Group

Stay up-to-date on Marwan, City Bible Church and our other Missions Partners by joining the For the Nations Group on CCB.

Join CCB Group
in Blog

Serving with the Park Kids Team

This past Sunday, September 22, Gary gave an announcement about serving on the Park Kids Team. We’ve set a goal of adding 40 Park Kids Team members to be prepared for the fall. Use the video linked above to learn why this Team matters so much to our church family.

New to Park Church and our Teams? The Park Kids Team is a community that grows as leaders and helps establish the next generation of believers. To join us in the communal joy of showing kids the Gospel, learn more and apply using the button below.

Learn More & Apply
in Blog

Psalm 150—Artwork

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Whitney Grimm

Hi.

It’s not about the finished design, but the journey along the way.

I’m a Colorado native who loves the outdoors and the city. I moved away in 2012 to explore the world around me. I’ve worked in fashion most of my life living in Los Angeles, CA, and Austin, TX, and now back in Denver, CO. In each place, I’ve learned new skills, while refining others, and met awesome and interesting people who mentored and challenged me to push myself artistically, which in turn helped me discover a passion; creating visual stories for audiences through different mediums like print or digital materials and fine art.

Character is everything.

This industry is about building relationships; with clients, other designers, the world around me, and myself; trust plays a big role in that. I want my clients and other designers to trust my vision and me as a designer. I’m perceptive, detail-oriented, a communicator, a learner, a collaborator, an encourager, empathetic, silly, and most of all a problem solver.

My design process is the whole process.

While traveling and exploring keeps my heart alive, giving me perspective on the world around me to better connect my designs to that audience, my husband Jonathan, is one of my biggest supporters and encouragers. My art ranges from painting using acrylics, plaster, putty, and other found materials to graphic design.

Piece: Mixed Media

When I read Psalm 150 I saw a similar image to the one I created, and the last verse “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” This image encompasses just that. From the fine line thread size and detail to the specific colors used to the natural elements, and letting the natural wood show through. God is all and in all, natural and man-made.

I had so much fun making this piece.

When I start a new art project I usually pull from my deep, heavy, and sad emotions, but this time I felt God asking me to draw from the joy and zest for life I’ve been feeling and experiencing. Not everything has to be made from a dark place. I think the piece speaks for itself, but ultimately I hope it speaks in whatever way you allow.

in Blog • Christ in the Psalms Artwork

Psalm 149—Artwork

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Allee Nesbitt

I’m Allee, I do creative direction, design, and branding for an urban planning company based out of San Francisco, CA. I have been attending Park Church since 2016. Park is where I met my husband and we have a little guy named Levi!

Piece: Digital Illustration

Psalm 149 is a depiction of genuine, joyful praise for our Creator. It reveals the triumphant present-future reality that is ours in Christ: all things will surely be made new. I wanted this art to display human hands in full, authentic worship – without any reservations due to fear or shame. Simply, each posture offers its own song in response to the intimacy, mystery, and glory of God. The hands are drawn with an outline in red depicting the blood of Christ which purchased us.

When I first picked this Psalm, I was intimidated by the juxtaposition of the joy-filled people mixed with the harsh reality of justice being served. It’s a topic my heart always has wrestled with being a follower of Christ and I have had to submit my flawed human view of justice over to God many many times. When designing this art, I wanted to focus on the joy it will feel to be freely in worship one day, without any doubt holding me back from true authenticity.

in Blog • Christ in the Psalms Artwork

Psalm 148—Artwork

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Olivia McCloud

My name is Olivia, and I’m a Colorado Native and artist! I’ve been drawing since I was a kid and am so honored that Park has provided such a creative outlet to integrate artists into the church experience.

Piece: Gouache on Board

This is gouache on board. Gouache is essentially a more opaque version of watercolor that allows you to really layer and build up color. It is my preferred media because it lets me use a variety of techniques and create multiple textures!

The Doxology is one of my favorite pieces of church liturgy, so reading Psalm 148 I immediately felt a familiar pull towards it. The concept of every part of creation being called to celebrate the power of Christ has the ability to make you feel important and insignificant all at once. Every aspect of creation was lovingly formed by a powerful God, and we are a valued piece of that.

I wanted to capture the vastness of creation, as well as the minute details that we are also made up of. From mountains and seas, to galaxies and the human body; we are a valued part of the divine creation of Christ.

in Blog • Christ in the Psalms Artwork

Jason Procopio Update: July 2024

On Sunday, July 21, one of our longest-standing global missions partners was able to join us in person. Jason Procopio and his family have been faithfully serving and planting churches in the heart of Paris, France for more than ten years. Jason updated us on Église Connexion, their exciting, missional growth as a church, and their current opportunity to secure a permanent location in the middle of Paris.

Watch the video above to learn more!

in Blog

Psalm 147—Artwork

Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.

Person: Alison Harshberger

Hey, I’m Alison! I do product marketing and graphic design and live in Denver, CO with my pup, Nala. I studied marketing and graphic design in college and fell in love with digital art and design.

Piece: Digital Illustration

This piece is a Digital illustration made on Procreate (shout out to the iPad and the Apple Pencil).

Psalm 147 has some iconic verses that speak to the vastness of God’s glory. I started this piece inspired by the imagery of space and the cosmos, but changed direction mid way through. I ended up incorporating the stars with one of my favorite pieces of symbolism and my favorite things to draw, a twisted tree trunk. For me, the tree trunk is a representation of God’s faithfulness and his character, with beautifully hidden mysteries throughout and steadiness that endures all seasons.

in Blog • Christ in the Psalms Artwork