Alpha Cohort Leadership: A Call to be Disciple-Makers

Alpha at Park ChurchAlpha is a series of open and informal conversations about life, spirituality, and the person of Jesus. Sessions take place over a meal at a home with a group of peers. Each session explores an element of the Christian faith with an emphasis on creating conversation.

On Sunday, June 29, Community and Formation Resident Jack Repenning shared with us about the opportunity and need for Alpha cohort leaders. Watch the video above, and learn more using the button below!

Alpha at Park Church

Partner Highlight: Save Our Youth

Last Sunday, June 22, we were joined by Dan Frederick of Save Our Youth. Save Our Youth is a nonprofit organization that resources and pairs mentors with at-risk youth seeking mentoring relationships. Park Church has partnered with Save Our Youth for many years!

Watch the video above to learn more, but here are some highlights:

  • 16 individuals from Park Church are current Save Our Youth Mentors, serving youth in our city.
  • Park Church was able to host Save Our Youth’s graduation celebration for 10 High School and 4 College Graduates.
  • Gospel Communities, individuals, and Park Students provided a total of 25 Christmas boxes to help first-generation college students.

To learn more about Save Our Youth or to investigate becoming a mentor, please visit saveouryouth.org or reach out directly to Dan at dan@saveouryouth.org.

Celebrating Juneteenth

Although many individuals and families have observed Juneteenth for generations, the holiday is newly-formalized and quite deserving of its increased observance nationally. Although the "what" and "why" of Juneteenth may be old news to you, we wanted to take a moment today to enjoy celebrating and remembering these things.

Two & a Half Years: Some History

Though the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863, the news—and its enforcement—didn't reach Texas for another two and a half years, meaning many enslaved Africans continued to live under the evil of slavery. On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that all enslaved people were finally free.

How Can We Observe Juneteenth?

It is a day of celebration and jubilation, and a call for us as the church to remember (Exodus 3:7) and celebrate the liberation of our Black Brothers and Sisters (Psalm 133:1 & Isaiah 61:1), honor the perseverance and faith of the Black church throughout history. We also must mourn the very need for Juneteenth, grieving that slavery is part of our country’s history (Nahum 1:13). Juneteenth is more than an “official holiday.” For the Christian, it calls back to God’s commands for redemption among His people (Leviticus 25). God called the Hebrews to redemptive rest and worship (vv. 1–5), redemptive liberty (vv. 8–17), and redemptive justice (vv. 35–43). Scripture shows us that God’s plans are incompatible with prejudice and injustice. As God’s people, we are called to engage in His Kingdom work of justice.

Observing Together

Some of our singing this last Sunday, June 15, oriented around this celebration and our need to seek God’s redemption. You can see that moment of our service in the video above.

An additional Resource

We also wanted to share an article from The Gospel Coalition that has several informative ways to help us celebrate and participate in Juneteenth alongside others. As you enjoy this day, may you take time to reflect on what it means to have freedom, thank God for this freedom (for ourselves and for others), and pray that we would be a people who fight for this freedom for all peoples.

A Sabbatical for Joel Limpic

Joel Limpic, our Pastor of Liturgy and Arts since 2013, will be starting a three-month sabbatical next week. We’re glad for him to have this opportunity to pause and spend time with his family.

Sabbaticals provide a time to slow down, reconnect with Jesus, and focus on areas of healing, growth, and family life. We’re delighted to offer Sabbaticals to all full-time staff every seven years. This will be Joel’s second sabbatical.

It’s hard to communicate how thankful we are for the ways Joel has cared for and served our community. Please join us in prayer for Joel, Morgan, Tally, Alex, and Eleanor that this season will be restful and meaningful for them. We’ll miss them while they’re away and look forward to welcoming them back!

Partner Highlight: Open Door Ministries

At Park Church, we work with local partners to love and serve our neighbors throughout the city. This last Sunday, we had the opportunity to hear from David Warren at Open Door Ministries. Open Door seeks to address poverty, build communities, and cultivate followers of Christ here in Denver through Housing, Kid and Youth Programming, Leadership Development, and Local Outreach. You learn more about Open Door, their work, and how to get involved by visiting their website.

Partner Highlight: CrossPurpose

On Sunday, January 12, we were joined by Michael Ramsdail and Mark Haug from CrossPurpose, a Denver non-profit organization that seeks to abolish relational, economic, and spiritual poverty through tuition-free career training and community development. If you missed their announcement, you can watch that above to learn more about their work and our opportunity to participate.

As Michael and Mark shared, an important element of CrossPurpose’s work is the cultivation of “Ally” relationships. This Spring Semester, we invite you, your family, or your Gospel Community to join CrossPurpose and its mission by becoming an ally.

What is a Cross Purpose Ally?

An Ally is a volunteer who walks alongside the CrossPurpose community and career development program participants (called “Leaders”) to encourage and build friendships.

On Wednesday nights from 6–8pm, we come together for “Family Gatherings.” Three to four allies share a meal with 10–15 Leaders, play a game or two, and check in on how things are progressing in our Leaders’ lives and careers. Allies help provide Leaders with social capital and community outside their normal circles.

Learn more about becoming an Ally

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.

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

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