Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
2013
_____________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
_____________
32
28
18
34
16
crowd
2013
_____________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
_____________
table of
CONTENTS
40
PG.
PG.
16 RRC Staff
46
40
A n e p i c ta l e by E r i c Pa r ks
a l o o k at t he fac e s a n d
c o n n e ct i o n s t hat m a ke
u p t he sta f f o f r e d r o c ks
c hu r c h
PG.
18 Before I Die
PG.
PG.
PG.
34 Sports
44
crowd
Sto r i e s o f l i f e c ha n g e
f r o m t he b i g g e st s e r i e s
o f 20 1 2
Yo u l l n e v e r s e e t he m t he
s a m e way aga i n
A n a rt i c l e by Ja ke E s py
Ma ki n g yo u s m i l e o n e c u p
o f c o f f e e at a t i m e
W he r e s p o rts a n d
s e rv i n g g o ha n d i n ha n da
A n a rt i c l e by
Ca s e y Ban ko r d
2013
_____________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
_____________
58
61
PG.
40 Denver Sharefest
PG.
PG.
46 Series Review
PG.
PG.
56 Baptism
PG.
68
56
49
crowd
2013
1 w e e k, 21 D e n v e r P u b l i c
S c ho o l s , ov e r 1 ,0 0 0 vo lu nteers,
5,60 0 ho u r s o f s e rv i c e
A n a rt i c l e by B r i a n Z i b e ll
Wa r m ly w e l c o m i n g a n y and
a l l w ho e n t e r
a l o o k b ac k at t he s e r i e s
t hat b r o u g ht us t hr o u g h
t hi s pa st y e a r
A sto ry o f r e d e m p t i o n : f r o m
d ru g a d d i ct to pa sto r .
A n a rt i c l e a b o u t S haw n
Jo hn s o n by Cas e y Ban ko r d
n ot e s o f l i f e c ha n g e
Tat to o s a n d g u i ta r s a n d
m a ki n g a d i f f e r e n c e i n t he
n e xt g e n e r at i o n
_____________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
_____________
70
72
77
PG.
PG.
74
A n e s s ay o n a n a b u n da n t l ife
by Jo hn O rt b e r g
PG.
61 Missions
PG.
PG.
PG.
PG.
W h at h a ppen ed at R ed R o c ks
C h u rc h a n d a rou n d th e wo r l d
w h en on e m a n f elt th e i m pact
of a n ea rth qua k e
An a rti c le by C h a d B rue g m a n
C reati v i ty + s erv i c e +
j oy + en ergy
crowd
T he n e v e r - e n d i n g
pa sto r a l f e u d
O l d s o u l + Yo u n g he a rt
T he v i s i o n b e hi n d R e d R o cks
m u lt i - s i t e e x pa n s i o n
A n a rt i c l e by S c ot t B ru eg man
2013
_____________
CONTRIBUTORS
_____________
_________________________________________
Printed by: Publication Printers, Denver CO
Print Run: 10,000
Cover Photo by: Carson Bankord
Lost & Found Illustrations by: Nathan Bottcher
Contributing Writers: Casey Bankord, Chad Bruegman, Scott
Bruegman, Cori Cook, Jessie Davis, Eric Parks, Jake Espy,
Margaret Vincent, Brian Zibell
Featured Writer: John Ortberg
_________________________________________
Special Thanks to: Collette Bankord, Amie Bottcher, Jacob &
Lauren Cordova, Shadi Emmons, Shawn Johnson, Jan Kuchler,
Stacey Kyler, Adam Rowe, Chris Sharber, Amy Taylor and the
RRC Creative Team.
Underwritting Inquiries contact:
magazine@redrockschurch.com
crowd
2013
_____________
A letter to t h e crowd
_____________
a letter to the
CROWD
Everyone loves a good story. Everyone has the relative who at family gatherings is the
storyteller of the group. For hours, we could sit and hear them recount tales of family history
or hilarious mishaps. Get a group together around a table, and inevitably stories will emerge.
At family gatherings growing up, my dad and his brothers would sit around the table after
dinner and replay the antics of their childhood late into the night. They all grew up on a farm
in Kansas, so stories often included livestock, fishing, dynamite, and learning to drive before
they could reach the pedals. They were all street racers with a touch of rebellion, so their
stories followed suit. For hours, I would sit and listen to their colorful stories.
As a kid, I could not get enough of my uncles tales. I felt like I was there. I was a part.
And, I understood. Good stories are important in that way. We can relate to them. We can
understand. We see a bit of ourselves. Good stories have the ability to captivate us.
It should come as no surprise, then, that the original Storyteller is our creator himself. In
scripture, God is called the Author of every story ever written. The only difference is that
his stories are written out in peoples lives, not just about them. To think that each story is
actually penned out by our creator gives them that much more weight.
Jesus was a storyteller too. In fact, he chose to communicate through stories more than any
other medium. Whenever there was a crowd, Jesus would open his mouth and tell a tale. He
knew what we know now that stories can engage a crowd. Move a crowd. Motivate a crowd.
Wherever there is a crowd stories must be told.
In the last eight years at Red Rocks Church, there have been so many incredible stories.
Stories of life change. Stories of mess-ups and redemption. Marriages healed, financial
situations restored, missionaries sent, and families renewed. Stories about people finding a
new way to do life a better way. Stories of faith, fulfillment, giving, receiving, transformation,
second chances, and renewal.
The goal of this magazine is to highlight the stories that God is writing. We decided a few
months ago that it would be a shame to not capture the amazing things that he is doing, to
not showcase them. Consequently, we set out to create our first-ever magazine: CROWD.
We subtitled it: About. Every. One. Because the stories inside capture the magnitude of
everyone, with attention to the detail of each one. Its about everyone, and its about every
single one.
We welcome you to the inaugural edition of our magazine. Welcome to the stories that have
shaped Red Rocks Church. Welcome, one and all: to the CROWD.
Jessie Davis
Ed i to r - in - ch i e f
crowd
2013
_____________
_____________
When I was growing up, my family had a few traditions that were part of who we were, and
those traditions were sacred. It was clear that violating one was as bad as burning the flag.
But the holy grail of family traditionswhose defilement could mean eternal damnation,
or at least damnation from ever eating at the adult table againthis unmissable tradition
was coming home for Christmas, back to the Texas ranch. If you missed this one, you were
in trouble.
In many ways, my family was an odd assortment of hundreds of aunts, uncles, and second
cousins I didnt really know. But, in other ways, it was pretty much a perfect stereotype:
thick accents, cowboy boots, bolo ties, and broad cowboy hats. A defiant Texas swagger
exuded from almost every person. Even if you didnt live in Texas anymore, it was there.
crowd
2013
_____________
_____________
I stood and inspected the bike, and considered not racing him
What? Are you chicken? Brandon yelled at me, looking over
his shoulder.
Oh, that is itgame on. Get ready to get your butt kicked by me
and Barbie!
crowd
Brandon took off. I reached down, grabbed the bike by the back of
the seat, and began running alongside it. But I didnt notice the
direction of the long pink flag attached to the rear. Therefore, I
inadvertently got this flag entangled in the front spokes. As I ran
forward, I could feel that something on this bike wasnt right,
and by about the tenth step it became abundantly clear what the
problem was. The flag worked itself free and sprung backward
toward my head. I jerked to avoid a laceration to the face, but
my quick motion caused me to briefly let go of the handlebars.
Before I could regain my grip, the front wheel swerved hard and
2013
_____________
_____________
crowd
The race was lost. I had been beaten fair and square, sort
of. Since I had no clue where my cousin or the park were, I
turned around and headed home. I cruised up a few blocks
and began to backtrack to my cousins house. My mind surfed
through ideas, past girlfriends, homework assignments, and
playground kickball games. In just a few short blocks, the
intensity that had surged through my veins faded, and my selfdisgust was replaced by distraction and wonder. I jumped from
one unconnected question to another: Why do birds get to fly?
Why do they fly south? I wonder if they like worms? I wonder if
worms like fishing?
I pulled into my uncles driveway, laid my pathetic (yet quite
comfortable) bike on the ground, and glided toward the front
door. I pressed my hand against the wooden door and twisted
the handle. As the door cracked open, I squeezed through like I
was trying to keep the last thirty minutes outside. I meandered
past the couch, turned sharply left, and strolled toward the
refrigerator.
2013
_____________
_____________
Hello, whos there? a deep voice bellowed from behind the hall
bathroom door.
Oh no ... this is not my cousins house. Holy cow! THIS IS NOT
MY COUSINS HOUSE. OH MY ... THIS ... IS ... NOT ... MY
... COUSINS HOUSE! And then my thoughts turned into
random nonsense. I felt as if everything that was in my mind
was like the computer screen in The Matrix. My thoughts were
running at the speed of sound, but I could make almost no sense
of them. Hello? the man repeated as he craned his neck around
the cheap plastic shower curtain.
Have you ever seen someone panic because they have lost
something or forgot an important project, birthday, or
anniversary? Some call this the deer in the headlights look.
Mom, MOM!
And just then, like an urgent fax
coming across the Presidents desk
announcing the facts behind the
Cuban missile crisis, bullet points
began posting to my mind:
11
crowd
2013
_____________
crowd
_____________
2013
_____________
I could not make out a face, but I didnt need to. I knew who it
was. I recognized the frantic shifting of a panicked mom, My
mom, looking for ME.
I did not wait for her to drive up the suburban block and rescue
me. I dropped the bicycle and, with every last bit of energy I
could muster, began running toward my mom. My mom got a
glimpse of her baby, threw the car into park, and jumped out the
door to meet me in the street. It was like a movie: the wayward
son coming to his senses and being ushered back home to the
loving embrace of his wonderful mother. As I reached my mom,
I grabbed her waist and started crying.
_____________
13
I rested my hands on the side of the car and said, Im just so glad
you found me. I didnt think you would notice I was gone, and
when I realized how long I had been away from Uncle Lloyds, I
thought you would be mad ...
crowd
Yes? I mumbled.
Are you okay?
2013
_____________
She paused, and then she softly said, You know, I have been
looking for you for almost an hour.
As Paul Harvey used to say, here is the rest of the story As soon
as my cousin turned the final corner that separated the two of
us, he realized that a race is no fun if there is only one person in
it. So in an effort to ridicule me, he doubled back to his house.
And when I wasnt there, he went in to tell my mom and dad.
I was unaware of my predicament for 13 minutes. I was aware I
was lost for 16 minutes. I was terrified for 9 minutes. Remorseful
for 7. And resolved to my future for 11. I had been lost for a total
of 56 minutes, and my mother had been searching for me for
56 minutes the entire time. Before I was even aware of how
lost I was, she was looking. When I was scared, tired, terrified,
hopelessly resigned, she was looking.
I jumped into the car, and we began the slow ride home, a drive
of salvation that took me past the street I was so scared on, the
house that symbolized my predicament, the park that was once
_____________
the goal of my adventure, and then back home. I came full circle
in this short car ride, and I was home. I was saved. I was found.
Remember that Dr. Lovelace said there are two preconditions
for change, one of which I mentioned earlier: understanding the
depth of our lostness. The other precondition is realizing the
greatness, the holiness, and the glory of our gracious God. It has
been my experience in life that nothing can show the greatness
of our wonderful God more than to reflect upon the beauty and
brilliance of His grace in our savior, Jesus Christ.
Your heavenly Father will not stop, He will not waver. He is
enduring, His patience is perfect, His love is pureand He is
interested in you!
A wonderful God.
A lost humanity.
A beautiful Savior.
A search that started for youeven before you knew how much
you needed Him. Before you knew you were lost.
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you cant take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation
is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are Gods masterpiece.
crowd
2013
_____________
L ife g rou p s
_____________
check
out
this
ministry
dont go to church
be part of it
find where you belong
Make Disciples for Life
We believe that life change happens best
when people are connected to group life.
In group life, we pursue our relationship
with God and with others in an authentic
way. These small groups consist of 12-15
people which we call Life Groups
at Red Rocks Church.
For more information on
how to join a life group visit:
redrockschurch.com/groups
crowd
2013
15
_____________
staff
jared
n eer h of
Fac i l i t i e s
Jordan
M cCa s l in
group life
Erik
by er s
yo u t h M i n i s t ry
Krystal
S hutt e
RRC STAFF
_____________
= 2 c a m p u s e s 3 8 Fa c e s 1 c h u r c h =
Casey
Travis
C r e at i v e l e a d
c a m p u s pasto r
iConnect
B A NKORD
BANKORD
Casey, Carson, Josh & Bekah are from Illinois
Casey & Carson are brothers
Casey & Eric wrote a book together
Casey & Amie have the same birthday
Morgan
Josh
The Shack
Youth Ministry
t r aw
Graphic Designer
Craig
Jessie
dav is
FUEL M i n i s t r y L e a d e r
Lead Prod/Tech
Kelsey
p owe ll
B ot tche r
Campus Pastor
Scott
Mark
Sports Ministry
Production/Sound
russomanno
Scott, Mark, Jessie, & Kelsey
all went to CCU
Scotts wife was a Broncos
cheerleader.
wr ay
crowd
brian
zi be ll
group Life
shawn
john s on
Sports Intern
ki ngry
v i nc e nt
jb
Travis was a
hang gliding instructor
& Josh was a white
water rafting instructor
bekah
kr i stan
Group Life/Trainer
hall
2013
L e a d Pasto r
Scott
Bruegman
M u lt i - S i t e Pa s to r
_____________
RRC STAFF
Alicia
Amie
a d m i n a s s i s ta n t
ha r m s
Alicia & Jake both have fathers in
law enforcement
Alicia worked full time the entire
time she attended College of the Ozarks
jake
espy
Worship Leader
bottc he r
Amie & Adam both worked for Disney
Amie & Morgan went to rival
Christian colleges in So-Cal
Amie & Kelsey are sisters-in-law
Erik just proposed to Amie
Amie & Casey have the same
birthday
Amie was Sarahs brother's Sunday
School Teacher
Travis
ca r e y
L e ag u e C o o r d i n ato r
_____________
sarah
br ame r
kids rock
Curriculum
par r
andrew
jerrica
T e ac h i n g Pasto r
yo u t h m i n i s t ry
worship
matr one
matr one
chris
brinnae
Care ministry
worship
Shelly
Lajimodiere
kids rock
r oggow
j ind r a
pa r k s
- Ratio -
video/interactive media
eric
attendee
michelle
chad
staff to
adam
r owe
b rue g m a n
1:167
90s
mad scientist
chrissy
pa r k s
Human Resources
whittnay
tyler
worship
r obe rts
john
trowbridge
90s
fac i l i t i e s
tess
tr owbr i d ge
Little Rock
48%
crowd
2013
roberts
Tyler & Whittnay
are married
Tyler & Erik are
from Indiana
Tyler loves the Titans,
and no one else does
Adam & Tyler both have
southern accents
17
_____________
BEFOrE I DIE
crowd
_____________
2013
_____________
BEFOrE I DIE
_____________
19
BY Casey Ba nkor d
crowd
2013
_____________
before I D ie
_____________
BEFORE I DIE / / S e p t 1 2
Mark Twain
crowd
2013
_____________
before I D ie
_____________
21
Those of us who have found Jesus and committed our lives to Him have been given a new
chance, a new hope, and a fresh opportunity to make our marks. Yet, no one knows how
long our lives will last. We hope they will be long and healthy, full of friends, memories, and
quality accomplishments, but often wonder if well accomplish all that we intend. As we get
older, we learn that every day is precious, every conversation is important, and every goal has
a time limit. Therefore, we may or may not have a chance to do all that we want to do unless
we consciously and intentionally choose specific things to accomplish.
What will you do before you die that will make an important impact on the world?
We asked this question together in the Before I Die series in the fall of 2012. Thousands of us
expressed our goals, hopes, and dreams by writing them on several large chalkboards outside
the church. The messages on the chalkboards were remarkable. People to reach, problems to
solve, mountains to climb, sicknesses to heal, relationships to mend, poor communities to be
fed, injustices to be righted, and races to be run.
As a church, we prioritized the things in our lives that are most important, most precious,
and most glorifying to our God, and then committed to taking action. Stories poured in from
people who stopped waiting to do what was right, and just started doing it. We collected
stories throughout the series. Here are just a few.
crowd
2013
_____________
BEFORE I DIE
_____________
before I Die...
13% of
responses are
related to family
9% want to be a better
reflection of Christ
I want to take a catamaran ride in
Bahamas
while Sting, my favorite singer, sings
to me
I just wanna be a dad my son will
always remember in a wonderful way
I would love to serve as a missionary
I want to be a great husband and
father, just like my father was and
always will be
I want to find my purpose in life
and make a difference
I want to be the best me I can be - the
best wife, mom, sister, friend, and so
much more
I want to do something that everyone
thinks is completely crazy because I
know its the right thing
Experience God under the Northern
Lights
Travel the world and photograph
what I experience
Get a double eagle (golf )
I want to go to Africa
I want to go to Israel
crowd
2013
6%
have to
do with
Love
_____________
Adopt a child
I want to go on a backpacking trip in
Europe with my older brother
Use my artistic talent for the glory of
God, to help share His awesomeness
Dive Great Barrier Reef
Run a missions ministry in central
Africa
I want to visit and experience New
Zealand
Shave my head - everyone should know
what it feels like to be vulnerable and
socially abnormal
BEFORE I DIE
_____________
10% want to do
My soul to be free
extreme
or daring stunts
I want to skydive
I want to join the prayer team at
Red Rocks Church to bless bless bless
Witness a revival in Africa/mission
trip
Win HGTVs next Design Star
and have my own design show
Rescue people from sexual slavery and
trafficking and teach them that theres
hope in Jesus
Through the Holy Spirit in me and the
gift of mercy He has provided in me,
100 people will be added to the Book of
Life before I die.
I want to walk through the Holy Lands
To live out of the country
and share Him with others
Climb a 14er
See les Miserables in London
Be part of a team that starts churches
in closed countries (ex: Saudi Arabia,
N Korea, Afghanistan)
I want to represent Christ on Glee
I want to serve in Africa or Asia
Run my horse
Ask for forgiveness
Lose myself
Either join the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, or join the To Write Love on
Her Arm organization
Get baptised
I want to be a missionary
Find Grace
To be a God-fearing man
Crowd surf
OF people
want
to be
restored or redeemed
Build an igloo
5%
crowd
2013
23
_____________
before I D ie
crowd
_____________
2013
_____________
before I D ie
_____________
The Gift of a
Second Chance
An Interview With Christina & Samm
B Y J e s s i e D av i s
crowd
2013
25
_____________
B efore I die
_____________
No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection]
than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.
John 15:13
Amplified Version
Several years prior, when Samm was in college, she had battled an infection that was
undertreated. The result was damaged and eventually failing kidneys. When she became
pregnant after college, the doctors became even more concerned. Carrying her son Brode to
term would mean Samms kidneys, and ultimately her life, would be at risk. I knew he was
going to be ok. I cant describe it, but I knew it. I knew the day he was going to be born, that he
was going to have red hair, and that he was going to be awesome, she explains. Brode was born
safely, but a few years later, her kidneys took a turn for the worse, and Samm began to need
weekly dialysis. As her condition deteriorated, Samm felt as though she was out of options.
In May 2012, she contacted Red Rocks Church to begin talking through her funeral
arrangements. It was at this point that Samm was encouraged by Chad, her pastor and
friend, to continue to have hope. He kept telling me to have hope. To not give up hope. He
encouraged her to continue to have faith, however small, and to trust for some type of new
beginning. Hope is a powerful thing, she says simply. That spring, Samm took up a new
hope, barely knowing that God was already orchestrating a beautiful match.
It was that summer that Christina and Samm first crossed paths. Both attending Red Rocks,
Christina learned of Samms health situation via social media updates on a Facebook page
called A Kidney for Samm. Christina read through Samms story and reached out to her.
They exchanged a few tweets on a Saturday, and on Sunday, at one of the evening services,
they met each other at church. As could only be written by the hand of God, two girls had
met, and their lives would be forever connected from that point on.
After that first Sunday, Samm and Christina stayed connectedwriting occasionally, texting,
talking at church, meeting for lunch, and getting to know each other. During that time,
Christina recognized God at work again. I knew that God had a big, big plan, Christina says.
A few months later, Christina made a life-altering decision. She was going to be tested to see
if she could be an organ match for Samm.
In the Before I Die series, Chad gave a message that talked about Samm and her condition.
The weekend of September 16, 2012, thousands of people heard Samms story, and were
affected by her apparent reality. That Sunday, Chad implored them to pray for a miracle.
Four days later, Christina was at the hospital, getting tested. Like all other decisions,
Christina felt assured and completely confident. Even with Samms doubts and fears for her
newfound friend, Christina would not waver in her choice.
I came to a realization over the last year of living and trusting God that my life was finite,
and precious. I could have gotten that call, Hey, your kidneys are failing. That could have
been me. It was so obvious that God had his hand on the scenario the entire time. Without
him, I wouldnt have come to Red Rocks and I wouldnt have met Samm. She pauses and
then says with complete honesty, In the back of my mind, I always knew that I would be
a match.
On September 24, 2012, Christina got a call. Youre a match, the nurse said over the phone.
crowd
2013
_____________
B efore I die
_____________
When would you like to schedule surgery? While the actual chances of Christina being a
match were extremely slim, it was a reality nonetheless. She was the very first person to get
tested. And she was a complete match. It was an absolute miracle.
Christina called Samm and gave her the shocking and wonderful news. Samm sat silently
on the phone. There was a hesitation. Samm and Christina had become friends, and Samm
felt the burden of putting her in harms way. I told her not to do it, Samm says, smiling at
Christina. I care about Christina. I said, We can find someone else. It is such a sacrifice.
Christina persisted, Lets do it. Christina put in a request for a date.
I decided even before I got tested that I was going to donate to her, Christina says, smiling.
It was a no-brainer. If there was something I could do to help her, I was going to do it. God
gave me two kidneys, she says happily, I can live with one.
The scheduling and pre-operation procedures went seamlessly. Within weeks, they were
both telling friends and family members about the news. One was preparing to lay down her
life, and another was getting a second chance.
On November 19, both girls were prepared for surgery in different rooms at a hospital in
downtown Denver. Christina prayed a small prayer as the doctors helped her onto the table,
I just prayed, GodI trust you. All for your glory.
Hours later, Christina awoke. Her surgery was a success and Samms was underway. The
next day, Samm woke up to a body with lower levels of toxins than had been present in
months. The transplant went perfectly with both girls healing, and a rising awareness of the
amazing event that had just taken place.
Two months after the surgery, the two girls are sitting together in my office. Samm is back at
work. Christina is working again as well, and they both are enjoying life and friends. Samm
chats happily about how she doesnt miss dialysis. She doesnt miss the anxious feeling of
possibly missing out on her sons life. She says shes healthier, her eyes are clearer and her
heart is at peace. Its crazy! I can think about having a life now. Maybe someday I can get
married. Maybe I can have another baby. Its all a possibility now.
Christina smiles, laughs, and looks perfectly healthy. Even though she has to drink more
water than normal to help her body acclimate to a missing kidney, you would never know
she was missing one. She is as self-confident and joyful as she was when she moved here two
years ago.
When I ask if she would do it again, Christina says, Absolutely, without skipping a beat,
without a doubt. I would do it again.
In what is truly one of the most gorgeous pictures of new beginnings and second chances,
these two ladies inspire and bring fresh meaning to the word sacrificewhat the Bible calls
the greatest love. The reality of Christinas giving heart is evident in Samms new hope. A
brand new life, with a new, vibrant start.
Sometimes people wonder if God is listening to them, or if God is there. I hope they hear
this story and never wonder again, Samm says boldly. She sits forward and smiles, Second
chances are always there. Our God is a God who always redeems. Theres always, always
hope.
crowd
2013
27
_____________
KIDS ROCK
_____________
check
out
this
m i n i stry
3 environments // 1 purpose
Little Rock: PRE - K
Kids Rock: K - 3
A place made just for pre-teens to build community and study the
Bible. with a focus on things, friendship, faith and wisdom.
a t b o t h t h e g o l d e n & l i t t l e t o n c a mp u s e s
For more information visit:
redrocks church/connect/children
crowd
2013
_____________
_____________
Meet your
Worship Leaders
by jake Espy
There was a time when writing an article like this would have been second nature to me.
As an undergraduate journalism major at Colorado State University, I turned out op-ed
articles at breakneck speed for the local college paper, which was a wonderful opportunity
to influence dozens of people. Nowadays, however, I am admittedly out of practice. So, when
the opportunity was offered to me to write an article for CROWD, I jumped at the chance to
make a triumphant return to the limelight.
I imagined composing such a deep, profound expos on the worship department that many
would likely tear this article out of the magazine, frame it, and hang it next to that picture of
Great Aunt Mildred. It would be a keepsake to hand down to your kids to remind them of a
time when journalistic excellence still reigned supreme.
crowd
2013
29
_____________
_____________
But as I sat down to pen this masterpiece, I began to feel a bit torn. Torn between writing the
aforementioned serious piece of hard-hitting journalism, and taking a sophomoric route to
share the oddball nuances Ive discovered while getting to know the members of our worship
team.
Ultimately, despite my best intentions, I chose the latterthe oddball nuances approach.
Therefore, the remaining words will be some of my favorite things about our worship
leaderstheir idiosyncrasies, if you will. It wont be glamorous, it wont win a Pulitzer, and it
probably wont be grammatically correct; but here it goes.
Tyler is from Indiana, which for some inexplicable reason left him with a Southern accent.
Its not quite a drawl, but its definitely smoother than youd expect from a Hoosier. If you
spend enough time around him, you will eventually hear the accent slide around noticeably.
Most of the time, it falls somewhere near a Matthew McConaughey from How to Lose a Guy
in 10 Days. But when he gets excited, it starts to resemble something from Duck Dynasty or
Swamp People very Southern, if you catch my drift. If you happen to catch him during a
Tennessee Titans football game, you might hear the change in his accent happen within the
same sentence. It baffles the mind. Tyler maintains that he has no accent whatsoever. Denial
isnt just a river in Egypt.
Jerrica, on the other hand, hails from Missouri. Her major claim to fame is that she and Brad
Pitt went to the same high school Kickapoo which is, by the way, a terrible name for a high
school. But, what do you expect from a state with a name like Missouri? Missouri so closely
resembles the word misery that Kickapoo is actually a step up in a lot of ways. I digress.
Jerrica is, bar none, the most fashionable member of the worship team. At any given time,
you can find her partially obscured behind a cloud of hairspray she just applied for the third
time that morning, or surfing the designer boot websites Im sure my wife introduced her to.
Jerrica misplaces her keys about three times a week, loses her phone once a day, and she
somehow seems to forget her wallet almost every time the worship team goes out to eat
(a convenient fact that always seems to surface right as we approach the cash register).
crowd
2013
_____________
_____________
Additionally, Jerrica claims she can eat 50 Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets in one sitting. This
statement has yet to be substantiated, but it is highly disputed amongst the Red Rocks staff.
Brinnae is the new kid on the block, just joining staff in December of 2012. In my mind,
there are basically two important things you need to know about her at this juncture. First,
she is much more hip than I am; unquestionably. Her coolness can be summed up in three
statements.
1. She has an arm sleeve (thats an arm full of tattoos for the layman).
3. I dont know if you read the first part, but her name is Brinnae. You HAVE to be
cool in order to pull that off. I couldnt pull off a name like Brinnae if I had to. I
can barely pull off Jake. Heck, I could barely pull off Ned.
Secondly, from the first moment I met her, I became very much aware that she could easily
beat me up. A fact that is evidenced by the aforementioned arm sleeve, and that she was
the screamer in a heavy metal band before she moved to Colorado. (Side note: the band
was called This is Love. I dont know about you, but when I think of love, I think of a girl
screaming uncontrollably at the top of her lungs and heavy rock music. Who doesnt?)
My name is Jake. Because Ive picked on everyone else so far, its only fair to throw myself
under the bus with them. My favorite albums growing up were Boyz II Men, N*Sync (notice
the properly placed asterisk following the N), and the soundtrack from Space Jam. I wore
sweatpants exclusively until about 9th grade, which I usually paired with a graphic t-shirt
of a wolf howling at the moon or a Starter jacket. I created the rap alias, Orange Smoothie
for myself in 6th grade due to my hair color. Some people on staff still call me some variation
of that nickname. I have seen every episode of Boy Meets World and I have never lost a race
in Mario Kart 64. Last, the other worship leaders would probably say that Im somewhat
argumentative. Naturally, I disagree.
I wish I could close this article with some sort of inspirational quote, or a spiritual insight
Ive garnered from this worship team along the way. I wish I had something to say that would
secure this article a spot in your family heirloom scrapbook. But lets be honest, I just got
done telling you I was an N*Sync fanatic who wore Starter jackets. From that, there is no
recovering. Instead, lets just end like this: I consider myself extremely lucky to be part of
such an amazing group of worship leaders, Christians, musicians, and friends. If you happen
to get to know Brinnae, Jerrica, or Tyler as well as I have, Im sure youd be just as impressed
by their strength of character as I have been. Im excited for the future of Red Rocks Church,
and the part we get to play as worship leaders. Mostly, I want to thank Red Rocks Church,
for believing in us, trusting us, and worshiping with us week after week. It is truly a privilege
that none of us take lightly.
Oh, lets please keep the N*Sync thing just between us. My wife still doesnt know about it. If
she did, shed never let me live it down.
crowd
2013
31
hero
Chris gave me a hug and
sat down in the chair across
the table. Calm, confident
and kind, its easy to see
why Chris has a panache
for sales. I thanked him for
meeting mid-day, as his
work schedule was probably
full. Oh no, Chris brushed
it off. I allotted time for
this, he smiled, and we
began.
crowd
2013
_____________
Heroes
_____________
By Jessie Davis
If one thing could be said about Chris, it is that hes intentional. He does all things with
purpose and gusto, and I assumed our interview would be no different. It was at Belmar,
Chris remembered, thinking back on when he had first started serving on the caf team,
when it was little.
It was 2007, and the church was just over 500 people. The church was three years old then,
and like a toddler of the same age, it was having a growth spurt. Red Rocks met in an event
center in the middle of Belmar, and every weekend, the caf team brewed huge amounts of
coffee to field the demand. I went back into the kitchen, and there were extension cords
everywhere, and probably 15 percolators. I just jumped in and started helping.
Years before this, Chris was a restaurant owner in Dallas. Having extensive knowledge
about the food and hospitality business, Chris skillset was managerial, structural, and
forward-thinking. At other points in his life he was a kitchen manager with a passion for
food, which is also how he and his wife Tyra connected and eventually married. Chris also
worked in sales for a hotel chain. Chris brought all of these gifts in his service on the caf
team. Over the years he pushed for better coffees, nicer presentations, better food for the
volunteers on Sundays, and more structure. Its an exercise in my joy and passion for the
hospitality business, Chris nods, thinking about the last 5 years, Its my way of getting on
my knees.
In 2008, Red Rocks moved again, back to Heritage Square. Once again, it went through
another growth spurt. Chris, alongside Amber Phifer, Missy Bleich, Sam Baier, and other
leaders, diligently managed volunteers, brewing, supplies, foods, and other weekend
goodies. Every weekend they served hundreds of Krispy Kreme doughnuts and gallons of
coffee to attenders. We put a smile on peoples faces. When it was announced in 2012
that Red Rocks would have an additional campus in Littleton, Chris again saw the need
for structure amidst growth. He took on the task of ordering for multiple campuses, setting
up a delivery schedule, and training a host of volunteers. All of this work, over all that time,
he did unpaid.
Whats more impressive, though, was Chris diligence in service during his own personal
trials. Like many Americans in 2009, Chris and his family were faced with downsized
income and a financial stress all their own. Chris and his wife worked multiple jobs, moved
homes, and pushed to stay grounded with their kids while the economys bottom fell out.
The entire time, Chris kept volunteering each Sunday. It was brutally hard, but I was in
a season where I needed to give. It was a place that gave me relief because it felt like I was
doing something. Which boils down Chris and his heart. Kindness and giving, it would
seem, were not just evident in the great times; but in the trying times as well. I guess
thats the answerthat those are the trials that God puts us through but we can decide to
say, 'God, youre by my side; just as you were during the best of times.
Today, between the two campuses, Chris wrangles over 80 volunteers who serve morning
and evening shifts. With the help of Teresa Knight and Vicky Reschly, the volunteers work
to bring cups of warmth to the weekend guests. The coffee orders have reached hundreds
of pounds at a time; the cream fills multiple refrigerators at both locations. Each weekend,
the flow is seamless and happy. On top of that, Chris and Tyra have often catered events
for the church. Cooking for large crowds with poise and ease and with the attention of a
chef, Chris has catered events for hundreds of people. As for the caliber of food: excellent.
I dont want to just do hot dogs, Chris laughs, particularly when we do things to thank
the volunteers. I want them to go, Wow, this is really nice! His thankfulness for the army
of volunteers is apparent: Without them, weekends would not be possible.
And while the events and weekends are busy and hectic, Chris remains all smiles.
Whatever type of chaos food and drink coordination for thousands of attendees may
cause, Chris remains focused on the prize: making people welcome; making people smile.
My faith got deeper because of this church, Chris says thankfully and sincerely. When I
comment about how inspiring I find his service and heart for volunteering, Chris smiles
and counters, The more I serve God, the closer I become with Him.
crowd
2013
33
_____________
SPORTS
crowd
_____________
2013
_____________
SPORTS
_____________
Gamechanging
by Casey Bankord
Build community, get people active, and reach out to people in need, Scott Russomanno,
Executive Director of Red Rocks Sports, responded when asked why the sports ministry
at Red Rocks Church exists. Its our hope that people show up to play a sport with their
friends, but in the end, discover that Christians can be normal and fun, and that there are
needs in our city waiting to be met.
Red Rocks Sports is one of the largest sports organizations in the Denver area with 14
leagues and almost 1,500 participants. In addition to high quality sports activities such as
football, soccer, volleyball, dodgeball, golf, and more, Red Rocks Sports organizes outreach
events around the community where teams from various leagues gather together to serve
at homeless shelters, mentor at foster homes, or play games with special needs kidsjust
to name a few.
While sports are fun and a great way to stay active, that is not why the ministry exists. Just
like Red Rocks Church, the sports ministry exists to produce life change. And, by Gods
grace, there are amazing stories everywhere you look.
crowd
2013
35
_____________
SPORTS
_____________
14
We want to see
peoples lives
impacted and
changed forever.
Leagues
30
outreach
events
1,473 participants
5 Active
groups
804 Members
crowd
2013
_____________
SPORTS
_____________
Jeff
When Jeff was 19, he turned away from God. He stopped praying, stopped attending church, and started living life for himself.
He began making decisions that placed an immense burden of
guilt on his shoulders and because of those decisions (and some
difficult personal circumstances); he became jaded toward
life, church, and God.
A few years later, Jeff showed up to a Red Rocks football league game because a friend invited him. Scott
eventually got to know Jeff and introduced him to
more people in the league. For three years, hed
show up every week for games, but refuse to go to
church. Gradually, he saw the true joy, laughter,
and love that other people in the league had for
each other, and for God. It started to have an
impact on him, and he began to feel drawn
to the light that was clearly beaming from
their lives.
Jeff committed his life to Christ and
was baptized in the summer of 2012.
What started as just showing up for
pick-up football games turned into a
life radically changed for God. Jeff
is now one of the main leaders in
the football league, reaching out
to people who are stuck like
he once was.
Brianna
Red Rocks Sports partners with the Global Down
Syndrome foundation to host an exercise program as an outreach for kids and young adults
with Down syndrome in the Denver area. Brianna, a 28 year old with Down syndrome, heard
about the program and decided to show up. At
the time, she was unable to climb steps due to her
weight. Volunteers from the church filled the exercise studio to encourage, assist, and challenge
these kids and young adults toward a healthy, active lifestyle. The energy, fun, and love were electric.
Brianna loved the class, and met a volunteer named Pat McDonnell.
Pat got to know Brianna after the class, saw the physical struggle she was going through, and offered to pay
for a personal trainer to work with Brianna to regain a healthy weight. A year and a half later, Brianna has
lost 73 pounds and can easily scale a staircase. Not only that, but she has discovered an extended family
through the volunteers who have helped her along the way.
crowd
2013
37
_____________
SPORTS
_____________
Kate
Kate heard about the dodgeball league through church one weekend at
Red Rocks, so she decided to join. The league was fun, she met tons of
great people, and she managed to survive the season without getting
injured. The last week of the dodgeball season, Kates team helped
build benches and host a barbeque for Mount
Saint Vincent foster home in Denver.
As Kate met the staff and kids at
the foster home, she felt an
unexplainable tug toward
their mission and the kids at
the home.
Kate now volunteers at
Mount Saint Vincent every
week as part of their mentoring program for kids. She also
recruits friends to come help at
the home on a regular basis. When
she signed up for dodgeball, she did
not expect to discover a calling, but thats
exactly what happened.
The Vision
The stories of life change coming from Red Rocks
Sports go on and on. Because playing a sport is so
accessible and disarming, it has been an unparalleled
access point for new people to be exposed to the hope
and grace of Jesus. We want to see peoples lives
impacted and changed forever, Scott says, We
think that as people in our leagues are exposed to
other Christ followers who are trying their best to
live for God, and also exposed to opportunities to
serve those who are suffering and have need in
our community, their perspective will change
forever. That is our hope. It has changed mine,
for sure.
crowd
2013
_____________
SPORTS
_____________
check
out
this
ministry
v o l l e y B ALL
s o cc e r
s o f t B ALL
sporting events,
and outreach
opportunities.
39
DODGE B ALL
s o f t B ALL
redrockssports.com
crowd
2013
_____________
DENVER SHAREFEST
_____________
by Brian Zibell
crowd
2013
_____________
DENVER SHAREFEST
_____________
1,450 Volunteers
crowd
2013
To identify,
develop, and
lead projects
that empower
volunteers and
donors to use
their God-given
gifts, abilities, and
resources to make
an impact for the
common good.
41
_____________
DENVER SHAREFEST
_____________
He rehabilitated
our hearts,
refocused our
perspectives,
and put us in the
right place at the
right time to reach
out to a hurting
community.
crowd
2013
_____________
DENVER SHAREFEST
_____________
43
crowd
2013
crowd
2013
_____________
Heroes
_____________
hero
By Jessie Davis
Its easy to see immediately from Teresa that she is a tender soul. Soft, kind and giving, she
was overly grateful and humble as she settled in for our interview. Where this generous
heart came from, I wanted to know. And so we started with the beginning.
It was 2007 when Teresa began attending Red Rocks Church. She quietly came in the
doors and sat by herself near the back of the church, keeping to herself. Her trainer had
told her about the church, and one Sunday she made the trek up to the amusement park
to see what it was about. A scarf was wrapped carefully around her head; she was in the
middle of chemotherapy.
Scott was giving the message that night, and he walked over and shook my hand and
introduced himself. He just looked at me and said, Were really glad youre here.
She eventually helped with coffee a bit in that small room at Heritage Square, and in late
2007 after chemo, she was found cancer-free. In 2009, she got back into serving again
when there was a call for volunteers and she felt compelled to sign up. Somewhere within
those first couple of years, Teresa found God. In June of 2010 she was baptized, and
found fulfillment in being more involved at church. Her service and generosity became a
hallmark of her walk with God. In 2011 she went to Haiti with a team from Compassion
International to meet a partner church in Port-au-Prince. It was on that trip that she
decided to sponsor not one, but four Compassion students from Haiti. But sending money
isnt the end of her service. She does hands-on things, too. Teresa takes the caf table
cloths home every week to wash and dry, bringing them back folded nicely for the team.
And every Sunday, Teresa helps bring a smile to thousands of people, facilitating the
service of coffee at the church.
Teresas heart and her reasons for doing what she does every week are simple: Our guests
really love our coffee, she laughs. we serve others in a way that makes them happy. We set
out special things for the volunteer crews, and during events we do food. Were all in this
together. It makes them feel comfortable. And wanted. And welcome.
Teresa, alongside Chris Kilcullen and other leaders, make serving for the caf team fun
and happy. Sending out the schedule every week she tries to emphasize the volunteers'
importance. We really try and lift everybody up. We tell them every week that we
appreciate them. Its a choice that theyve made; they dont have to do it. We want to care
about them and get to know them. Its like a house the caf is the heart of the home.
Truly, its easy to see that the caf is the heart of the home. Teresas heart, along with
others leadership, has created an environment that is comfortable and warm, complete
with coffee and tea. While the caf team continues to grow, scheduling dozens of people
each weekend at both campuses, the vibe and warmth of the ministry remains the same.
This weekend, like every weekend before, Teresa will be sure to create an environment
that makes the newcomer feel exactly as she felt upon her first visit. With a cup of coffee
she says, Were really glad youre here.
crowd
2013
45
_____________
SERIES REVIEW
_____________
a look back
> A t a series of series fro m red ro c k s in 2 0 1 2 <
Matthew 11:12
The Kingdom of God has never happened accidentally.
It has never advanced passively. It has advanced forcefully,
passionately, and intentionally. God has a specific plan for
every one of us. And hes asking, What are you waiting for?
Speakeasy: Apr 1
Invest and invite. This was our pre-Easter service challenge. But Gods charge wasnt just invite someone to a Red
Rocks Church service in 2012. It was Go into all the world
and preach the Good News to everyone. Back in the day, the
only way you could find out about a speakeasy was by word of
mouth. And thats a great way to tell our world about Jesus, too.
crowd
2013
_____________
SERIES REVIEW
_____________
John 21:25
If all that could be written about him was put to paper, it
would fill more pages than are possible to read. He has said
and done more interesting things than all the books in the
world could hold. This man is Jesus of Nazareth, and we
spend several weeks learning about specific aspects of his
character and life.
I Peter 3:15
Nothing says, Welcome to church like guns and
grenades. Its a battle: our faith in God vs. our doubts
about God. And the great thing is that we can talk
about our doubts in church! Why should you believe
in God? Why should you trust in the Bible? Lets talk
about our doubts.
47
rushmore: Jul 8 29
baptism: Aug 19
crowd
2013
_____________
SERIES REVIEW
_____________
II Chronicles 7:14
An entire series about when we need a little bit of help.
Or a lot of help like from the power of the creator, God.
What happens in a persons life when that person decides
to get serious about the power of prayer.
Some headlines just force us to read their accompanying stories. Two Men Defeat Entire Army, Yesterday
Never Ended, Empty Grave Shatters Disbelief, and
more. What can we learn from the stories that we
thought were just stories??
Given: Dec 16
Romans 8:1-2
Our self-proclaimed New Years Scrooge preached a
New Years message. Statistically, 88% of the several hundred millions of people who make resolutions will fail after
2-3 weeks. Talk about feeling the overwhelming condemnation of failure! But there is no condemnation for those who
are in Christ Jesus.
crowd
2013
_____________
_____________
crowd
2013
49
_____________
Pushing the pills around the table, he considered his options. Having witnessed
a friend attempting to commit suicide
months earlier, he knew exactly what the
pills would do to his body within 45 minutes. In that moment, he felt a prompting to
stop a peaceful presence he couldnt explain, and he decided to make a phone call.
A phone call that would ultimately change
his life.
crowd
_____________
2013
I determined
in my heart that I
would never have
a relationship
with God.
_____________
All I wanted to
do was get drunk,
party, and do
stupid things
crowd
_____________
Hollywood
Eric moved to Illinois to work at a church.
Shawn finished school. During Shawns senior year at KU, a fraternity brother told him
there was an acting class that was an easy A
and lots of girls. He was in.
I took the class and actually enjoyed it. As
the semester unfolded, I realized that some
people do this for a living. They get paid
millions to do this. That sounded way better than a 40-hour workweek. So, instead of
getting a regular job, I decided that I would
go get famous. I packed up my Chevy Blazer
and drove to Hollywood. No plan. No real
2013
51
He was trying to
tell me his story,
but I really didnt
get it.
_____________
crowd
_____________
The Moment
One afternoon, after nervously pacing
2013
If I died, my friends
would grieve for an
afternoon and then
go out and party that
night. My life is meaningless, fake,
and insignificant.
_____________
crowd
_____________
Back in Hollywood
Shawn stayed in Illinois for a couple more
weeks, and then returned to Hollywood to
finish the acting role he had received before
leaving. When he returned to L.A., he was
faced with the similar situation that Eric
experienced years before at college. Shawns
friends invited him out to party, but Shawn
declined. It was a strange and awkward
time. Shawn would go to small coffee shops,
smoke a pack of cigarettes and try to read
his Bible, attempting to cement in his newfound faith.
One night, a friend of
Shawns invited him to
shoot some pool and
promised that they didnt
have to drink. Shawn
agreed. One thing led
to another, and Shawn
eventually found himself
snorting cocaine in the
bathroom. Shawn recalled, I did more drugs
that night than I had ever
done in my life. I did so
much that I almost overdosed. I remember
2013
There is someone
in the room tonight
who needs God, and
needs to change
their life or it is
going to kill them.
53
_____________
going home that night, puking in my bathroom, and looking in the mirror thinking,
I knew I couldnt do this. I tried to do the
God thing. See, I never can change. I am a
lost cause. I dont have what
it takes.
Shawn woke up the next
morning to a call from the
pastors wife in Illinois.
She had called to check in
on Shawn and see if he was
doing okay. Shawn told her
about the drugs and alcohol from the night before.
He remembers her saying, Shawn, sometimes,
in order to flee evil,
you must run away
from it as far as you
can. If you want a
second chance, you
have to get away from
the people you are
around. Move back to
Illinois and start your
life over.
No car, no money, no plans, and with
three cardboard boxes, Shawn moved to
Rockford, Illinois to live on Erics porch.
He cleaned up his life, joined a small
group, and started seeing amazing
changes in his life. Over time, Shawn
started co-leading the small group with
Eric and was invited to intern at the
same church where Eric worked, so he
could learn how to become a pastor. The
rest is history.
crowd
_____________
Amazing Grace
Shawn Johnson received a second chance.
Even though his circumstances and decisions had seemingly boxed him into a life of
addiction, hopelessness, destruction, and
loneliness, God had a different plan for him.
He rescued Shawn.
Eight years later, God connected Shawn
with a group of guys who felt a similar calling to reach the city of Denver with the message of the God of second chances. From the
young kid who said hed never go back to a
church to a humbled, broken young adult
plagued by his addictions, to a pastor at a
growing church in Colorado, God was there
all along. Present. Available. And always
ready to offer a new chance.
When we are at our wits end, all is not lost.
All is not out of control. We are not left
alone. God is here. He is with us. He wants
to change us, recycle us, and put us on a path
of redemption.
Sometimes in order
to flee evil, you must run from
it as far as you can.
2013
_____________
_____________
crowd
2013
55
_____________
BAPTISM
crowd
_____________
2013
_____________
BAPTISM
_____________
57
crowd
2013
Adam
She loves it! Adams
beard is a force to be
reckoned with, so
naturally I asked
what his girlfriend
thought. He laughed,
and nodded, but it
would seem that
she was happy
with it. Or had at
least made peace
with the idea of it.
crowd
2013
_____________
Heroes
_____________
hero
By Jessie Davis
Adam Cedillo
Adam settles in, a jovial and happy soul. In a room full of people he is stranger to no one,
and freely jokes with all types. Hilarious and outgoing, Adam made time for this interview
in between church services where he was playing the electric guitar. Just like his guitar
transitions, Adam easily moves from goofy and light-hearted to earnestly transparent.
The first week he invited me I was like, I dont know. Adam had been invited to Red
Rocks Church by a friend named Ben Trombley in early 2005. He was hesitant, Im not a
conservative guy. He laughs. In addition to his beard, Adam has multiple piercings, a full
sleeve of ink, and other tattoos representing everything from his love of motorcycles, to
Darth Vader, to his relationship with God. Despite his reservations, Adam went that first
Sunday. It was small then. There would be about 20 people, and then the band would get
down off the stage and there would be 25.
To his surprise, Adam liked the church. I started getting involved, and I started playing
guitar again. He attributes his love of music as the way he first connected at Red Rocks:
For me, music was a way to get back into church. Adam started playing on weekends, and
warming up to the community at Red Rocks. God was moving in my life in a way I didnt
expect. There were people that were missing in my life that I needed.
As years went on, Adam got involved in the youth group. His high school experience
was hard, and he attributed his experience as a teen to his desire to help with the
students: When I was in high school I didnt have anything to do with church, Adam
remembered. The few times that Adam and his family did attend church, he felt like an
outcast. The mixed-race, long-haired family had what he calls a bad experience. After
graduation from high school, Adam knew he needed to make a change in life, and decided
to venture into a church one more time. He found a connection as a leader at a youth group
in Arvada, and immediately felt right at home helping with the teens.
For me, theres something about the next generation thats so important. I didnt have that
guidance when I was in high school. And giving back to the youth I want them to know
theyre not alone. When you are interacting, and giving to another person, its incredible.
On top of serving the youth at Red Rocks, Adam also spends a great deal of time playing
electric guitar on weekends. The commitment for the worship team is a 12-hour day on
Sundays, from practice at 7AM to the final song at 7PM. But Adam never complains. I just
love to play. Its wonderful to have that outlet. His love of music and passion for worship
are evident with each chord that rings out on Sundays.
Throughout the week, Adam can be found with the students at Red Rocks. He helps lead
small groups at the Wednesday night meetings, and helps with the worship at Youth as
well. Adams intention is to make sure the kids know they are valued and loved. And, with
his fun and amazingly magnetic personality, he does just that. Even if its just one student
I impact, that would be worth it for me. Whether they are going through a great time or
experiencing a hard time, I want them to understand that they have a God who is still there
for them.
crowd
2013
59
_____________
_____________
check
out
this
m i n i stry
MARRIAGE
PARENTING
FINANCIAL
ELECTIVES
crowd
2013
_____________
MISSIONS
_____________
HAITI
BY Chad Brueg m an
crowd
2013
61
_____________
MISSIONS
_____________
earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale. It wasnt an earthquake where people ducked for a minute and then
it was all over, or where a few buildings have some glass shattered and a local grocery store has some food knocked
off the shelves. It was 40 utterly destructive seconds where the earth shook, the ground split, buildings fell, and a
country was devastated. The Haitian government estimates that roughly 316,000 people lost their lives on that day
and approximately 1,000,000 people became homeless.
After almost four decades on this earth, Ive learned that life is ripe with irony. On this day, January 12, 2010, the
irony for my family was thick. Here we were, having the time of our lives running around a pizza parlor surrounded
by family, friends, endless game selections, and a whole lot of laughter. Watching the sheer joy of a healthy, energetic
boy living life to its fullest. The way every child deserves to live, right?
And then, in an instant, the world changed. I was smacked upside the head with the sobering realization that only a
thousand miles away, tens of thousands of children just lost their parents, brothers, or sisters. Perhaps they lost their
own lives. If they had survived, their homes, their schools, and their communities were demolished. Destroyed. Gone.
If the old adage is true, The rich keep getting richer, then you can flip that statement around and say, The poor
keep getting poorer. Haiti, for a long time now, has had the unfortunate distinction of being the poorest country in
our Western Hemisphere. On January 12, 2010, the earthquake made the poorest nation significantly poorer.
I went home from Judes party that night and continued to watch coverage about the earthquake. I tried, with little
> That same cafeteria now feeds over 250 children a day.
crowd
2013
_____________
MISSIONS
_____________
63
crowd
2013
_____________
We can be a church
that spends an
endless amount
of time swimming
(or should I say,
drowning) in the
pool of the "why," or
we can be a church
that is compelled
by the "what."
MISSIONS
_____________
church resources and influence. Problem Solver: God. When you get involved in Gods business
(make no mistake, reaching out to a third world nation in complete despair is unequivocally Gods
business!), God, as I once heard a great preacher say, gets involved in your business! That is
exactly what He did.
Enter Jason Graves. We refer to Jason and his wife, Adrienne, as Red Rocks Original Gangstas
(our slang term for the few of you who were at our church from the very beginning). Jason had just
taken a job with an amazing and God-ordained not-for-profit organization called Compassion
International. He was heading up a new child survival department that they were developing. To
make a long story short, Jason and I started talking about the opportunities that were available
for Red Rocks to help in Haiti. Compassion has a program where an individual can provide basic
things such as food, water, and education for a Haitian child for around $38 a month (or a half tank
of American gasoline). The more I talked with Jason about the potential partnership, the quicker
it became a simple decision. We had 3,000 people at Red Rocks, most of whom had the ability to
easily sponsor a child for $38 a month.
Fast forward several months later and Jason, Carson Bankord (Red Rocks amazing videographer),
and I were on a plane to Haiti. We planned to meet some of the earthquake-torn families and kids we
were going to help. And we did. The trip was what I expected it to be sobering, overwhelming, and
full of the presence of God. We shot hours and hours of video footage, heard endless stories from the
Haitians, and were captured by a country I previously knew nothing about.
At the end of our time in Haiti, we boarded the plane with full hearts, five jars of spicy peanut
butter (a Haitian specialty you can bank on being in heaven), and an anxious excitement to present
the vision to the church.
A few weeks later, I had the privilege of standing before the congregation and asking many of
them to sponsor a child. Honestly, I had the number 300 in my mind that day. Thats how many
kids I was hoping and praying we could sponsor. At the end of our third (and last) service, we didnt
meet our goal. We blew it out of the water. Almost 600 kids got sponsors that day!
crowd
2013
_____________
MISSIONS
_____________
Now, Im no mathematician (shut up, Shawn!), but 600 sponsorships at $38 per month equals $22,800 given each
month. Multiply that by 12 months in a year, and thats $273,600 given in a year. That Sunday, I did what you just did.
I got out a calculator and made sure those numbers were accurate. We committed to giving beautiful kids in Haiti a
quarter of a million dollars for the year in just one Sunday!
It didnt end there. Since our last Compassion Sunday, we have sponsored a child survival program in Haiti that helps
single mothers get the basic things they need to mother their children well. We have taken on a church partnership
through Compassions C2C (church to church) program where we provide Pastor G and his rapidly-growing
church with a filtration pump system for all the kids within the church to have an endless supply of clean water. We
are financing a project for them to build a brand new cafeteria to feed the 400 kids who go to the Compassion school
every day. Additionally, we have sent a team to Haiti to visit their sponsored kids and do practical ministry with our
partner church. I wish I could tell you all that we have in the works for 2013 because its about to go to another level!
However, youll need to wait until our next Compassion Sunday.
As I reflect upon all God has done in and through this church since we stepped up to help our Haitian neighbors,
I have a distinct takeaway. We can be a church that spends an endless amount of time swimming (or should I say,
drowning) in the pool of the why, or we can be a church that is compelled by the what, What do you want from us,
God? What can we do to help make heaven more crowded and Earth more whole?
If these types of questions are our driving force, the possibilities are endless! Not just in Denver, but around
the world.
crowd
2013
65
_____________
_____________
Stats
FActS
and
2,274
new believers
NINETY
SIX
1,431
people joined
31,733 Views
OF AT THE SQUARE ON YOUTUBE
countries
in 2012
THIS PAST
YEAR WE
LAUNCHED NEW SATTELITE CAMPUS
98
LIFE GROUPS
LAUNCHED IN
crowd
2013
lifegroups
in2012
36
the Number of
videos made by
red Rocks in
the past year
_____________
14
) TEN
30
SPORTS
OUTREACH
EVENTS
_____________
1,700 people
campus launch
IN 2 0 1 2
8,795
people attended
Christmas @
Red Rocks Church
over 2 days and
Services
it to ok
511
14X
CITIES
REPRESENTED
@RRC
t hre e
1,450 hrs
desig ne rs
to des ig n th is
m agaz ine
it takes
CHAD HAS LOCKED
HIS KEYS IN HIS CAR
175
152,000
cups of coffee
362
People were
baptized in 2012
crowd
2013
67
crowd
2013
_____________
Heroes
_____________
hero
By Jessie Davis
Charlotte began attending Red Rocks Church in September of 2007. A friend and coworker at Wahoos Fish Taco suggested she try the church, a recommendation she
appreciated the moment she walked in. The message was so for me. It was hard hitting.
She immediately started volunteering with the caf team. I wanted to meet people, she
says. So she jumped in, helping and volunteering in any way she could.
Over the next 5 years, Charlotte helped, served, and aided in nearly every part of the
functioning of the church. She brewed coffee, greeted at the front door, and helped in Kids
Rock. In 2010 she went to FUEL, the young adults ministry, and became heavily involved
there.
Creative at heart, Charlotte first found a knack for photography her sophomore year of
high school. I took photography and graphic design, and then my senior year I was in a
photography competition called Skills USA, she beams. Which I won. My senior year, I
met a husband and wife photography team. I went to work for them and was their assistant
for five years they taught me everything I know. In 2010, Charlotte formed her own
business called Red Photography. She was 21 years old.
As she became more involved at the church, she poured her creativity into her
volunteering. At FUEL, she did graphic design and signage, helped create series ideas,
learned Final Cut Pro for video editing and helped come up with stage design concepts.
She also began volunteering with the weekend production team for Sunday services in
Golden, first as a camera operator, and later as a video director.
All of this she did with a joy and energy that was contagious.
When I ask why she gives so much, and where her endless energy and joy come from,
she answers simply: Its fun. She laughs and thinks a bit, I like to be behind the scenes
on things, and to know that Im helping to make the big picture. I like thinking out of
the box. Thinking big. Trying different things. I like expressing myself visually. I think
the visual side of things is so important. It takes it to the next level. Creating emotion.
Capturing their heart. Creating feeling. Having them see something they havent seen
before.
Charlotte spends a large amount of her free time creating such elements for the church
she has come to call home. I will work a full day, but then I get to come home and create
and have fun at night. Its not like work!
Being a part of this church is the best thing thats ever happened to me. she says
sincerely. For the average person, Charlottes schedule of work, creativity, and service
would seem daunting. But Charlotte views it very differently, Its rewarding, to be a part.
Not only that, but she attributes her close-knit friendships to her involvement at Red
Rocks, the most rewarding friendships Ive ever experienced have come out of this time.
Her optimism, life, and zeal shone through to the very end of the interview. When asked
what she hopes people will receive from her service, she smiles: This church has changed
my life. I hope that me giving back will affect people the same way.
crowd
2013
69
_____________
FUEL
_____________
check
out
this
m i n i stry
BIGGEST
DECISIONS
IN YOUR LIFE
A R E M A D E I N YO U R
TWENTIES
...DONT DO IT ALONE.
visit us at :
redrockschurch.co m/fuel
crowd
2013
_____________
J o h n ortber g
_____________
I have come that they might have life, and have it with abundance.
This is one of Jesus most famous sayings. But, when he says hes come to give abundant life, what exactly is he
promising?
Life turns out to be one of those words that everybody knows, but is surprisingly tricky to define. (You might
give it a try yourself!) Here is the best definition I can come up with: life is the inner power to make something
happen.
Put a rock on the ground and it just lies there. Put a seed in the ground, and something happens. It takes in
nourishment from the ground and begins to grow. It receives from and gives back to the world. Something
happens because the seed has life in it. Otherwise, that would not happen. To be alive is to change the world.
Animals can perceive the world and move about; therefore, they can make more happen than seeds can make
happen. When it comes to human beings, it becomes astonishing. We can accomplish amazing things when
we set our minds to it. This drive to make something happen is present and precious in every person. It is why
little kids love activity boxes, Legos, or kitchen sets. They want to push buttons, turn dials, spin wheels, and
open lids. They want to draw and invent and create. They want to make something happen.
God placed this in us. It is part of being made in His image. He created Adam and Eve and gave them a creation
mandate: Here is your activity box. Have dominion. Sow a seed. Tame an animal. Plant a garden. Make something happen. It is the glory of a living thing to make something happen. It is the glory of a human being to
make great things happen -- for God, with God. When circumstances or failures beat this quality down inside
of us, we feel dead and lifeless. This explains why passivity can be so de-humanizing.
Jesus came to give you power far beyond your own ability to make wonderful things happen in the world. This
power begins to come to fruition when our thoughts and desires become rooted in him, just as a seed becomes
rooted in the ground. Then, out of the abundance of confidence and joy in this inner life flow creativity and
strength to make good things happen around us.
So today, be a make something happen kind of person. Invite Jesus to do this with you. When youre in a
meeting and an idea comes to you; say it. When youre with someone who is discouraged; encourage him or
her. Write a note, say a prayer, tell someone thanks, call a friend, notice beauty, challenge your mind, solve a
problem, give a gift to someone who needs it, take someone to lunch, build a business, plant a church, volunteer, sow a seed, or plant a garden.
Be abundantly alive.
Make something happen.
crowd
2013
71
_____________
C h ad v s . s h awn
_____________
I ARE
FROM KANSAS
WATCH-A-HOLIC
11 SURGERIES
crowd
2013
_____________
C h ad v s . s h awn
_____________
IM A BELIEBER
LIVE TO EAT
DRINK TO LIVE
crowd
2013
73
hero
If you met Malena
today, you would
immediately pick up
on the fact that she
is not your average
high school senior.
She is obviously and
refreshingly different.
She exudes selfconfidence and yet is
approachable
and sweet.
crowd
2013
_____________
Heroes
_____________
Malena
By Cori Cook
The thing I notice first is her amazing personal style. It most certainly isnt trendy in
a high school sort of way. It is actually completely unique and often includes Decadeinspired accessories selected from the local thrift store. She is most certainly an old soul;
appreciating things often missed by her generation, like vintage records, great music,
old photos, sewing you get the point. What is subtle at first, but quite beautiful when it
comes into focus is the very real, authentic way that Jesus is using Malenas life to impact
his kingdom.
Malena grew up in Spokane, Washington. The summer before her sophomore year, her
family moved to Golden. She spent the remainder of her summer dreading being the new
girl at Golden High School. She hated the idea of moving and admits, I was lonely and
scared. She spent the first few weeks of school eating lunch in the library. She and her
family had attended a church in Spokane, so when they arrived in Golden, she, her mother,
and her stepfather began the process of finding a church. When she recalls her first
experience at Red Rocks, she mentions, I remember it being different. Chad was speaking
and he was funny. And there was a rock band. And a lot of people my age. We could tell
right off the bat that this church was going to be a place we wanted to be a part of.
She wasnt as sure about Youth Group. Youth Group was still a weird idea for me, laughs
Malena. Although everyone at Youth was really happy and friendly, she was getting weary
of always being the new girl. Still, her parents made her go, and it paid off one evening after
Kristine Powell, one of the female youth leaders, took her out and they were able to get to
know one another over smoothies. It was nice, because she had been 'new' before, so she
could identify with me and there was finally someone who I could talk to about it.
Things started to change for Malena, as she began to adjust to her new school and home.
She got involved at Red Rocks Youth and joined a sophomore girls life group. She had
always believed in God, but it was at Youth where her faith began to grow. One night during
worship, she raised her hand to accept Christ and be saved. She says, I knew I already
believed in God. But I thought, "This is what I am going to do. I am going to be a Christian
now. I am going to stand up for my faith. When people ask me what I am, Im going to say,
'I am a Christian.
Like a small seed that grows into a beautifully large plant, Malenas faith grew. She didnt
even realize the ways she was changing in the moment. God was such a natural part of her
life that she began talking about him more at school, talking about church, and inviting
friends to come. And they did. One friend, Elijah, visited, and the message seemed to really
speak to her. So Malena kept inviting her. She was becoming bolder and less afraid and
knew that Elijah needed God. Soon, Elijah too gave her life to the Lord. And Elijah invited
her sister. And Elijahs sister invited her friends and their boyfriends. And it continues on.
Even Elijahs parents are giving church a try. It was contagious. It was cool because the
people I saw at church were also the people I went to school with. Those two groups kind
of merged. It was like, if youre friends with Malena and Elijah, you have to at least try
church with us, says Malena.
Malena also began volunteering her time at Red Rocks Youth. After attending a workshop
for weekend service production volunteers, she approached her youth pastor, JB Powell,
and asked if she could help with sound and slides at Youth. The following week, she was
sitting in the back in the sound booth. Later, when an opportunity came up to play guitar
in the youth band, Malena jumped at the chance. Although she had always suffered from
severe stage fright, she felt like Youth Group was the perfect opportunity to get some
experience on stage and get over her fear. Malena serves in other ways too on the student
leadership team, on annual youth mission trips to Mexico, and by opening her home and
baking treats each week for her girls life group. When asked why she serves, she answers
simply, It is more fun for me.
Ive had the opportunity to know Malena the past three years, and if you know her for any
time, you will hear her life plans: graduate, get a degree in music, and start a rock band.
I am fairly confident she will do this. And like her favorite rock star, Grace Potter, I think
Malena will make beautiful music. I am confident of this because of the way I have seen
God use her life to orchestrate a beautiful symphony of his own.
crowd
2013
75
_____________
_____________
check
out
this
m i n i stry
facebook.com/redrocksyouth
crowd
2013
_____________
M U LT I - S I T E
_____________
Monsters, Aliens,
And Multi-Site Churches
I wa s a s k e p t i c t o o .
by Scott Bruegman
77
crowd
2013
_____________
We are compelled
to expand and
make heaven
more crowded.
M U LT I - S I T E
_____________
When it comes to churches that use video technology for teaching at multiple locations,
it can feel a little bit like a Big Foot sighting. Weve all heard the stories and maybe even
seen a picture, but remain skeptical that its real. I have yet to meet anyone who was more
oppositional to a church with video teaching than I was. I was also skeptical of the first
wave of cell phones, iTunes and social media. The multi-site church model may never
become as ubiquitous as Facebook, but I have been proven wrong about its usefulness and
effectiveness. I have seen it with my own eyes and its real.
It stands to reason that a multi-site church with video teaching shouldnt work. How could
we expect people to attend, enjoy and benefit from a church where the teaching is projected
on screens and amplified over a PA system? Furthermore, how could we expect people to
put up with a church where they couldnt actually have a conversation with the pastor every
week? This whole approach to church expansion seems kind of pretentious and arrogant,
right? As a leader, my mind went even further with this frustrating new concept of church.
This model will actually halt the potential of young, developing pastoral leaders, I said. The
reasons for not expanding into a satellite model church were abundant and clear.
In August of 2012, the Leadership Network released a report stating that over 5,000
churches are now multi-site churches (churches that meet in more than one location
for worship). Red Rocks Church is now part of this statistic. Im sure that the reasons for
starting a multi-site model are numerous. Its innovative, its efficient, its trendy and the
list goes on. The leadership of Red Rocks Church decided to embrace a multi-site model
because we just plain had to. We are compelled to expand and make heaven more crowded.
We were out of room and needed to create more space for people to discover God, grow in
their faith and knowledge of God, and then be empowered and equipped to do Gods work. As
crowd
2013
_____________
M U LT I - S I T E
_____________
long as people continue to invite others, and as long as God continues to show up and change
lives, we will continue to create space.
There were and still are a lot of notable changes that the church had to go through while
becoming a multi-site church. First, we had to place an emphasis on organization. This
meant that we had to create a centralized structure to support the ministries at each
location. This allowed for the churches to work independently while maintaining a vital
connection to one another. Second, we had to enhance our focus on technology. The
potential for problems and margin for error increased substantially the day we decided to
connect our two locations via video. Finally we had to place a strong emphasis on the Red
Rocks Church culture. How in the world were we going to be able to replicate the experience
of Red Rocks Church? Is there another theme park around? It was at this point that we
were once again reminded that Church is not a building or even a location. The venue would
change, but the culture, the teaching, the worship, the ministry to children, and the emphasis
on reaching the lost and lifting up the name of Jesus would not! Finding an abandoned, rundown dinner theater for our second location didnt hurt either.
We were once
again reminded
that Church is not
a building or even
a location.
On Easter Sunday of 2012, Red Rocks Church officially became a multi-site church with
the launching of the Littleton Campus. Not only did this create room to grow at the Golden
location, but it created opportunities to involve more leaders, volunteers and ultimately to
reach out to more people.
As of this writing, there are over 6,000 people attending Red Rocks Church each week. Over
1,600 of that number attend the Littleton Campus. Needless to say, growing to this size at the
Golden site alone would have been impossible, or at least unhealthy. Expanding the church
crowd
2013
79
_____________
Each campus
is specifically
designed to have
a gifted pastoral
leadership team
to meet the needs
of that local
church body.
M U LT I - S I T E
_____________
to multiple locations has proven to be a health benefit. In addition to making heaven more
crowded, there is a high value placed on making sure everyone is needed and known at the
church. Expanding in this way lends itself to reaching this goal. There are more staff pastors,
more volunteers, more life group leaders and a greater chance to meet the felt needs of each
church community.
In a recent survey taken at the Littleton Campus, we found the results to be a confirmation
of the decision to expand to a new location. When asked if a person or family considered the
Littleton Campus their home church, 93% said yes. When asked why they chose to make it
their home, 75% said it was because of convenience.
For those who may still be a bit skeptical of the multi-site experience being legitimate, just
take time to talk to some of the regulars at the church. The teaching experience is the same. I
mean, they watch the screens at the Littleton Campus the same way the screens are viewed
in Golden. The worship experience is of the same caliber and style, the family ministries
departments feel and work the same. And, the people who attend the Littleton Campus
converse with their pastoral staff just as much if not more. This is just one more reason
that spreading out to smaller venues around the metro area is a benefit to the church. Each
campus is specifically designed to have a gifted pastoral leadership team to meet the needs of
that local church body.
What is the long term expansion plan of Red Rocks Church? Creating more space in more
locations for more people to put their hope and faith in Jesus Christ. Thats it! So to all who
are skeptical of a thriving multi-site model of church, just remember what your response
was when you first heard about a church meeting in an old, quirky, run-down amusement
park. In this coming year, we invite you to join us as we move forward with our vision, and
find campus number three. If its anything like our foundations, the new site will be quirky
and fun, and will convert even the strongest of skeptics.
crowd
2013