The Mountaintop

Journal
October 2014 Colorado Springs, Colorado Vol. 1, No. 4
Serving the Front Range with news of hope and encouragement.
but saved
and now set free
In a former bar (now church building), Jayme
Simpson sees reminders of her former life.
Years ago, Simpson partied frequently at the
First Draft Choice establishment along Fillmore
Street.
I shot pool over there, she said, pointing
toward the church pulpit. I danced over there,
drank over there and threw up in there.
Today, in the humble home of Bikers Church,
Simpson no longer focuses on those images of
her past. She instead celebrates a changed life
that has led her to become a Christian pastor,
and she marvels at the healing shes experi-
enced over the past 16 years.
I run into people who I knew from years ago
and they wonder if Im really the same person,
she said, choking back tears. Im not the same
person. Im the lady God created me to be. The
girl that was so wild and out of control for so
many years was not the person God created me
to be.
Springs native
Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Simp-
son said she was molested as a youngster and
turned to reckless living to escape the pain.
I was an out-of-control kid, Simpson re-
called. I submerged myself in drugs, alcohol
and wild living, and I rooted myself in it pretty
deep.
She eventually began dealing drugs and com-
mitting crimes. Simpson was arrested numerous
times on felony drug and gun charges and sent
to jail time and again.
When I was 30 years old, I was arrested for
the last time, Simpson said. It was the third
time I had been to jail that year. I was being
held with a huge bond that none of my friends
could pay. My mom and dad were not getting
me out of jail, even though my 10-year-old son
was living with them because I was in jail.
She said she hit rock bottom in that jail cell
and decided it was time to turn her life around.
Jesus met me in the jail cell, Simpson said.
I was looking at some prison time, but I was
very blessed that the judge gave me one more
opportunity to get right.
After being released from jail, she immediate-
ly began attending a 12-step program for ad-
dicts. With the help of a caring Christian spon-
sor and Jesus Christ in her heart, Simpson said
she was able to chart a new path forward.
The biggest challenge for the convicted felon
was fnding employment. No one would hire
someone with six years of unexplained jobless-
ness on her resume.
What have you been doing the last six
years? Simpson joked about a fctitious inter-
view. Oh, selling drugs.
When all hope appeared lost, Simpson was
offered a job at Compassion International.
They gave me a chance, she said with tears
in her eyes. That was the moment I knew God
would take care of me. Compassion was where
I needed to be surrounded by Christians who
Born to be wild
Photos by Jeff Holmquist/Mountaintop Journal
Pastor Jayme Simpson helps guide Bikers Church along with co-pastors Edwin FedEx
Aldrich and Patrick Riley. The trio has been ministering to the biker community in Colora-
do Springs since 2008.
A former bar along Fillmore Street is the
home of Bikers Church and sister congre-
gation Restoring Hope. For Saturday night
services, many motorcycles are parked out
front.
Bikers Church/See page 1
Page 2 - October 2014 - www.themountaintopjournal.com
could help me heal.
The former drug dealer said she loved her job,
even though she was self-conscious about the
numerous tattoos that were diffcult to cover up
with business attire.
As long as Im obedient to His call and pray-
ing, He always leads me to the right place at the
right time, Simpson explained. Sometimes
its really weird and scary, but it always ends up
being perfect timing.
Workplace ministry
After two years at Compassion, Simpson said
Gods sense of humor was on display again. Her
mom and sister opened a Curves ftness center
and asked Simpson to work for them.
At that point I was 235 pounds, she re-
called. I was a single mom who was just trying
to get by. I was trying to pay off all my fnes.
And God was going to put the fat girl in the
gym. Really?
It turned out to be a real blessing for Simpson,
who became ft and started to minister to the
women she was coaching.
Ive kept that weight off for 13 years, she
said. I tell the ladies at Curves that they can do
it, that they are worth it. They can come out on
the other side, just like me.
Simpson now owns and operates three Curves
ftness centers in the Colorado Springs area.
I feel so blessed that God has put me in this
position, she said.
A perfect match
Jayme, whos been clean since 1998, met her
future husband in her 12-step recovery program.
Caleb Simpson was an addict for decades
and could never seem to kick the habit. He
was crazier than me, Simpson said. Its a real
miracle hes still around.
In 1999, Caleb reluctantly attended a Power
Team demonstration at New Life Church with a
Bible-thumping friend. He immediately gave
his life to Christ, and hes been clean ever since.
The couple was married in 2001 and have
supported each other through the challenges of
staying clean. They have both shared their sto-
ries about how Jesus Christ changed their lives
with others in the motorcycle community. Their
testimonies have helped lead many to a person-
al relationship with God.
Its been an amazing journey with my hus-
band, Simpson said.
Motorcycle ministry
In 2007, Simpson and her husband joined a
Christian motorcycle ministry to better connect
with the local biker community. A short time
later, God began prompting Simpson to start an
actual biker church in Colorado Springs.
Girls arent supposed to be in charge at
church and theyre not supposed to have lead-
ership positions in the motorcycle world, she
said of her unexpected calling. I told God I
dont think so. But the more I said no, the more
He put a bur under my saddle and made me
move.
In 2008, the Bikers Church was formed by its
three current volunteer pastors Pastor Jayme
Kid Simpson, Pastor Edwin FedEx Aldrich
and Pastor Patrick Riley.
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Bikers Church/See page 3
Bikers Church/From page 1
Pastor Patrick Riley spoke about showing
Christs love and not judging others during
a recent Saturday night sermon at Bikers
Church in Colorado Springs.
www.themountaintopjournal.com - October 2014 - Page 3
Our mission is to reach anyone for Christ,
but more specifcally to reach the motorcycle
community and give them a comfortable place
to worship, Simpson explained. Nobody feels
out of place at Bikers Church. You can come
in here with purple hair and nobody is going to
think twice about that. You come in here dirty,
and in your leather and chaps, and nobody is
going to say anything.
For the frst four years of its existence, Bikers
Church met once a month. The groups mission
at that time was to bring all of the various biker
groups together for fellowship, networking,
worship and fun.
During the past three years, however, Bikers
Church has evolved into an actual nondenomi-
national congregation with a heart for minister-
ing to all motorcyclists.
Bikers Church has grown to about 50 reg-
ular members. An average Saturday service
will draw between 20 and 30 people, Simpson
estimated.
Were small, but were in the best position
weve ever been in, she said. Were doing
well and were growing.
Last year the church moved to 1110 E. Fill-
more Street (directly behind the Wendys
restaurant), sharing a building with Restoring
Hope Church. The Bikers Church meets at 6:30
p.m. Saturdays for services. Restoring Hope
meets Sunday mornings.
Its been a perfect match, Simpson said.
Bikers Church and Restoring Hope both have a
heart for outreach. We complement each other.
Simpson takes care of most of the day-to-day
details of Bikers Church and all three co-pastors
share preaching duties.
Saturday service
Saturday night services arent unlike tradi-
tional Christian gatherings. Theres singing,
prayer and a message. On occasion, someone
will share their personal testimony about how
God changed their life.
But I tell people this is not your mamas
church, Simpson admitted. Youll probably
hear things in this building that you dont hear
in a typical church. And its very laid back.
Its also not unusual for someone to show up
at church drunk, Simpson said, but thats OK
too.
Thats probably going to happen here some-
times. But we love seeing people stumbling off
their bike drunk one week and then coming in
here the next week sober and praising God,
she said. Its so cool when you see somebody
tore up from the foor up and then Jesus meets
them.
Bikers Church partners with Restoring Hope
on various events during the year. The two con-
gregations are planning a fall festival on the af-
ternoon of Nov. 1 (as an alternative Halloween
celebration for kids). The churches also hosted
an outdoor pig roast in their parking lot Sept.
21, and they cooperated on a special Christmas
Eve service last winter.
Santa rode in on a Harley, Simpson re-
called. He told the Christmas story and the
kids loved it.
The motorcycle group also plans a variety
of its own outreach efforts. On Sept. 6, Bikers
Church was part of a memorial motorcycle rally
that raised money for the family of a business
owner who recently died. In the spring, the
church hosts an annual blessing of the bikes
event to kick off the new riding season. The
congregation organizes rides together and they
attend motorcycle events throughout the state.
Whats ahead
Simpson said shed like to see Bikers Church
continue to grow, but shes leaving that in Gods
hands.
Id love to see biker church services at 100
or 200 people, she admitted. We want it to
grow, not because we want to see big numbers,
but we want to see people come to Jesus.
Simpson said she isnt interested in seeing the
congregation grow so large that Bikers Church
loses its close-knit feel.
I never want it to be so big that I dont know
everyones name. I dont want to lose sight
of the individuals, she said. Ive seen that
happen in some places and its unfortunate. If it
gets too big, well just go across town and start
another church.
Simpson said she is content with the way
things are progressing now and is waiting for
God to guide her toward the next step.
I dont know what God will do next, she
said. Whatever God wants me to do, Ill be
obedient to his call.
She does plan to complete seminary, which
she started a few years back. She doesnt rule
out the possibility of becoming a full-time pas-
tor when shes done with her education.
Simpson scanned the interior of her church
and former drinking spot and smiled.
Isnt it awesome that Jesus resides here?
she asked. Every doorway here has been
anointed with oil.
For more information about Bikers Church,
visit www.bikerschurchcs.org.
Bikers Church/From page 2
The worship team at Bikers Church leads the congregation in some contemporary Christian songs to open the Saturday night service. An
average of 20-30 people attend services at 1110 E. Fillmore St.
Page 4 - October 2014 - www.themountaintopjournal.com
Mercys Gate
ministry moving to
new headquarters
By Julie Holmquist
The mission of Mercys Gate ministry
bringing people from crisis to hope isnt
just a slogan to Todd Swank. As the volunteer
project manager in charge of remodeling the
ministrys new home at 4360 Montebello Dr.,
he often thinks of what Mercys Gate meant to
him and his family 13 years ago.
At that time, Swank had accepted an invita-
tion to lead a new ministry serving homeless
teens in Colorado Springs. He left his success-
ful business position in Tulsa, OK, where he
was being groomed to lead the construction
company pulling in $7 million in revenue each
year. The new ministry wasnt able to pay
Swank at the start, so Swank began raising sup-
port for his family as many in ministry often do.
Eight months after uprooting his family and
moving to Colorado Springs, the funding for the
ministry fell apart, Swank recalled. Every-
thing I moved here for disappeared.
Swank still needed to complete the Jesus
March, the ministrys largest outreach event,
even though he and his wife and two young
children had been eating nothing but rice and
beans for four months.
One morning, Swanks wife gave him a
check, asking him to buy a tube of toothpaste so
the kids teeth would be protected by fuoride.
She said if you buy anything else, the check
will bounce, Swank said. Im thinking, how
did I get here? I felt in my heart that Id obeyed
the Lord to come here.
As Swank drove to the store, he recalls feel-
ing humiliated, frustrated, confused and desper-
ate.
Right then Julie Wilson, the director of Mer-
cys Gate, called Swank, telling him that she
had 16 boxes of food that he could pick up for
the Jesus March. So Swank delayed his errand
and headed to the ministry.
Im carrying these 16 boxes of food to my
van, trip after trip, and none of its for me,
Swank said. I drove away, but right in the mid-
dle of Beverly Street I fell apart. I said, Lord,
Im not going to let pride stand in my way.
Swank drove back to Mercys Gate, then
known as Northern Churches Care, and told
Wilson, I need to let you know that I dont
have anything.
She wrapped her arms around me and told
me to take the food home, he recalled. I was
so excited. We hadnt had so much food in four
months.
The family dug through the boxes spread out
on the living room foor, exclaiming over one
food item after another.
And in that last box, when I got all the way
to the end, was a tube of toothpaste, Swank
said, still choked up at the memory more than a
decade later.
I just looked at my wife with tears in my
eyes. It was the crowning touch of Gods fn-
gerprints on my heart. God was saying, I know
this is frustrating and I know its hard, but I got
this. It will make sense in a little while.
Now the owner of a successful fooring
business, Swank said it was time to give back
to the ministry that once paid his utility bill and
helped him through his familys crisis. He is
volunteering his time to create a new space for
Mercys Gate.
We need this ministry here, Swank said.
Its irreplaceable.
One-stop emergency center
Swank and his wife are only two of the thou-
sands of families and individuals whove come
to Mercys Gate with a crisis and left with hope.
Since its beginnings 30 years ago, the minis-
try has expanded from a simple food pantry to
a one-stop emergency center offering rental,
legal and utility assistance; food; meals; nursing
care; budget counseling; training and more. Its
six staff members and 150 volunteers also offer
plenty of prayer for any person seeking help.
From Crisis to Hope
Julie Wilson, director of Mercys Gate, is
a proponent of meeting a clients physical
and spiritual needs together. Thats why
prayer is such an important part of the Col-
orado Springs ministrys efforts.
Mercys Gate started as a food pantry but
has grown into so much more. Emergency
food supplies continue to be a key part of
the ministry, however.
Client quotes:
I am so appreciative at this time of need. We sold everything to move for a new start
to get away from violence. It is nice to know that people volunteer their time to help
others . . . God bless all members, volunteers and donors as our family is truly thankful
for assistance with food.
Thank you so much for your help with my utility bill. I am so thankful for your ministry.
I attend a local church and we support Mercys Gate. Never thought I would need your
services, but so thankful that God has provided for me through you. I especially want to
thank the volunteers for their understanding and kindness and for praying for me and
my situation. I could truly see that these volunteers love the Lord. Also, thank you for
the food I received that day.
Mercys Gate/See page 5
What makes the ministry unique, Director
Julie Wilson says, are two things: its focus on
preventing homelessness by providing rental as-
sistance, and its goal to help people move from
dependency on institutions or anything else to
becoming intimate with Jesus and knowing Him
as their provider.
Mercys Gate is a house of prayer Wilson
said. Prayer is foundational to who we are.
From the moment people show up at the
ministry now housed in Rocky Mountain
Calvary Church and Calvary United Methodist
Church to the time they meet with an intake
volunteer or are given food from the pantry,
they receive prayer. Intake volunteers go over a
prayer-needs inventory with the person seeking
help and then pray for that individual.
One of the tools in our intake rooms is a
Kleenex box, Wilson said. Some people have
never had prayer, and when they are prayed for,
you can see that God has done something in
their heart.
The ministrys logo is a heart, representing
Gods mercy. The left side of the heart rep-
resents the cup of cold water, or the practical
services offered in the name of Christ; the right
side represents the Living Water of Jesus, also
offered to each neighbor in need who enters
Mercys Gate.
People cant hear you until you provide the
service, Wilson explains. But were not just
giving that. A bag of food lasts for a week, but
the Bread of Life will last for eternity.
Wilson is familiar with need, both spiritu-
al and physical, and said God trained her for
leading the ministry through the school of hard
knocks. Before she walked down the aisle of
a Baptist church and surrendered her life to
Christ, Wilsons life with her husband included
drug and alcohol abuse. He ended up on crack
cocaine and he couldnt break free, Wilson
says.
Wilson became a new believer, a single mom
of a child with special needs, an adoptive moth-
er of a child from foster care, and a foster mom
to pregnant mommies who had been ritualisti-
cally abused.
That set me up well, because we minister to
every walk of life, she said. We have people
coming in our door who are everything from
a pastors wife all the way to warlocks. Weve
had strippers, people dealing with abortions and
people dealing with trauma wounds.
Churches: the essential partners
People entering Mercys Gate wouldnt
receive the physical, fnancial, emotional and
spiritual aid from the ministry without the part-
nership of more than 50 churches that provide
volunteers, grocery donations, prayer support
and fnancial donations, Wilson stressed.
Many churches also offer services on-site.
Rocky Mountain Calvary has provided space
for the ministrys administrative offces, several
churches serve meals once a month on Monday
nights and Calvary United Methodist Church
houses the food pantry, to name a few ways
churches are involved.
The church is essential to Mercys Gate,
Wilson said. Theyre equipped to disciple
people. Its the unity of the brethren working
together. Its just fun to watch. Its not about
your denomination; its about Jesus and helping
people.
As the ministry moves to its new location and
takes a leap of faith with its frst-ever leased
offce space, Wilson said its seeking additional
church and individual support. The ministry
sees itself as a way to bridge the gap between
people in crisis and the church. By offering
services through Mercys Gate, church volun-
teers can build relationships that connect people
with what churches have to offer, Wilson notes.
One of Mercys Gates goals is helping to guide
neighbors who come in for services to become
engaged in local churches.
Wed love to partner with whatever a church
has going on, Wilson said. Were looking
for a discipleship class and maybe a Celebrate
Recovery class.
The Move
The ministry is hoping to move to its new
location as soon as remodeling is complete. Be-
cause of the growth of both Mercys Gate and
Rocky Mountain Calvary, the move is neces-
sary, Wilson said.
We really believe that this move will posi-
tion Mercys Gate to expand our services and
help enhance our effectiveness, Wilson said.
It will allow Mercys Gate to have all of its
services in one place instead of two locations.
To learn about how volunteers can help with
the move, how churches can get involved and
a possible Oct. 25 open house, visit mercys-
gatecs.org. The organization hopes to move into
its new space by the Christmas season.
www.themountaintopjournal.com - October 2014 - Page 5
Mercys Gate by the numbers
In 2013:
580 families received rental assistance, preventing homelessness for 1,580 people
865 families received utilities assistance, providing heat, electricity & water for 2,840
people
515 individuals received local transportation vouchers
1,768 individuals received clothing vouchers
5,107 emergency food & commodities packages were distributed to the hungry
1,079 individuals received legal, budget or mental health counseling
1,494 children and adults attended the annual Health Fair
2,258 tax returns were prepared for low income households, returning over $1.4 mil-
lion in tax refunds to our community
399 families received Thanksgiving baskets
128 households displaced by the Black Forest Fire were assisted during this commu-
nity-wide crisis
1,286 medical services were given through our Neighborhood Nurse Center
The Heart Training Center provided 9,000 services in life skills, teaching, training and
prayer
Work continues on the new home for Mer-
cys Gate. Volunteers from Rocky Mountain
Calvary Church (above) helped with demoli-
tion efforts recently. The organization hopes
to moved in by the Christmas season.
Mercys Gate staff members and volunteers
meet with clients to help them navigate the
crisis services available to them. The intake
meetings always include prayer.
Mercys Gate/From page 4
Page 6 - October 2014 - www.themountaintopjournal.com
Ministry offers
assistance as winter
weather approaches
A young couple with a 6-week-old baby
found hope in the midst of a terrible situation.
The day before HOPE worldwide: Colorado
Springs annual Service in the Park event, the
family was suddenly homeless and with no-
where to turn.
They showed up in Acacia Park in Colorado
Springs a day later, Sept. 13, looking for some
food and a helping hand. What they received
was hope that only Jesus Christ can provide.
They were wide-eyed and had no idea what
theyd gotten themselves into, said Jason
Wells, co-director of the local chapter of HOPE
worldwide and a member of Colorado Springs
Christian Church.They were on the streets and
they had no idea how the streets operate.
Within a short time, volunteers associated
with the homeless ministry found the young
family a hotel for the night. They were also giv-
en a Greyhound bus voucher for the next day so
they could return to family members in Florida.
It was all in a days work for a ministry and
local church with a heart for helping the home-
less.
***
The Colorado Springs chapter of HOPE
worldwide has been operating locally for about
eight years. While HOPE worldwide operates
clinics and hospitals around the globe, the local
chapter focuses its efforts on helping people in
crisis and in need along the Front Range.
Wells explained there are two parts to the
ministrys homeless efforts. Feeding burritos to
the poor and homeless each Saturday during the
winter (October through April) and coordinat-
ing the Service in the Park event in the fall.
Planning for the September event is a major
undertaking for the organization. Wells said
it takes more than four months to pull all the
details together.
Volunteers arrived early on Sept. 13 and be-
gan sorting through clothes, organizing tables of
food and setting up for a worship service.
People who are homeless often get stuff for
the wintertime, but as spring and summer hits
these items get worn out, Wells said. What
we attempt to do is get them some of the things
they need prior to the winter hitting. We try to
make a bad situation just a little bit better for
them.
Wells said his church and the ministry take
their role of helping the local homeless popula-
Helping the homeless
Photos by Jeff Holmquist/Mountaintop Journal
The line was long for free haircuts during the Service in the Park event Sept. 13. Volunteer
hair stylists were on hand to provide the service to any homeless person wanting to get
cleaned up a bit.
Homeless/See page 7
www.themountaintopjournal.com - October 2014 - Page 7
tion seriously. Although the Colorado Springs
Christian Church is only about 110 members
strong, most of the congregation helps out with
the ministrys efforts.
Im constantly inspired and challenged by
the hearts of our volunteers to serve and love
others, Wells said.
***
Cold-weather sleeping bags, backpacks, toi-
letries, food, shoes, boots and clothes were all
part of the days provisions for more than 300
homeless people who attended the Service in
the Park. Each of the individuals in attendance
were given a raffe ticket, and eight bikes were
given away to lucky winners.
Special services including free haircuts
from Ellies Edge salon and free pet food from
StreetPetz were provided at the event as
well. The Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
organization also was on hand to meet with mil-
itary veterans and offer advice about services
available to them.
The morning opened with a worship service,
including contemporary Christian music from
a large worship band. Church member Reggie
Henry shared his testimony with the crowd,
recounting how he and his wife Rose struggled
through homelessness and meth addiction about
a decade ago but eventually found Jesus and
turned their lives around.
After prayer and communion, organizers
provided instructions to those in line seeking
free items. In an orderly fashion, the homeless
individuals and families then walked among the
tables and clothing areas to pick out items they
needed. The diversity of people in the crowd
was surprising.
Wells said HOPE worldwide assists every-
one from military veterans with post traumatic
stress disorder to drug addicts to families down
on their luck.
So many people think the typical homeless
person is the guy on the street saying he wants a
beer or asking for money, Wells said. I would
offer there are just as many people out there
who are just struggling and need some help.
Many are trying to get out of that cycle, even
though there are some who are happy to stay in
that cycle of homelessness. Our goal is to help
people turn their lives around.
***
Wells said the Service in the Park event,
which has been held for eight straight years,
wouldnt be possible without the partnership of
several co-sponsors, including Russell Middle
School, FedEx, Total Roofng, Garden of the
Gods Storage and Major Mom.
And the Colorado Springs Christian Church
is our largest source of volunteers, Wells
noted. One of the things were very proud of
is that we have a very robust volunteer base. If
someone calls needing help, we can bring a lot
of people to bear very quickly. People are ready
and willing to help.
The local chapter of HOPE worldwide is
involved in several other ministries during the
year, Wells said. Last year the organization
assembled 132 Hope Packs that are given to
children who are taken from their homes and
placed into foster care.
A lot of times, when children are taken into
foster care, all of their things are in a regular
black trash bag, Wells said. These kids go to
a strange new environment and all they have is
a trash bag flled with their stuff. The special
packages include comfort items they might
need, including toys.
HOPE worldwide also assembles care pack-
ages for soldiers during the winter, and the
group distributes Thanksgiving care baskets and
Christmas gifts for the needy.
There are so many needs out there, Wells
said. We just want to help those who are in a
position they didnt expect to fnd themselves
in.
Free shoes and boots were a hot commodity at Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs as homeless individuals and families stocked
up for the winter. The local chapter of Hope Worldwide has been helping the homeless population for eight years through the Service in
the Park event.
Homeless/From page 6
Service in the Park opened with a worship
service for all in attendance and included
communion served by volunteer ushers.
Page 8 - October 2014 - www.themountaintopjournal.com
After more than
30 years, couple
completes Bible
translation project
For the frst time in its history, a small native
people group in Papua New Guinea will soon
have copies of the Bible in its native language,
thanks in part to a couple from Colorado
Springs.
Greg and Laura Melendes have put the fnish-
ing touches on a Bible translation for the Waxe
people of Papua New Guinea and recently sent
the pages to the printer.
If all goes according to plan, the new Bibles
(which will include complete translations of
Genesis and the entire New Testament) will be
delivered to the Waxe tribe in time for a Bible
dedication ceremony in early January. Greg,
Laura and their adult daughter hope to attend.
Cheesehead turned Christian
Greg Melendes hoped to write about the
Green Bay Packers someday. A budding jour-
nalist, he went to college to pursue a newspaper
job.
As he approached graduation, however, Greg
felt unsettled about his career path. He took
a year off from college to search for a more
meaningful direction for his life.
While working the night shift at a Greyhound
bus station in Milwaukee, Wis., Greg sold a
ticket to a California girl headed to his home-
town. He asked her why she would want to go
there, and she mentioned she was attending
New Tribes Mission Bible Institute.
There was no way someone that cool was
headed to Waukesha to go to Bible school, he
said.
A short time later, Greg took an assignment
to write a story about a public school basketball
team that was coached by a Christian. Some
of the team members met together for chapel
before each game.
As he talked to the coaches and team mem-
bers over several weeks, Greg realized they
were saying the same thing about a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ as the girl from
California shared.
I thought Do you guys know each other?
Are you trying to trick me? Greg recalled. We
were taught in the University of Wisconsin sys-
tem that the Bible is a joke. That theres nothing
to it.
Greg decided to read more about the Chris-
tian faith and explore the Bible. What he found
would change his life forever.
I realized I had no moral compass in my
life, and there had to be something else, he
admitted. He surrendered his life to Christ in
1975 and enrolled at New Tribes Mission Bible
Institute to become grounded in the Bible. He
eventually decided he wanted to be a mission-
ary.
When I was younger, I had to walk through
the New Tribes Mission property every day to
get to school, he said. I always thought they
were way out there. I always wondered who
does that kind of stuff going overseas to go
on a mission.
Greg met his future wife, Laura, at New
Tribes. A California native from a broken home,
Laura was introduced to New Tribes Mission
after high school and soon began pursuing a call
to the mission feld.
The couple married in 1976 and began mak-
ing plans for their future together.
Answering the call
In 1981, after completing the four-and-a-half-
year New Tribes church planting and language
program, Greg and Laura headed to their
assignment in Papua New Guinea with another
couple. At that time, the Waxe people totaled
just 225 people and they all lived in two small
villages 75 miles from the nearest coastal town.
In the early 1980s, the Waxe people had little
access to health care, had limited contact with
the outside world and were generally inhospita-
ble.
They were hard to live with in the beginning.
You could be nice to them, but they might not
be nice to you, Greg said.
The people group was rooted in spirit worship
at that time. They lived in constant fear that the
spirits would do them harm unless the spirits
were appeased.
They knew why were coming that we
were bringing Gods talk. They had no idea
who God was or who Christ was, Greg said.
Greg and Laura didnt jump immediately into
evangelism. Their frst couple years with the
Waxe people was spent building relationships,
learning the culture and refning language skills.
They also wrote curriculum and conducted lit-
eracy training with Waxe adults to ensure they
could read by the time Bible teaching began.
We dont go in and immediately teach,
preach and proclaim. First you become part
of the community, Greg noted. By the time
we started to evangelize, we werent strangers
Spreading the Word
Photo by Jeff Holmquist/Mountaintop Journal
Greg and Laura Melendes of Colorado Springs display the fnished Bible translation for the
Waxe people group of Papua New Guinea. The Bible should be printed by December and
will include the frst 22 chapters of Genesis and the entire New Testament. Greg and Laura
completed the Bible translation work with the help of Waxe translators and another New
Tribes Mission couple.
Translation/See page 9
www.themountaintopjournal.com - October 2014 - Page 9
but friends and neighbors trying to teach them
spiritual truth.
After two and a half years, the New Tribes
crew began teaching through Genesis and the
New Testament. The Waxe people eagerly
absorbed the teaching, Greg said, because they
knew that something was missing in their lives.
We met four times a week and in the begin-
ning the lessons were short. The Waxe werent
used to sitting around and learning, Greg said.
The evangelism phase took almost six months
at that rate.
By the time the frst classes were completed,
seven Waxe adults had made the decision to
become Christians.
We had hoped for 70, but thats what we
got, Greg admitted. We discipled them and
then we started team evangelism.
Over their 17 years in Papua New Guinea,
the Melendes family saw the Christian numbers
grow to about 225 adults (of the current Waxe
population of around 625). Many children also
attended services as well.
The wave of new Christian believers has not
only transformed individual lives, Greg ex-
plained, it has infuenced the entire community.
The Waxe people are no longer inhospitable and
now display great care and concern for others.
Many village leaders are Christian, injecting
Biblical truths into that societys fabric.
Christ changed the culture. We were blessed
to see what He did, Greg said. Its not utopia,
but there are so many Christians now that they
infuence everyday life there.
Time to go
New Tribes Missions ultimate goal is for
missionaries to eventually work their way out
of a job. Thats what happened in 1999, when
Greg and Laura left the Waxe village theyd
called home for many years.
The local church was healthy and function-
ing on its own by then. And evangelism efforts
were being conducted by the native population.
If we would have gone back there, we would
have been in the way, Greg said. We would
have played mom and dad, and that would have
been unhealthy for the church.
Laura said the couple also knew they would
return to Papua New Guinea regularly to con-
tinue efforts to translate the Bible into the Waxe
language and to assist the church that had been
planted there.
Still, ending full-time village life was diff-
cult, Greg said.
Thats where our daughter grew up; thats
where we sort of grew up, he said. When we
left, that was one of the hardest days of our
lives. But we had a peace about leaving, too.
As they left, however, Greg and Laura prom-
ised to complete the Waxe Bible translation
theyd been working on for years. It took them
much longer to complete the project than they
had anticipated.
Detours of life
When the Melendes family returned to the
United States, Greg took a part-time missions
pastor position with a church in southern Cali-
fornia. The church was supportive of the cou-
ples ongoing translation work, but the effort
was slow going.
Greg eventually accepted a full-time pastor
role at the church, and the couple left New
Tribes Mission. Greg and Laura continued to
travel back to Papua New Guinea on occasion
with the hope of fnishing the Bible translation.
In 2005, Greg took a job with Worldview Re-
source Group in Colorado Springs, assisting the
global missionary training and church planting
organization.
All this time were picking away at the trans-
lation, Greg said, but it just dragged on.
In 2008, during another trip to Papua New
Guinea, church leaders asked Greg a stinging
question. What are you going to do, die frst or
fnish this translation?
Greg said it was a fair question. At the rate
we were going, I was going to die frst.
Greg, who served as a consultant for others
working on translations, also realized that many
people younger than him were fnishing their
work ahead of him.
So you kind of felt like the kid who is turn-
ing in his homework late, he said.
In 2009, Greg and Laura returned to New
Tribes Mission full time and focused their ener-
gy on the fnal translation steps.
The translation had been taking a back seat.
But now it went back on the front burner, Greg
said.
The couple left the translation of Hebrews and
Second Corinthians for last, because they are
the most diffcult books of the New Testament
to translate, Greg noted. For more than a year,
the couple has been proofreading the fnal Bible
translation.
The Lord gave us something to do, he said.
We didnt take a straight line, but by His grace
its done. Its a relief.
Laura said the couple knows that the com-
pletion of the translation doesnt mean an end
to their connection to the Waxe. They expect
to continue to return to Papua New Guinea to
disciple their friends, and they plan to work on
Bible commentaries and literacy curriculum for
the Waxe people.
This is a milestone, she said. But it doesnt
mean the work is done. We cant just drop this
Bible in their laps and say goodbye, see you in
heaven. Its imperative that we push forward,
because no one else knows the language. We
need to keep our eyes to the horizon and do the
best we can to equip them so they can read the
word of God.
The fnished project is on its way to the print-
er and about 1,250 copies are scheduled to be
produced.
Thats double the population, so they will
have a supply there for the next generation,
Greg said. And there will be wear and tear
people will drop them in the river.
Laura doesnt expect too many of the new
Bibles to be lost or damaged, however.
They do have a care and respect for the word
of God that we lack here sometimes, she said.
They have waited so long to get that Bible in
their hands, they most defnitely will handle that
book carefully. Theyre not going to be able to
go down to the store and buy a new one.
Being called
Greg and Laura now await Gods next adven-
ture for them.
Laura said she hopes younger people will hear
and obey Gods call to plant churches and trans-
late the Bible into other languages.
We arent unique or special. God simply uses
a willing person, she said. God is always on
the lookout for people to send to those who still
have not heard. Our hope is there will be new
people who are willing to serve God and allow
Him to send them where He wants. Eternal
destinies are at stake.
For more information on New Tribes Mission,
visit www.ntm.org.
The Waxe people never saw their language in writing until 1985. Now they love to read
whatever they put their hands on. A group of men and boys gather around to read a primer
written by Greg and Laura Melendes.
Translation/From page 8
Page 10 - October 2014 - www.themountaintopjournal.com
Local organizers set
sights on another
record-setting year
Volunteers are already gearing up for the an-
nual Operation Christmas Child shoebox drive
in the Colorado Springs area.
Melissa Klute, media relations coordinator for
the local team, said this years goal is to gather
29,000 shoeboxes flled with gifts for children
by the Nov. 17-24 collection week. Last year,
Colorado Springs area families and individuals
donated approximately 26,000 shoeboxes on
behalf of the Samaritans Purse global ministry.
Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has
collected and delivered more than 100 million
shoeboxes to children in more than 100 coun-
tries. The Samaritans Purse project gathered
nearly 10 million shoeboxes in 2013 alone.
Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes have
been collected in Colorado Springs for about 17
years. A group of women, including Klute, who
were part of a Moms In Touch prayer group,
got the ball rolling on the local effort.
Our frst year, one woman, Andrea Uhl, ba-
sically made her basement the collection center
and she collected about 650 shoeboxes, Klute
recalled. The numbers have grown pretty much
every year since. Uhl is now the senior region-
al director for the Western Region, on staff with
Operation Christmas Child in Denver.
Because of the increasing volume of dona-
tions, the Colorado Springs team has added a
second collection center to its organization.
Vista Grande Baptist Church will again offer its
facility to accept thousands of flled shoeboxes,
and now Calvary Worship Center on the West-
side has agreed to serve as a center as well.
Its rather exciting to be expanding into a
second collection center, Klute said. Its a
good problem to have because we continue to
grow.
The local centers will be accepting shoeboxes
from more than 110 participating churches in
the region. The Colorado Springs service area is
bounded by Buena Vista to the west and Calhan
to the east, then Fountain to the south and north
to Monument. About 12 churches in that region
will serve as drop-off sites for shoeboxes. To
fnd the closest participating drop-off location,
visit www.samaritanspurse.org/occ and enter
your zip code in the search feld. Or call 1-800-
353-5949 for information.
After the shoeboxes are gathered Nov. 17-24,
the collection centers will organize the gifts
on pallets and load semi-trailers that will head
to the Operation Christmas Child processing
center in Denver.
When the shoeboxes arrive there, volunteers
inspect each donation to make sure there are
Sending Christs love in a shoebox
Photos by Jeff Holmquist/Mountaintop Journal
For about 17 years, Melissa Klute and a core group of Operation Christmas Child volun-
teers in Colorado Springs have been collecting shoeboxes that are shipped overseas to
brighten the lives of impoverished kids.
Shoeboxes/See page 11
www.themountaintopjournal.com - October 2014 - Page 11
no inappropriate gifts inside. If the shoeboxes
arent quite full enough, the processing center
places additional fller items in the boxes
before sealing them up for shipment. A booklet
containing the Gospel story in the childs lan-
guage also is given alongside each box.
Its a blast to work at the processing center,
Klute said. And anyone 13 years old or older
can volunteer at the warehouse. The website
contains sign-up information.
Klute encourages families and individuals to
begin shopping for shoebox items as collection
week approaches. She reminds potential donors
to include four types of gifts in each shoebox
small toys, school supplies, hard candy and
personal hygiene items. The items can be pur-
chased from a store or be handmade.
Operation Christmas Child organizers also
encourage shoebox donors to include a letter
and/or a family photo. There are times when the
recipient will write a thank you letter.
Klute said a shoebox can easily be flled at
a cost of $7 or less. A $7 check is requested to
accompany each shoebox as well to help cover
shipping costs.
So for $14, you can have an impact on a
childs life, Klute said. Its really a powerful
thing. Its a relatively inexpensive way to reach
kids with the Gospel, and empower churches
around the world for Christ.
Following the boxes
Klute was privileged to travel to Rwanda,
Africa this past spring to witness Operation
Christmas Child shoebox distributions at 20
different sites. She took a similar trip to Hondu-
ras in 1999.
Three people from Colorado, along with 37
Operation Christmas Child volunteers from
throughout the U.S., joined the trip to Rwanda.
It was a one-week, whirlwind trip, Klute
said. We distributed 2,300 boxes. Its always
so much fun watching the kids open their boxes.
Great mayhem and delightful chaos ensue.
It was often humorous to watch the kids dis-
cover their new toys and hygiene items, Klute
recalled. One boy received a harmonica and
didnt know what to do with it. Klute helped
him learn how to play it.
Another group of boys ran up to her with
deodorant in their hands, asking what the
smelly stuff was for. It was a foreign concept
to them.
The gift distributions are coordinated by local
church congregations, Klute said, and a great
number of souls are saved as a result.
The shoebox distributions are tremendously
empowering to the churches, she explained. It
helps to draw the children and their families in.
Even after the gifts are handed out, Samari-
tans Purse works with local offcials to offer a
12-week Christian discipleship class to the kids.
The Greatest Journey curriculum has been an
integral part of the ministry for several years.
We were realizing that we didnt want to
just drop off a gift and say Have a nice day.
We needed to help local churches disciple new
Christians.
While she was in Rwanda, Klute said she at-
tended the kick-off to a new discipleship class.
The curriculum is really well done, and its
powerful, she added.
Genocide history
Klute noted that it was an interesting time to
travel to Rwanda. This year is the 20th anni-
versary of the 1994 Rwandan genocide which
claimed the lives of about a million Tutsi people
over 100 days.
She said the country is in the midst of a
Remember, Unite, Renew campaign aimed at
continued reconciliation and healing between
the the Tutsi and Hutu people.
I didnt know much about the genocide in
1994. I had little kids at the time and I wasnt
paying attention to world affairs, Klute said. I
learned a lot about it prior to my trip.
Klute said anyone older than 20 can share a
story of loss related to the genocide. One wom-
an she met lost her husband and fve nieces and
nephews in the confict.
The only reason she and her children sur-
vived was because a Catholic priest hid them in
the vestment closet of the church. They lived in
there for three months along with other people.
Shoeboxes 24/7
Everyone in the Klute household has sup-
ported Operation Christmas Child for some 17
years. Klutes son completed his Eagle Scout
project by collecting shoebox donations, and
her daughter once traveled to a foreign distribu-
tion. My kids were raised on Operation Christ-
mas Child, she said with a laugh.
Klutes husband Dan has been instrumental
as well, supporting Melissas efforts, provid-
ing tech support and encouraging the whole
familys and their churchs involvement in the
project, she said
Klute said she continues to help because she
feels shes making a difference in the lives of
kids around the globe.
Its a way God can use me where I am. Plus
it keeps me out of trouble, she said.
The shoebox ministry is a year-round effort
for Klute and others. The local area team works
with local churches throughout the year to ex-
pand the Colorado Springs participation rate.
Volunteers also attend national and regional
Operation Christmas Child conferences for new
training and vision casting.
Were always preparing, Klute said.
Shoebox Packing Party
A shoebox packing party is planned from
1-3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at Colorado Springs
Christian Schools. The event is open to the
public. Individuals and families are encouraged
to bring small toys, school supplies, hard candy
and clothing items to help fll shoeboxes, as
well as monetary donations to help defray the
shipping costs.
For information about packing a shoebox,
visit www.samaritanspurse.org. To volunteer at
a Colorado Springs relay center or collection
center in November, call area coordinator Shei-
la Cain at 719-532-9566.
Shoeboxes/From page 10
During her trip to Rwanda this past spring, Melissa Klute was able to help with the distri-
bution of shoeboxes at 20 different sites. At one location, she had to teach a boy how to
play a harmonica.
Samaritans Purse has collected and dis-
tributed more than 100 million shoeboxes to
needy kids over its 20+ year history.
Page 12 - October 2014 - www.themountaintopjournal.com
Once a month, Immanuel Lutheran Church in
Colorado Springs is transformed into a railway
station in miniature.
The Pikes Peak Division of the Youth in Mod-
el Railroading organization meets at the church
from 9 a.m. to noon every third Saturday of the
month.
The club currently touts between 15 to 20
regular members and instructs the younger gen-
eration on the fner points of the model railroad
hobby. Participation in the Youth in Model Rail-
roading chapter is open to kids ages 8-18. Club
dues are $24 per member, and each member
receives a free model railroad module (valued
at $51) to decorate when they join.
The Colorado Springs club is one of just four
Youth in Model Railroading chapters in the
U.S. and has been operating locally for about
eight years. The longest running chapter, lo-
cated in Denver, has been in existence for 18
years.
Tera Allen, 12, is one of the local chapters
dedicated members. She got hooked on model
railroading because her grandfather, Robert
Allen, was a big booster of the hobby. Her
grandmother, Marlys Allen, also is involved in
the club.
Its really fun being able to spend time with
my grandparents and learn stuff about trains,
said Tera, who has been enjoying modeling
railroading for about two years.
It tickles me to death that she wants to do
this with me, admitted Robert, a member of
Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Tera said she enjoys all aspects of the hobby,
including painting backdrops, decorating mod-
ules, building bridges, laying tracks and wiring
the railroad layouts. And sometimes I like to
run the trains, she added.
Robert, who has been a model railroad enthu-
siast since 1971, said his granddaughter already
has earned the coveted Golden Spike Award
from the National Model Railroaders Associa-
tion. To qualify for the honor, Tera had to build
a model railroad module from scratch.
It was all done with a miter box and a hand
saw because I dont have a power saw, Robert
said. She did an outstanding job. Im really,
really proud of her.
Robert said model railroading is a great hobby
for young people, because it helps members
develop skills in basic carpentry, design, art,
electrical wiring, civil engineering and land-
scaping.
Model railroading also promotes an interest
in history, he added. His granddaughter enjoys
working with models depicting the steam train
era. Robert enjoys pre-1900 architecture and
trains, so he focuses much of his attention on
Old West scenes.
This is a lifelong type of a hobby. And there
are so many different facets to it, he explained.
A lot of folks fnd their own little niche. Some
people like to make the whole thing a piece of
art. Some just like to run the trains. Others like
the civil engineering part building trestles
and roads. We have others who like doing big
cities.
Robert admitted that the model railroading
hobby is in need of new blood, however. Most
enthusiasts are retired men.
You look around the room and you see a
lot of grey hair, Robert said at a recent train
show at Freedom Financial Center in Colorado
Springs. To perpetuate the hobby, we need to
get the younger generation involved. The kids
are really interested, once you get them in-
volved in it.
Robert, a retired executive with Loaf & Jug,
is a member of the National Railroaders Associ-
ation Board of Directors. Hes working with the
organizations leadership to expand the Youth
in Model Railroading concept throughout the
nation.
As with anything else like Scouts
model railroading takes parental involvement,
Robert said. A parent or guardian needs to stay
for the meeting and be involved.
For more information about the Pikes Peak
Division of Youth in Model Railroading, call
719-570-9559 or email yellerock@msn.com.
The group meets at Immanuel Lutheran Church,
846 East Pikes Peak Ave.
All aboard!
Model railroad club caters to young hobbyists
Tera Allen sets her HO-scale train on the
tracks in preparation for riding around the
track. She worked on the module in the
background by painting the backdrop and
placing miniature buildings, people and
animals around the display.
Robert Allen (left) shares his model railroading hobby with his granddaughter, Tera. The pair displayed some of their modeling work at
the Sept. 12-14 train show at Freedom Financial Center in Colorado Springs.
www.themountaintopjournal.com - October 2014 - Page 13
Te Mountaintop Journal is published once a
month and distributed throughout the Colo-
rado Springs area.
Te Mountaintop Journal
~ John 21:25 ~
Mountaintop Journal
P.O. Box 25007
Colorado Springs, CO 80936
719-375-1822
Jef Holmquist, publisher/editor
Julie Holmquist, copy editor
Email:
mountaintopjournal@gmail.com
Website:
themountaintopjournal.com
We are also on Facebook!
Te Mountaintop Journal reserves the right
to reject any paid advertising.
All editorial submissions become the
property of Te Mountaintop Journal.
Churches or businesses wishing to distribute
copies of Te Mountaintop Journal may call
719-375-1822. Please indicate the number of
copies desired and the address for deliveries.
Come to the Mountaintop!
For just $25 a year
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~ Online subscriptions just $20/year ~
Dont miss an issue of this Colorado Springs newspaper dedicated to covering the area Christian community.
Visit us at www.themountaintopjournal.com to subscribe today!
Or send your name, address and zip code along with a check to:
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Your subscription will assist us in continuing to tell the inspiring stories of individ-
uals, local churches, ministries and more!
And you will stay up-to-date on Christian and family-friendly events in the Colorado Springs area!
Coming
soon to
Colorado
Springs!
Church partners and
volunteers sought for
Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, packing event
at Freedom Financial Expo Center.
How Can I Get Involved?
Sign up to pack food for two hours on November 21 & 22
Registration opens Sept. 29. Great for families, for ages 5 and up. Recruit a work team,
sports team or neighbors. Help feed the worlds starving children.
Individual Donations: We ask each volunteer to raise at least $50 to pay for the food you
will pack.
Spread the Word: Talk to your neighbors, sports team, church, work group.
For more information, contact Mike at FMSC-mobilepack@cragmorcrc.org.
Visit Facebook Page: Colorado Feed My Starving Children
Page 14 - October 2014 - www.themountaintopjournal.com
Coming Up
Sept. 28
The Crusade concert gathering, Calvary Chapel Eastside, 5070 Edison
Ave. G.L.I.F.E. performs beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 1
Disillusioned, Yet Wanting to Believe, presentation by Ryan Dobson
pertaining to family struggles. Worship by Jared Anderson. 6:30-9 p.m.,
Rocky Mountain Calvary, 4285 N. Academy Blvd.
Oct. 3
Jaque Peterson solo piano concert, 7 p.m., Grace Bible Church, 5075
Flintridge Dr. For more information, call 719-598-6688.
Freedom Encounters gathering, Family Christian Center AG, 3018 Vir-
ginia Ave., 7 p.m. Becca Greenwood shares what the Bible says about
depression and offers hope to overcome it.
Oct. 4-5
Fall clothing exchange, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-noon Saturday. Open
to everyone. Woodmen Valley Chapel, Rockrimmon Gym, 290 E. Wood-
men Rd.
Oct. 4
Forgive & Live Workshop, with James Divine, 9 a.m.-noon, Living Hope
Church, 640 Manitou Blvd.
All-Day Womens Retreat, Glen Eyrie Castle, Colorado Springs. Author
and blogger Kara Tippetts will speak about fnding peace and grace in the
midst of all circumstances. Cost is $55, which includes lunch, dinner and
snacks.
Oct. 5
Colorado Springs ninth annual Crop Walk, 1 p.m. Starts and ends at
Grace and St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 631 N. Tejon St.
Oct. 6-10
Victory World Outreach National Conference, 3150 S. Academy Blvd.
Call 719-392-1231 for information.
Oct. 10
Fall Craft Sale, 5-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday. Rocky Mountain
Calvary, 4285 N. Academy Blvd.
Oct. 10-11
Lightbearers, womens retreat, 6:30-9 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Saturday, at Grace Evangelical Free Church, Longmont. Special speaker,
Jackie Redmond, RESOUND NEW director.
Oct. 11
5K Rescue Run, to beneft World Orphans organization. Register to
participate in the Castle Rock event, or run from anywhere with the new
Virtual Run. Raise $100 or more for orphans and race for free. Email
info@worldorphans.org or visit therescuerun.com.
Loving Our City service day, First Pres Colorado Springs. Church mem-
bers will fan out across the community to work on various service proj-
ects.
Oct. 18
Craft Fair, Faith Lutheran Church, 315 Security Blvd. Call 719-392-4133
for information.
Crazy Holiday Craft Fair & Bazaar, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., The Springs
Journey Church, 1250 Vondelpark Drive. For more information, call 719-
460-6658 or email designbybonnie@hotmail.com.
Oct. 19
The Crusade concert gathering, Calvary Chapel Eastside, 5070 Edison
Ave. Hollow Eyed Saints performs beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 22
Rend Collective concert, 7 p.m., Mountain Springs Church, 7345 Adven-
ture Way. Tickets $20.
Oct. 24
Trunk or Treat event, Woodmen Valley Chapels Woodmen Heights
campus parking lot, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Candy, costumes, treats and bounce
houses. Admission is one bag of candy and one canned food item.
Oct. 24-25
Awaken Conference, challenging youth and young adults to wake up
spiritually. Worship, games, speakers and more. Awakening Church, 3445
Oro Blanco Dr.
Women of Faith, Denver Coliseum, Denver. Survival to Revival.
Craft Fair, Friendship AG Church, 3685 New Center Point, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday and Saturday.
Oct. 25
Trunk or Treat event, 10 a.m.-noon, Academy Christian Church, 1635
Old Ranch Rd. Admission is one toiletry item or non-perishable food
item to be donated to Mercys Gate. Bounce houses, lunch and treats.
Oct. 30
Free Halloween party, 6-8 p.m., Saint Lukes Lutheran Church, 5265
North Union Blvd. Everyone invited.
Oct. 31
Trunk or Treat event, Heart of the Springs Church, 2726 N. Union Blvd.
Candy handed out from the trunks of decorated vehicles. Email hick-
mott@live.com for information.
Fall Festival, 5-8 p.m., Front Range Alliance Church, 5210 Centennial
Blvd. Indoor event open to all ages. Games, face painting, candy and
bounce houses. Call 719-260-0333 for information
Nov. 21-22
Feed My Starving Children Mobilepack event, Freedom Financial Expo
Center. Goal is for 1,500 volunteers to pack 300,000 meals in two days.
Volunteer registration will open Sept. 29. For information, contact Mike
Broekhuis at FMSC-mobilepack@cragmorcrc.org.
The frst Briarfest event was conducted Sept. 5-7 at St. Gabriels
Church. The festival included rides, games, food, vendors and
more. Money raised benefted Marian House, Special Olympics and
the Wounded Warrior Project.
www.themountaintopjournal.com - October 2014 - Page 15
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Special Non-prot Contracts
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www.imtvl.com
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International Ministry Travel
imtravel
making an impact...
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Photos by Jeff Holmquist/Mountaintop Journal
A young Briarfest attendee picks a duck from the pond and waits to
collect his prize. The community event was conducted Sept. 5-7 at
St. Gabriels Church in Colorado Springs.
Page 16 - October 2014 - www.themountaintopjournal.com
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Laurie
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Travel Agent
Unless the Lord build the house, they labor
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We Practice The Four Ps
With The Cross At The Center!
~ Prayer Praise Participation Prospects ~
We are a ministry whose mission is to strengthen and prosper the
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pel and for the glory of God. Our Business Referral Chapters meet
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Contact Chuck Ownbey @ 719 640-4602 or chuck@chuckownbey.com
Come join us!
Chapter 102
Meeting Location: IHOP Restaurant
8065 N. Academy Blvd.
Colorado Springs
(Between Jamboree & Voyager)
Meeting time: Wednesdays from
7:30 am to 9:00 am
President: Wayne Pinegar
Cell: 719 460-4649
wayne@nextagepikespeak.com
Chapter 103
Location: Open Door Cafe
(Inside Rocky Mountain Calvary)
4285 North Academy Blvd.
Colorado Springs
Meeting time: Fridays from
7:30 am to 8:45 am
President: Tim Rohlng
719 599-7431
timothy.b.rohlng@ampf.com