Founded as a haven for true and faithful Seventh-day Adventist believers in need of a place to worship together untainted by false teachings and celebration services, Renaissance Church opened its doors for its first Sabbath service on July 4, 1992. Nestled in the foothills southwest of Denver in a quiet country setting near Sedalia, Colorado, the members of Renaissance Church take seriously Ellen White’s counsel that “as wickedness increases in the great cities, we shall have to work them from outpost centers.” Review and Herald, July 5, 1906. Renaissance Church serves as an outpost to the Denver metropolitan area but most specifically to the smaller “bedroom communities” of Sedalia, Castle Rock, and Louviers.
Pastor John Grosboll with Steps to Life broke the Bread of Life for the special communion service held that first Sabbath, serving almost 200 attendees. Believing the number in attendance that day was an indication of the hungering so many Seventh-day Adventist believers have to hear the Three Angels’ Messages taught from the pulpit, Renaissance Church sponsors a guest speaker each month who presents Historic Seventh-day Adventist teachings. Many of our fellow believers who may not otherwise have the opportunity to hear historic doctrine are being fed through these spiritually uplifting weekends.
In the book Education, 191, Mrs. White tells us that “when a real love for the Bible is awakened, and the student begins to realize how vast is the field and how precious its treasure, he will desire to seize upon every opportunity for acquainting himself with God’s word.” So it is for the individuals attending Renaissance Church. In addition to the mid-week prayer meetings, one Sabbath afternoon each month is devoted to Bible marking sessions and another to doctrinal studies. These activities provide a treasured time of fellowship, and also strengthen our faith, giving us a deep desire to share that faith, and encourages us to be bold in our outreach endeavors. As a result of our group studies, God has blessed with several baptisms. Others are currently studying in anticipation of being baptized at our summer convocation in August.
To “soften the community,” a twelve part doctrinal tract series has been distributed to 5,000 homes near our church. Each Christmas season, special gifts from the church are delivered to homes and businesses in Sedalia. The first year we provided a freshly baked loaf of bread to each home and business. The last two years we have given packages of trail mix. We also adopted a two-mile stretch of highway near Sedalia and volunteer time to keep the roadside clean of litter. A sign at both ends of the two miles acknowledges our group by name for the clean-up. One Seventh-day Adventist family who recently moved to the Denver area is worshipping with us because they saw the signs!
Through these humble beginnings we have learned indeed that “he who begins with a little knowledge, and tells what he knows, at the same time seeking for more knowledge, will become qualified to do a larger work. The more light he gathers to his own soul, the more of heavenly illumination will he be able to impart to others.” Gospel Workers, 98.
As we gained name recognition within the community, we decided in 1994 it was time to use the “entering wedge” and introduce healthful living alternatives through vegetarian cooking classes. Each series of four classes has had members of the community in attendance who are thrilled with the information being provided. We have been especially grateful to see several of the attendees join us for Sabbath services when Danny Vierra of Modern Manna Ministries was our guest speaker, addressing health issues.
Renaissance Church sponsored a booth at the Douglas County Fair in August, 1995. Our theme, “Vegetarian Advantage,” provided a positive view of eliminating meat from the diet and lowering cholesterol for general health improvement. Often lines of people were waiting for the free samples of bulgur burger taco filling (a hamburger substitute made from bulgur wheat) and the children especially enjoyed the healthy, sugarless cookies. Some visitors told us they were sent to our booth from the Colorado State University Extension Agent’s booth to learn more about wholesome vegetarian cooking. Free literature, books, and recipes were available, and we obtained many names of individuals interested in attending the vegetarian cooking classes we sponsor six times a year. Booth space is already reserved for the 1996 county fair when we will be giving away the book Steps to Christ as well as other truth-filled literature.
Another avenue of outreach to families in the community will be provided through a before and after school care program beginning this fall. The curriculum of activities will include morning worship with the children before they are taken to school. Renaissance Academy will open to the community this fall, offering full-time classes as well as subject specific classes for homeschooled students (one out of five families in the county homeschool). Principles of truth will be presented in the classroom, and it is our prayer that families will be reached through the children and the lessons they learn at school.
On March 3, 1996, we prayerfully began featuring Steps to Life Sunday television programming on Channel 41, KRMT-TV in Denver. Considering the cost and competition for air time in the Denver market, this is quite an undertaking for a church our size. Such topics as “The Origin of the Bible,” “Attacks on the Bible,” “War in Heaven,” and “The Great Controversy” have begun what we pray will be a six-month to one-year airing of historic Seventh-day Adventist doctrines to the two million plus inhabitants of the Denver metroplex. One goal of our television outreach is to give everyone within the viewing area the opportunity to hear the Three Angels’ Messages. Several dozen requests for Bible lesson studies and free books have already been received. Another goal of our television outreach is to awaken the Laodicean Adventists in the Denver area to the nearness of Christ’s coming.
With God’s help we plan to follow up the television series with a Revelation Seminar. It is our constant prayer that God will continue to use the Renaissance Church as a light upon the hill.