Seven years ago, God spoke into our hearts: “one day I want you and Bridget to plant a local, life-giving church whose generosity and compassion touch the world.”

This was scary, and we had no idea what that even meant. In the four years leading up to that calling God was busy helping Brady experience freedom from addiction, healing our marriage, and restoring our family.

But church planting, we thought, surely that call is for someone else. However, we began to pray over the vision God had given us. It was in the next seven years God continued to grow the two of us in leadership, wisdom, and our calling.

At the beginning of 2020 (days before the Covid pandemic began) God, and our pastor (Ron Johnson) told us it was time. Over the span of a year, a vision became a reality (Launch Sunday March 21^st, 2021). While the world was shutting down, God was building His Church.

As a pre-launch church, we saw 5 documented decisions for Christ, and had over sixty kids come to a Fresh Hope gathering. Fresh Kids is a pillar of who we are, and we are passionate about helping the next generation win by discovering the love of Jesus. We have always kept the vision God gave us those seven years ago at the front of this miracle in motion. Generosity and compassion.

In 2020, Fresh Hope Church was able to give away over $24,000 to families and partner ministries in need along the Front Range in Colorado. In this harsh winter season, Fresh Hope has been able to give away over 200 winter coats to those experiencing homelessness in the Denver Metro area. We firmly believe that we are never more like Jesus than when we are serving others.

Three things we have learned during this church planting season are:

1. Believe in the power of moments, and take advantage of each one you have with people.
2. God is our provider, and His plan is better than our own.
3. We can change the world, one person at a time.

Three things I would tell a new church planter stepping into their calling:

1. Keep Jesus at the center of it all.
2. Let your confidence be in the One who called you, and not the current condition of the world around you.
3. No matter how hard things get, don’t ever give up. God is faithful.

As we prepare for launch we know that God is with us. There are thousands of people, and children who need to experience the fresh hope of Jesus in Colorado and beyond. We are ready to risk everything for changed lives until Colorado looks like Heaven!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” Ephesians 3:20