225

One of the most exciting things I got to do while in the Springs was helping to clean up and paint the inside of the new First Pres college and young adult building. Located at 225 N. Weber Street, it is right around the corner from the main church building. I know a lot of people were very skeptical when it was purchased because this building was once a funeral home that was shut down because the owners were engaged in some illegal practices. Why in the world would they hold Sunday school classes for young people in such an ugly building (pictured here) where they used to house dead people?? I was there visiting the first week the college group met in this building, and can confirm that it was a very creepy place. It was dark, quiet, and there were black smudges on the walls in the basement where they used to cremate bodies. =^O

But the church has completely gutted and renovated the building, and you would never know what it was in the past looking at it now. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get any pictures. But they completely redid the front - tearing down the strange archways and lining the front rooms of both stories with big plate glass windows overlooking Pikes Peak. On the main level they have an open meeting space with a stage where they can have large group meetings or concerts. There is also a little coffee shop in there so college students can come, hang out, and study during the week. In the basement they have several small group meeting rooms, one of which overlooks a play room so young mothers can have the freedom to attend Bible Studies without worrying about finding a babysitter every week. The second story is mostly offices for the college and young adult ministers, as well as a big kitchen overlooking a patio where they can prepare fellowship meals and have BBQ's.

While James and I were involved in the Seekers college ministry, we spent a great amount of time at our minister Mark Epperson's big house on Cascade. For many of us, it was a safe haven - a home away from home. We gathered there for fun and fellowship every Sunday afternoon, and held many fun group events there throughout the year. When Mark moved, the group suffered greatly because of the loss of that space and bonding time. The leaders recognized this and are praying that this new building will once again provide a platform for this kind of growth. They have all kinds of ideas for how to use this building as a launch pad to minister to the community, and I am so excited to see what God does in and through this space. We have joked - but it's true - that God is breathing new life into this building that was once filled with death and decay.

They are only a couple of weeks away from the grand opening, and so they had a big work day one Saturday and had all the college kids and leaders come in and clean, paint, and prep the space for the final touches. I mostly helped paint the big conference room/creative planning space at the front of the second story. It's amazing what a difference a little paint can do. We warmed up the space and trimmed out the giant windows with some black paint that made them really pop. I was so sore after over three hours of using a roller and crouching down to paint the trim, but it was worth it. I can't wait to go back and visit again and see how the room looks with furniture and carpet.

On Easter Sunday, they opened the building up to the congregation so they could see the inside and pray over each room. God has given this church such a great, missional vision and James and I are happy to be contributing to it, even from afar.