Longs Peak Baptist Association gathered at the Tapestry House in Laporte on October 14 to celebrate 50 years of ministry. Executive Director Mark Edlund delivered greetings and congratulations from the Colorado Baptist General Convention (CBGC). SBC Life columnist and psychologist David Lowery presented the keynote address.

Edlund described Longs Peak Baptist Association as being “totally engaged in the penetrating of the lostness in Colorado.” He also highlighted the leadership the association provides to the CBGC.

Lowery kept celebrants laughing while he exhorted them to live in the power that God provides. He reminded them that the church was created to be the “redeeming body of Jesus Christ” and that the church “is the only organization that was founded for those not yet in.” He also said that the church has to decide to reach others.

Lowery said that we think worship is defined with a certain location and time. “The true worshipper had to be Jesus Christ. He gave more glory to God than anybody. If we’re going to be true worshippers then we have to do what Jesus Christ did… He loved others the way God wanted them to be loved.” Lowery went on to say that Jesus spent his time telling other the Good News. “That’s what true worship is,” he said. “Coming in here is getting us ready to go out there.”

The program included worship music led by Voyt Lynn (Associate Pastor, Orchards Baptist, Loveland) and special music by Pastor Don Moore (Trinity Baptist, Longmont).

Director of Missions John Howeth introduced two videos produced to commemorate the anniversary. One looked back on the history of Longs Peak Association and featured interviews with Bill Austin, the second DOM and Tom Formby and Paul Logue, both longtime pastors in the association. They told stories about the early days of the association. Paul Spencer was remembered as a great man of faith and a church starter; he helped start at least four churches in the association and was at the association’s organizational meeting fifty years ago. Former DOM and CBGC team leader for church health, Tommy Chapman was the last person to speak on the Looking Back video. LPBA, he believes, is poised for the future because of the heritage it has and because of pastors who are willing to work together to reach people for Christ.

A second video featured some current ministries of some Longs Peak churches. Church planter Jim Misloski told the story of Loveland Community Church’s outreach to a mobile home community. Pastor Ken Mowery shared how New Life Community (Greeley) is ministering to the homeless and offering marriage classes. Terry Jackson of Immanuel Community (Fort Collins) explained how her church is starting churches in Peru through a program of the International Mission Board. These ministries are representative, Howeth said, of the ways LPBA churches are reaching their communities.

Howeth encouraged the churches of the association to continue finding ways to reach others for Christ as they continue what was begun more than half a century ago in northern Colorado.