History

"...He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" - Philippians 1:6

Living Stones Community Church constituted on November 4th, 2004 at the Bromley East Charter School in Brighton, Colorado. Over two dozen adults and their children participated in this organizational meeting and signing of the first official documents. That date was preceded by a number of important historical events.

In 1995, Ginny and I were contemplating church planting ministry while I was a student at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. We and another couple were seriously entertaining the idea and discussed planting a church in Brighton once our training was complete at MBI. The Lord had different plans as we took a pastorate in southern Colorado and our friends began ministry elsewhere.

In 2000, the Lord re-sparked our interest in church planting and by God’s design, we began planting Living Stones in our home the first week of January 2001. The Lord coupled our interest and willingness to serve Him in this way with two partnering churches: First Southern Baptist Church in Northglenn, CO and Fourway Baptist Church in Ft. Lupton, CO. In addition we had the blessing of the Rural Home Missionary Association as our mission organization as well as funding from the North American Mission Board.

We were on our way, meeting weekly in our home with one family, the Paynters. Our humble beginning was a great joy. Soon, the Lord brought us other families including the Maloneys, the Woods and the Waltons. In time we began to see the need of moving to a new location, as our weekly gatherings were too large for our home. In 2002 we began meeting elsewhere.

The Platte Valley Medical center became our first weekly meeting location as an emerging church family. They provided us with a sizeable conference room at no charge where we met every Sunday evening. In addition we began meeting in homes for our newly founded Home Groups. Close to 100 people were involved at one time or another during our tenure at this location through 2003.

God had blessed us with a number of folks who were beginning to see Living Stones as their church family. A high percentage of these were children and it became apparent that we needed more space to begin a Sunday School ministry. God opened the door for us to begin meeting at the Bromley East Charter School in the beginning of 2004. At that time we started meeting on Sunday mornings with a Sunday School ministry and weekly Home Groups. Nearly 40 people called Living Stones their church family, 20 of which were kids ages 12 and under.

At this point, God blessed us with the coming of a Moody graduate by the name of Brannon Marshall. He began serving the Lord in a variety of capacities including pastoral ministry, leading worship, and working with youth. His ministry now continues with Living Stones along with his wife and two children.

With our move to the charter school coupled with a variety of outreach ministries (including Christmas caroling, a booth at the Brighton Culture fest, door hangers, and backyard Bible clubs) we saw an influx of people beginning to attend Living Stones. While we witnessed a number of folks leave over these first few years, we saw more and more come. Thus far a number of people had come to know Christ as Savior and were baptized.

Many behind the scenes steps were being taken, too. Leadership was being trained; a policy manual was being drafted; a constitution was being written. The culmination of our weekly gatherings, Home Groups and administrative work was our Constitution service held on November 4th, 2004. We joyfully shared in committing to the Lord and one another the establishment of a new church.

Now, three and a half years later, the church continues to serve the Lord, meeting weekly at the charter school and in weekly Home Groups. Elders serve as spiritual leaders. Women minister to one another under the leadership of a women’s ministry coordinator. Men are in a growing fellowship. The children’s Sunday School program is strong and led by coordinator.

In our recent history, it became apparent that the Lord was setting the stage for a pastoral transition between Pastor Troy and Pastor Brian and his family. Although this wasn’t foreseen, God began making this evident in the spring of 2007. God brought Pastor Brian Russell and family in January 2008 to transition into the pastoral leadership role by July 2008. Pastor Troy and family have been called to serve at New Castle Bible Church in Mackinaw, Illinois, beginning in July 2008.

While Living Stones continues to meet in a rented facility and is still in need of further foundational development, the church is a viable group of believers committed to seeing God’s purpose worked out. I believe that these godly folks, under the leadership of Pastor Brian and the Elder Team, have a good future thanks to God’s rich blessing with a rich history.

Pastor Troy Willey,

Church Planting Pastor

June 25th, 2008