By Heather Krier  

 Rocky Mountain Christian Church (RMCC), a non-denominational church located at 9447 Niwot Rd., received the February Left Hand Laurel for opening up its doors to non-profit organizations throughout Boulder County.   

 When the church was first started in April 1983, the congregation met in Niwot High School.  Construction started on a permanent building in 1984 on a 52 acre parcel owned by the church at the northwest corner of Niwot Road and 95th Street.  

 Since then, there have been three major expansion projects, all funded by church members.  Rev. Alan Ahlgrim has been the senior pastor of RMCC since it was founded.  He holds a doctorate of ministry from Fuller Seminary in Southern California.  There are eight other pastors on staff and many interns as well.  The congregation size is around 2,000 members and growing.

 Having the church’s facilities available to the public evolved over time as many members, involved in various organizations too large to meet elsewhere, needed a place to convene.  It was also a way to give back to the community for their financial support.  Only non-profit organizations seeking to improve the community have the privilege of meeting within the church. 

 Ahlgrim said, “A church is not the building, but the people that meet within it. The community supports the church financially and the church is there to support the community. It is getting hard to find space for all of the organizations that meet in the church, seven days a week.”  

 The church has opened its door to a diverse group of organizations.  They include governmental agencies such as the Boulder County Sheriff’s Department, Boulder County Road Maintenance, Boulder County Aging Services, Boulder County Mental Health, Boulder County Clerk and Recorder, the Mountain View Fire Department and the St. Vrain Valley School District. 

 Other organizations using the church provide services directed toward youth, such as Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Girl Scouts, 4-H, Niwot Youth Sports and MOMs Club of Longmont.  

 The large auditorium of the church has been used by various concert bands, the Longmont Chorale and for large community funerals.  Several human service providers also use the church facility, such as a prison ministry, Emergency Family Assistance, Victim’s Advocates, Christian 12-Step Program and Tough Love.  

 The church itself offers several programs to community members beyond Sunday services and its traditional Christmas Program, which draws visitors from a wide area. Church programs include a preschool program, the Rocky Mountain Christian Academy for kindergarten through fifth grade, a Mom’s day out program and MOP (Mothers of Preschoolers). 

 “Blessed to be a blessing” is just part of the church’s purpose statement that many of the members can recite by heart. RMCC members believe that opening up the doors of the church to the wider community is part of their calling.  

  The RMCC mission statement includes, “The purpose of the Rocky Mountain Christian Church is to exalt Jesus Christ, impacting Boulder County and beyond, by bringing people to Christ, building them up in the faith and sending them out to make a difference in their world.”

 For making a difference in the Niwot community and beyond, Rocky Mountain Christian Church is awarded the Left Hand Laurel for February.
 
 

Photo by Heather Krier

Rocky Mountain Christian Church is the Courier’s Left Hand Laurel for February 2001.  The church opens its doors for non- profit organizations seeking to improve the community.