Vibrantly Offering Christ Since 1980
From its very beginnings in February of 1980, Sunrise has been on the move to offer Christ to the Colorado Springs region. What began as the Northwestern Methodist Fellowship under the leadership of Rev. James Cowell, Minister of Evangelism at First UMC, and Rev. Ray Mattheson, retired Air Force Chaplain, has throughout its history been a people on the move, alive with The Holy Spirit. Outgrowing worship spaces in the Tot’s Learning Center on York Road, and the Rockrimmon Children’s Center on Delmonico by our Chartering Sunday, June 15, 1980, with 75 members attending, Sunrise people were already preparing to move to a third worship venue.
In November, 1980, Aldersgate UMC, originally located in the Cragmoor area, voted to merge with Sunrise United Methodist Church. Its 280 members became a blended family with our rapidly growing congregation. And on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1981, a celebration of the transition of people and worship space united the two congregations. Worship then was held at the Zeider Zee Conference Center on Academy Boulevard.
Very soon after the merge, the dream of a church building for Sunrise ministries began to materialize as the Aldersgate property was sold and a capital campaign of bonds provided the funding for the Briargate facility in three phases. The first of the three phases began in 1982, the second in 1984, the building with it's current configuration was completed in 1988.
In November, 1980, Aldersgate UMC, originally located in the Cragmoor area, voted to merge with Sunrise United Methodist Church. Its 280 members became a blended family with our rapidly growing congregation. And on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1981, a celebration of the transition of people and worship space united the two congregations. Worship then was held at the Zeider Zee Conference Center on Academy Boulevard.
Very soon after the merge, the dream of a church building for Sunrise ministries began to materialize as the Aldersgate property was sold and a capital campaign of bonds provided the funding for the Briargate facility in three phases. The first of the three phases began in 1982, the second in 1984, the building with it's current configuration was completed in 1988.
Expanding the vision
During the 1990’s, Sunrise experienced the blessing of tremendous growth. Through this decade, membership grew about 50% from around 900 to over 1300. In 2003, to accommodate this blessing of growth, Sunrise once again looked beyond itself to offer Christ alive in a new place. Property was purchased and was rededicated as our Woodmen Campus in 2006.
The bold vision of constructing a brand new Sunrise Church on the land east of the Woodmen Campus and the plan to connect the two buildings was indeed a faithful (if not audacious) way to offer Christian fellowship to northern Colorado Springs. However, economic realities of the market downturn in 2008 and the slow recovery required us to shift away from the trajectory of new construction and sell the Woodmen property (summer 2013), putting Sunrise in a position of cautious optimism and faithful, generous stewardship.
January 1, 2012, saw Sunrise United Methodist Church become a unified body of Christ once more at the Briargate building.
The bold vision of constructing a brand new Sunrise Church on the land east of the Woodmen Campus and the plan to connect the two buildings was indeed a faithful (if not audacious) way to offer Christian fellowship to northern Colorado Springs. However, economic realities of the market downturn in 2008 and the slow recovery required us to shift away from the trajectory of new construction and sell the Woodmen property (summer 2013), putting Sunrise in a position of cautious optimism and faithful, generous stewardship.
January 1, 2012, saw Sunrise United Methodist Church become a unified body of Christ once more at the Briargate building.
Boldly Offering Christ Today
In our current reality, we are honoring the variety of ways we worship, celebrate, learn, fellowship, disciple, grow, and go in the name of Jesus Christ. Outreach into the community, our region, and our world create ever-expanding circles of neighborhoods for Sunrise people to offer the ministry of their lives. Small groups offer support and encouragement. Ministries for children and students are vibrant opportunities for whole families to be strengthened in their faith. We know the real energy of Sunrise UMC is not in a building, but in its people.
The energy to push into new spaces in order to create new and different opportunities to meet Christ and develop mature Christian disciples is a steady pulse for us, as it has been throughout our history. We know we must be faithful in order to do ministry, and we invite you to join us the journey. Come explore with us what it means to “know Christ and make Him known… to serve Christ by serving others”!
The energy to push into new spaces in order to create new and different opportunities to meet Christ and develop mature Christian disciples is a steady pulse for us, as it has been throughout our history. We know we must be faithful in order to do ministry, and we invite you to join us the journey. Come explore with us what it means to “know Christ and make Him known… to serve Christ by serving others”!
