Mountain View: A Metamorphosis
Mountain View Lutheran Church in Thornton, Colorado has had its challenges in recent years much like many churches across the United States. Congregations age and church attendance dwindles over time, and eventually reality sets in and those who remain must face the reality that for their “church,” things will never be the same.
It is with that in mind that recently the congregation of Mountain View voted to suspend the ministry that has been in Thornton for years, and turn over the church and its assets to The American Association of Lutheran Churches as per Mountain View’s Constitution and By-laws. After much prayerful consideration and various attempts to keep the congregation viable, they decided that the Lord was closing this chapter of His church, with a hope to see a possible metamorphosis and restart of this ministry with a mission plant.
Our Presiding Pastor, Rev. Dr. Cary Larson, believes that this is an opportunity to hold this valuable outpost of the Gospel, and not give it up. As part of this restart, Mountain View Lutheran will be re-named, while still providing the community a confessional Lutheran ministry. This new adventure will be the primary commitment of our Commission for American Missions (CAM) for the foreseeable future.
As much as CAM can help, we can’t do this alone. We will need all of The AALC to pull together to help get this mission plant off the ground and sustained until they can be self-supporting. In conjunction with our Presiding Pastors’ vision for home missions and more church planting, CAM is committed to a three-year plan to make this church plant viable.
You have an opportunity to help and join us in this endeavor. We ask that you prayerfully consider what you can do to assist this reinvigorated ministry and reach the lost for Christ. We are looking for congregational and individual partners who would be willing to walk with us as you are led.
We will have further updates in the Evangel as we move forward with this mission opportunity of “Keeping the Fort.” Let us all look forward with great anticipation what our Lord Jesus will do in His faithful work and mission.
Rev. Dean Stoner
Administrative Assistant to The AALC
The American Association of Lutheran Churches