About Alpine Resort Ministries
"An ARM of the local church"
In the past, the Colorado Baptists have had a few resort ministries usually accomplished with a full time HMB/NAMB missionary. Vail/Beaver Creek and Winter Park/Tabernash are good examples. These were both good ministries and both developed churches and promoted evangelism. However, these became the models of resort work in Colorado suggesting that if a church or an area wanted to develop a resort type ministry they needed to make application for and receive a full time HMB/NAMB resort missionary. This was not planned, but it was the perception.
We are now building a new model - A model of church based ministry to resort and leisure areas of our state. With this in mind, The Resort and Leisure Ministries Team of the Colorado Baptist General Convention has developed a plan and programs that can be applied here in Colorado to help churches reach out with the Gospel message to non-traditional people in non-traditional settings by non-traditional means (as well as the traditional “home folk”). This in no way compromises the Gospel but rather follows the model of Jesus as He shared by the seashore and on the mountain. Alpine Resort Ministries is a state wide ministry that can be recognized by people as they travel throughout the state. If a family is traveling and becomes involved with a Day Camp at Alpine Resort Ministries-Estes Park the first part of their week, then travels to Telluride for the last half of the week, they might see a concert on Friday night sponsored by the Alpine Resort Ministries-Telluride. Many visitors to our state come back year after year and like to visit different areas each time. So it is likely that as ARM grows we will receive more wide spread recognition. We would hope that people would then begin to look for the ARM logo knowing they can count on good family ministry and a dynamic Christian witness. ARM is designed to be a ministry of the local church. Therefore, any ARM ministry begun would need to reflect local identity. A few good examples are: Alpine Resort Ministries-Summit County, sponsored by Agape Outpost, High Country Baptist Church and Copper Mountain Community Church; Alpine Resort Ministries-Crested Butte, sponsored by the Oh-Be-Joyful Baptist Church; and the Alpine Resort Ministries-Grand Mesa sponsored by the Mesa View Church, Alpine Resort Ministries - Vail sponsored by the Trinity Baptist Church, Alpine Resort Ministries – Silver Thread sponsored by the Creede Baptist Church and there are many others.
Alpine Resort Ministries has been formed to be the catalyst for these types of opportunities. We want to help churches in "resort/leisure" settings be able to better reach their communities. One of the responsibilities of ARM is to develop a comprehensive strategy of resort/leisure ministries in Colorado in order to further the goals of the Colorado Baptist General Convention in evangelism, church growth, church planting and to minister to people in their leisure activity. It is further our purpose to plan and conduct training and motivational events to equip churches and associations for resort/leisure ministries, and to prepare and distribute resort/leisure missions material.
ARM has qualified resource people that are available to churches in many different areas of ministry such as: ski areas, lakes and streams, historic sites, State and county fairs, campgrounds, flea markets, State parks, theme parks and amusement parks, drama, clowning, puppets, mime, magic/illusion, spectator events, children's ministries and a variety of other creative ways of touching people's lives with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These consultants will be available for seminars and training times throughout our State.
The Colorado Baptist General Convention has one strategy for developing resort and leisure ministries throughout the state -- Alpine Resort Ministries. We hope you will want to be a part of this well designed, cooperative effort. Call Steve Hoekstra 970-249-3152
