Love All, Serve All on North Union Boulevard
Colorado Springs Central SDA Church sits on North Union Boulevard on the city's east side, where a multi-ethnic congregation of about 400 gathers every Sabbath around the motto "Love All, Serve All." The church belongs to the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church and operates as part of the Rocky Mountain Conference under the North American Division. Senior Pastor Dave Ketelsen, the Head Elder Alan Brass, and the Head Deaconess Bethan Clarke lead a congregation that intentionally welcomes lifelong Adventists, new Christians, skeptics, and everyone in between. Visitors are told simply to come as they are, with the assurance that "more important than the clothes is the heart."
The church runs an unusually wide range of ministries for a single congregation. On any given week, the building hosts an English and a Spanish Sabbath service, a Pathfinder club meeting, a food pantry open to the public, an Alcoholics Anonymous group in the fellowship hall, a Walk with a Doc health event, a children's Sabbath School, a youth group, a prayer phone line, and the K-12 Springs Adventist Academy uses a nearby campus. The church also partners with Angel Tree, World Vision, and Prison Fellowship, and its Hispanic Ministry (Ministerio Hispano) has grown into one of the most active parts of the congregation.
Sabbath Worship and Sabbath School
Worship on the seventh day follows the classic Adventist rhythm. Sabbath School begins at 9:30 a.m. with classes for every age group, from Beginners and Kindergarten through Primary, Juniors, and Youth, and includes a Spanish Sabbath School class that meets in the main sanctuary at the same hour. After a short break the main Worship Service gathers at 10:50 a.m. and typically runs about an hour, ending near noon. The service is intentionally blended: parts are traditional and other parts are very contemporary, and the music rotates between traditional and contemporary from week to week. A children's story is built into the service so that families can worship together. Bible-based, practical, and relevant sermons are the norm, and three times a month the congregation shares a fellowship meal after church, with bigger social events a couple of times a year.
The Spanish-language congregation meets in the fellowship hall for a worship service at 11:00 a.m. every Sabbath except the fourth Sabbath of the month. On the fourth Sabbath the whole church - English and Spanish speakers together - worships in the main sanctuary in English. Friday evenings bring Hispanic Vespers in the sanctuary at 6:00 p.m. (a time the church notes can shift based on sunset). The church calls Hispanic Ministry "very welcoming" and the Spanish Sabbath School class is open to anyone, not only Spanish speakers.
What Visitors Can Expect
The church makes a point of spelling out first-visit details. The main entrance is on the north side of the church, marked by two large glass doors and a small atrium where greeters welcome newcomers. Parking is available in the main lot and on the side streets, though later arrivals may need to look for a spot on the street. Once inside, the congregation is described as diverse in age and ethnicity and intentionally so - no single demographic is the focus. Sabbath School classes range from infants through adults, and greeters will help find the right class. Dress is casual and "come as you are"; nobody is required to dress up or dress down.
The Visitor Guide anticipates the questions new attendees tend to carry: where to park, what door to use, what to wear, when to stand or kneel, which class to put children in, and whether the people will feel safe. The answer in every case is yes. The Visitor Guide also explains that three times a month the church shares a fellowship meal, that two large social events are held each year, and that one of Central's values is "making connections," so first-time guests should not be surprised if people try to learn their names. Children are welcome throughout the service, though at the moment there is no separate Children's Church program during worship. Church office hours are Mondays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with appointments outside those hours.
Children's Ministry, Pathfinders, and Adventurers
Children's Ministry centers on Sabbath School each Sabbath morning at 9:30 a.m., where age-tailored rooms for Beginners, Kindergarten, Primary, and Juniors introduce the Bible in a safe and caring environment. The church describes its aim as providing a place for every child "no matter what age they are," and every class is staffed by screened volunteers. Vacation Bible School has been a regular summer offering, with themes such as "Jasper Canyon" in 2022 that combine Bible stories, arts and crafts, games, healthy snacks, and a Prayer Station. The church has partnered with the wider Adventist VBS program at www.ministriessda.org.
The Adventurer and Pathfinder programs are a major part of Central's identity. Adventurers is for ages 4 through 4th grade and runs alongside a Discovery Club for ages 1-5. They meet twice a month, generally the 1st and 3rd Sabbath, September through May, from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Children wear field uniforms, recite the Adventurer Law and Pledge, then break into classes where they earn patches for Bible, nature, health, science, and people-skills awards. Parents are encouraged to participate and must complete the Sterling Volunteers screening.
Pikes Peak Pathfinders is for 5th through 10th grade, organized by class name from Friend (5th) to Guide (10th). It meets every Wednesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Springs Adventist Academy at 5410 Palmer Park Blvd during the school year. Activities include faith exploration, outdoor skills such as camping, hiking and biking, leadership development through public speaking and problem-solving, community service projects, creative arts, and recreation including basketball, volleyball, soccer, and swimming. A Teen Leadership Training track (TLT) for grades 9-12 adds workshops on personal leadership, team leadership, communication leadership, problem-solving leadership, and empowering leadership. Ruth Lagos serves as both Adventurer Director and Pathfinder Director for both clubs. The year closes with Induction and Investiture ceremonies in the sanctuary.
Health Ministry and Walk with a Doc
Dr. Larry Cohen and his wife June lead the Health Ministry, which anchors one of the church's most visible outreach programs. Each Sunday morning the Cohens host a chapter of the national Walk with a Doc program, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Cottonwood Creek Park in Colorado Springs (lower parking lot on Montarbor Dr.). The pattern is familiar to anyone who has joined a Walk with a Doc chapter: a brief five-minute health talk from a physician, then up to an hour of walking together. The program's tagline - "walk BY the hospital, NOT into the hospital" - fits the Cohens' preventive approach. Walks are open to anyone in the community, members and visitors alike, and the Cohens invite friends and family to come along.
Health Ministry also leads the Vegetarian Food Store and connects with the broader Adventist emphasis on the way we live, eat, speak, and care for the world. Visitors with specific health questions can reach the Cohens at larune@aol.com.
Community Services: Food, Clothing, and USDA Commodities
Central's Community Services center, on the south side of the church building off San Miguel Avenue, is one of the busiest hands-on ministries of the church and is open to the public, not just to members. It operates every Monday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (except holidays) and additionally on the first and third Sabbath of each month from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The center distributes emergency food, USDA Commodities, senior boxes, and clothing to those who qualify. USDA Commodities and emergency food can be picked up once a month (but not at the same visit), while senior boxes can be picked up together with USDA Commodities. The program is run under federal equal opportunity guidelines, and a non-discrimination statement is available.
Director Jason Tuzinkewich oversees a volunteer team. The center accepts donations of clothing, nonperishable foods, and hygiene items but is not equipped to receive other goods. Volunteers interested in helping can reach him at jasontuzinkewich@gmail.com.
Jesus Loves You Homeless Ministry
The Jesus Loves You Sabbath Homeless Ministry has become a signature outreach. Volunteers prepare sandwiches at home and meet at the church annex at 9:30 a.m. on Sabbaths to pack lunches, then distribute them after the church service. The ministry also runs larger seasonal events: at Christmas, the team delivers 125 gift bags (with items such as warm socks, gloves, hats, baby wipes, hand warmers, lip balm, cookies, toiletries, and gift cards) along with breakfast burritos and hot chocolate; at Thanksgiving, a similar drive brings food and encouragement to people living on the streets. Sandy Anaya and Marli Morales coordinate the ministry, with Sandy reachable at sanjune@live.com.
The homeless ministry frames its work in the words of Matthew 25:40 - "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me" - and welcomes anyone who would like to join a Sabbath of packing, delivering, or writing an encouraging note.
Hispanic Ministry: Ministerio Hispano
The Hispanic Ministry is woven into the regular rhythm of the church. On Friday evenings the church holds Hispanic Fellowship in the sanctuary at 5:00 p.m. (or 6:00 p.m., adjusting around sunset) in Spanish, and everyone is welcome. Sabbath mornings begin with a Spanish Sabbath School class at 9:30 a.m. in the main sanctuary, and a Spanish-language worship service gathers in the fellowship hall at 11:00 a.m. except on the fourth Sabbath, when English and Spanish congregations join for one combined English service in the sanctuary. The result is a genuinely bilingual church rather than a translated side program.
Prayer Ministry: A Telephone Altar
Prayer sits at the center of life at Central. The Prayer Ministry is led by Daniela Dumitru, who oversees a team of men and women who pray daily and visit members who are sick or homebound. Recurring prayer events include:
- Tuesday night Prayer Warriors telephone conference from 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., dialing 605-468-8026 with Access Code 159323#.
- United Prayer Sessions on the first Sabbath of each month, 8:00 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. in the fellowship hall, with a light breakfast.
- The RMC Prayer Call on Wednesday mornings from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., at 605-468-8026 with Access Code 1010801#.
- The NAD All-Night Prayer Call on the first Thursday of each month, from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. Mountain Time, at 404-891-6338 with Access Code prayer# (or 772937#).
- A Day of Prayer and Fasting on the first Sabbath of each quarter.
The ministry also connects with the General Conference / North American Division prayer initiatives hosted at revivalandreformation.org, and prayer requests can be submitted online. Members join the annual Ten Days of Prayer emphasis each January.
Women's Ministry and Visitation
Women's Ministry is led by Ola Tebear with a support team. Its mission is "to nurture the spiritual growth of women in our community by sharing the love of Jesus." The group values diversity and inclusion of all women, provides a safe haven for women in need, promotes a culture of support and encouragement, and strives to embody the attributes of Christ's character. Activities include retreats, fellowship, and faith-deepening programs, and the ministry partners with the wider Adventist Women's Ministries network, often directing women to events posted at www.ministriessda.org. A highlight each year is the Rocky Mountain Women's Retreat at Glacier View Ranch in Ward, Colorado.
The Visitation Ministry is a separate team of seven members who visit homebound members and bring them Communion. Volunteers also visit two local nursing care centers monthly - one on the second Sabbath of the month and another on the fourth Sunday of the month. Anyone who would like to join the visits can reach the church office at secretary@centralsda.org or 719-578-5616.
Youth, Young Adults, and Central Bible Institute
The Youth Ministry serves preteens and teenagers ages 14-18 regardless of religious background. The mission is to challenge young people to consider their faith deeply while having fun in the process, and youth leaders are available to listen and encourage. Youth Group meets every Sabbath morning at 9:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall or the Church Annex across the parking lot. Contact for the program is John Redmon at mlagos904@gmail.com.
The Young Adult Ministry (Y.A.M.) welcomes adults ages 18-45 regardless of spiritual background. The group meets for Sabbath School and vespers at 9:30 a.m. in the church sanctuary, discussing their love for God and His Word and the questions young adults actually face. Y.A.M. is led by Mason Wilde, who also occasionally preaches.
Central Bible Institute is a deeper-dive Bible study that meets every other Sunday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the annex across the street at 1804 Francis Place. The Institute walks through fundamental concepts of the Christian faith - salvation, death, the devil, baptism, the law, health, and other doctrines - before turning to the Book of Daniel and prophecy. It is designed to help newcomers understand the foundational beliefs of the Adventist Church and apply Scripture to daily life.
Angel Tree, World Vision, and Global Outreach
Central partners with Prison Fellowship's Angel Tree program, which strengthens relationships between incarcerated parents and their children and enfolds those families into church life. Elder Enid Almeida leads the ministry at Central, and the church typically provides gifts for around 40 children each Christmas through Angel Tree donations.
Through World Vision, the church runs a unique annual sponsorship experience called The Chosen, in which children in a developing community choose their sponsor rather than the other way around. The year begins with a Launch Weekend in the 10:50 a.m. service, includes a brief cut-off for selections overseas, and ends with a Reveal Weekend when sponsors learn which child chose them and can write a letter. Sponsorship continues to be available for those who join later through traditional matching. World Vision sponsorships help provide clean water, education, nutrition, and spiritual care to children in need.
Springs Adventist Academy
The church's K-12 school, Springs Adventist Academy (SAA), operates on a separate campus at 5410 Palmer Park Blvd and is led by Head Teacher Jennifer Angeles. The school's tagline is "Educating for Eternity," and it hosts the Wednesday evening Pathfinder program.
Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Central belongs to a worldwide Protestant family of about 19 million members, more than one million of them in North America. Adventists believe in one God who exists as a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They hold that salvation was made possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem, lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will, was crucified for the sins of humanity, and rose again on the third day. After His resurrection Jesus returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit as Comforter and Counselor, and He promised to return to earth a second time to complete His plan of salvation.
Adventists also believe that God cares about the quality of human life - the way we live, eat, speak, think, treat each other, and care for the world around us. Families, children, work, talents, money, and time are all part of His plan. Those interested in studying these beliefs further can find the official Adventist beliefs page at adventist.org.
Other Ministries on the Calendar
A handful of other ministries round out the congregation's life. The Men's Ministry is currently inactive and seeking a leader, as is the broader Adventist Youth society. A Women's AA group meets in the Fellowship Hall on Fridays for any women who seek sobriety, and Alcoholics Anonymous members can call the church office for the contact. Church Board meetings, building cleaning days, and various committee gatherings are posted on the church calendar, which is downloadable as an iCalendar file. The church is also available for facility rental for community events.
Staying Connected
The church livestreams every Sabbath service and posts recordings to its YouTube channel and Facebook page; the AV team actively invites feedback from online viewers. A weekly email and the church calendar keep members and friends informed of coming events. Giving can be made online through AdventistGiving, with categories for each ministry including Pathfinder Club, Adventurer Club, and Angel Tree. The website is hosted by the North American Division through Adventist Connect and offers a "View this website in another language" option for non-English visitors. In everything from its bilingual worship schedule to its homeless outreach to its Walk with a Doc mornings, Central lives out the motto at the top of its homepage: Love All, Serve All.