A Family Following Christ on Meadowlark Avenue
Meadowlark Church of Christ gathers on Meadowlark Avenue in south Fort Collins, just minutes west of the Colorado State University campus. The congregation describes itself as "a family of Christ followers striving to glorify God, share Christ and encourage one another," and the welcome on the door reads the same way: "Everyone is welcome." Meadowlark makes no claim to perfection. Members are honest about their struggles, content to grow together, and committed to rooting their lives and teaching in the Bible.
The church family sums up its heart this way: "We are a church that deeply desires to be a family to one another. Above all else we want to strive to follow Christ's example in humility. We do not pride ourselves in having yet arrived at all, but continually want to grow deeper in our relationship both with our God and with one another." That posture shapes everything from the pews on Sunday morning to the missionaries supported around the world.
Sunday Mornings: Worship and Bible Class
Sunday begins at 9:30 a.m. with worship, followed by Bible class at 10:45 a.m. Both are held at the church building at 2810 Meadowlark Avenue, and both are livestreamed on YouTube for those who cannot attend in person. As a Church of Christ, the congregation practices a cappella singing, an emphasis that comes through at events like SongFest, where worshipers gather to learn their harmony parts and then bring that fuller sound into Sunday morning worship. SongFest workshops, led by Keith Lancaster, are designed to help every voice find its place in congregational music.
Children's Bible classes, youth gatherings, and a children's worship time run alongside the adult assembly so that the whole family learns together. Visitors are greeted with the church's signature welcome: "We don't pretend to be perfect and don't expect you to be either. We'd love it if you joined us for worship or to study God's Word!"
Rooted in God's Word
Bible teaching is the rhythm of life at Meadowlark. Pulpit Minister Geoff Dunn has walked the church through book after book: Daniel, the Psalms, Matthew, Acts, 2 Corinthians, Philippians, James, Hebrews, Revelation, and more. The sermon archive on YouTube stretches back years and includes standalone messages from guest speakers like Gary Richards, Jim Mueller, and Phillip Steyn. Brad Morrow, the College Minister, also preaches regularly, taking his turn through series like 2 Corinthians, Philippians, James, and the "Questions God Asks" study.
Series like "Lenses" (How We See Church, the Bible, Ourselves, and Home), "The Big Picture" overview of the New Testament, "Reason to Believe" on faith and science, "The Feasts and the Messiah" on Old Testament festivals and their fulfillment in Christ, "The Heart of Worship" on the Psalms of Israel, and "The Servant Shepherd" the road to Bethlehem all tie Scripture to everyday Christian living. Other studies have taken the congregation through the book of Daniel chapter by chapter, the names of the Messiah, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the songs of Christmas, the theology of heaven, and "The Gift" sermons on hope, peace, and new birth.
Missions Far and Near
Meadowlark's missions support stretches around the world. Don and Cindy Roehrkasse have served in Hildesheim, Germany, for more than 25 years, growing a strong congregation there while mentoring smaller churches across northern Germany, directing annual camps and retreats for Christians and non-Christians, and leading parenting workshops. They serve alongside teammates Kyle and Susan Bratcher, and Meadowlark has walked with the Roehrkasse family for decades.
In Catacamas, Honduras, the church partners with the School of the Good Samaritan (Kingdom Kids Honduras), a school serving children who would not otherwise have access to education. The school provides a Christ-centered education from kindergarten through sixth grade and works through a full Bible curriculum so that by graduation each child is prepared to commit to Christ. In 2018, a part-time campus minister was hired to walk alongside the children's families and teachers. Meadowlark members have visited the school, videoing classroom lessons and a bilingual sermon given by Benny Baker with a Nicaraguan translator.
The church also supports Eastern European Mission. Since 1998, the "Million Dollar Sundays" campaign has supplied Bibles and Bible study materials to schools in Ukraine and Russia. As of 2014, materials have reached 14,945 schools with more than 3.1 million students enrolled, plus 27 universities and 570 libraries.
Rams for Christ at Colorado State
Just down the road from Meadowlark Avenue, Colorado State University has its own outreach through Rams for Christ (R4C). The campus ministry connects the church to students during a season of life when many young people drift away from church. Brad Morrow, the College Minister, leads the effort. He came to Fort Collins in 2014 with his wife Taryn, an elementary education graduate, after several years of youth ministry in Baytown and Grapevine, Texas, and a B.A. in Youth and Family Ministry from Lubbock Christian University.
Youth and Children
The youth ministry at Meadowlark is built to last beyond graduation. Leaders are candid that many youth groups see half their students fall away after commencement. Meadowlark's stated aim is to "present a gospel that fleshes itself out in the lives of teens and instills in them a hunger for God that will carry them through the wilderness journeys that lie ahead," fostering "a deep and lasting connection with Christ, with one another, and with the Church at large, within an atmosphere of fun and safety." Youth events include fun trips, lock-ins, and camps, but the deeper aim is a lifelong walk with Christ.
Children's ministry offers weekly Bible classes, a children's worship time, and seasonal programs such as Vacation Bible School. VBS is hosted each summer and is free for kids age 5 through incoming sixth grade, running mornings with Bible-learning activities, songs, teamwork games, crafts, and snacks. Parents are encouraged to extend Bible learning at home with resources like the D6 family devotional app and Ministry-to-Children crafts and lessons.
Northern Colorado Christian Camp
Every summer, the church sends its young people to Northern Colorado Christian Camp (NC3), a week-long summer camp for third through tenth graders at Table in Wilderness in Centennial, Wyoming. NC3 is staffed entirely by volunteers, and Meadowlark is always looking for counselors, cooks, and teachers to serve for the week. Campers spend mornings in deep, age-appropriate Bible study and engaging worship, with afternoons full of mountain hikes, crafts, and outdoor fun like a climbing wall with a zipline. Adult volunteers can register their own campers early for a guaranteed spot, and graduating tenth or eleventh graders can apply to serve as Junior Staff.
Homeless Ministry with Only Son
Out of Meadowlark's care for its city grew Only Son Ministries, a homeless ministry that connects church members to those living on the streets of Fort Collins. The church lists Only Son among its ongoing partnerships alongside its far-flung missions work, and the homeless ministry is one of the ways Meadowlark puts faith into practice in its own backyard.
Life Groups and MomCo
Life Groups meet in homes across the area for all ages, giving churchgoers a chance to build community, develop deeper friendships, and welcome visitors into the church family. Anyone interested is invited to contact the church office to be connected to a group.
MomCo brings together mothers with kids of all ages on the first Tuesday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church building, with free childcare provided. On the third Tuesday, the group heads out for Moms Night Out at a rotating venue. The year's theme, "Wild Hope," invites mothers to step into uncomfortable places together and find the clarity and vitality that hope can provide.
Shepherds and Staff
Geoff Dunn and his wife Melinda moved to Fort Collins from the Austin area in 2012 and now serve as the pulpit family. Brad Morrow serves as College Minister, walking alongside both the church's youth and the Rams for Christ campus ministry. Four shepherd couples care for the congregation and help set its direction: Kyle and Liz Berry, Milt and Marci Brown, Bud and Jana Frei, and Gary and Karen Richards.
Sermons Online and Giving
Sermons are archived on YouTube, and the live Sunday morning stream can be viewed at the church's livestream page. Giving is available through the church's online giving portal, and donors can use the memo field to direct gifts to specific funds. Those wishing to give to a fund not listed online are invited to contact the treasurer.
Office and Visiting
The church office at 2810 Meadowlark Avenue is open Wednesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. On Mondays and Tuesdays, voicemails and emails are monitored from 8 a.m. to noon. Visitors can join the church family for worship at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday and stay for Bible class at 10:45 a.m., or connect through the sermon archive and livestream on YouTube.