A Church Built Around a Table on Austin Bluffs Parkway
Pulpit Rock Church gathers each Sunday morning at 301 Austin Bluffs Parkway in Colorado Springs. The congregation's greeting to newcomers - "Welcome to the Table" - is a description of how the church understands its own life. Around a table, they say, people share meals, conversation, prayer, laughter, and tears; around a table, the best kind of community is built. So much of what Pulpit Rock does is shaped by that conviction that the Table is no longer just a metaphor. It is the name of nearly every on-ramp into the church, from the First Table newcomers breakfast to the Family Table membership covenant.
The church has been part of the Colorado Springs community for decades. Executive Administrator Diane Stermer recently marked thirty-eight years on staff, and Senior Pastor Jonathan Cleveland has served the congregation in various roles since 2004. Located in the heart of the city, Pulpit Rock treats its geography as a calling: "God put us in the heart of the city to be the heart of the city." Colorado Springs is not just where they happen to be. It is the field they are trying to love, and it shapes the rhythm of everything they do.
Sundays at 9 and 10:30 in Two Buildings
Sunday mornings at Pulpit Rock follow a simple pattern. Two gatherings meet at 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM, each running about sixty minutes. Worship Services and Kids Ministry meet in the East Building, and Student Ministries meet in the West Building. Families with children are pointed to park and enter through the east-facing doors of the East Building, where the Kids Ministry staff greets each new face at the door. A Connection Center just inside the west entrance of the Main Building offers a free coffee coupon, answers to first-time questions, and help finding a seat.
Each service follows a familiar arc: a chance to sing or listen to music, prayer, teaching from the Bible, and a response. The teaching team is led by Pastor Jonathan Cleveland, with other members of the preaching team rotating through the pulpit. Services are livestreamed on YouTube (search "pulpitrock cos") and remain available afterward on Vimeo and as audio on the ReBible podcast through Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Stitcher. Sermon reflection guides are also posted for the current series.
The worship team on a recent Sunday included Abigail Cotner on vocals, Hannah Shaw on keys, Justin Adams on acoustic guitar, Nathan Lundberg on bass, and Collin Beisel on drums. Cindy Limbrick, the Worship Expressions Pastor, coordinates how the Sunday service flows, including stage design, and preaches on occasion.
Kids on Sunday Morning: Nursery, Seeds, and The Grove
Children have their own age-specific environments during both services. Nursery care welcomes infants and toddlers up to age two. Paid staff and volunteers care for more than twenty-five babies and toddlers every Sunday morning, with at least five volunteers needed for each service to ensure safe care. Toddlers are introduced to age-appropriate Bible story time, songs, art, prayer, and play.
Preschoolers ages three and four attend Seeds. Seeds builds their spiritual foundation around three truths they will know by the time they graduate to Kindergarten: God Made Me, God Loves Me, and Jesus Wants To Be My Friend Forever. Each hour weaves music, storytelling, small group discussions, video presentations, and creative activities together around one clear bottom line. A recent bottom line was "God is always with me," anchored by the memory verse Joshua 1:9: "God is with you wherever you go."
Children ages five through fourth grade attend The Grove, a high-energy hour of worship, art, games, connection, and story built around three truths drawn from Luke 2:52: I need to make the wise choice; I can trust God no matter what; I should treat others the way I want to be treated. The current series at The Grove is called "Frequency: Learning to hear from God," using the story of Samuel to teach kids that God wants to speak to them every day. Kids and Family Pastor Danny Shaw oversees both Seeds and The Grove, along with a roster of family events that support parents throughout the year. The kids ministry maintains its own newsletters for Seeds and The Grove, plus a Facebook group for each, and an Instagram account.
PRiSM: Student Ministry from 5th Grade Through High School
Middle and high school students at Pulpit Rock belong to PRiSM, the church's student ministry. PRiSM 56, for fifth and sixth graders, meets during the 10:30 AM service in the West Building. A "Hot Shots Crew" of students welcomes newcomers at a Welcome Counter as soon as they walk in. Older middle and high school students gather during the week for small groups, studies, and a steady calendar of events such as fall retreats, bonfires, and service projects.
The student ministry's aim is plain: to "awaken students to the incredible adventure that is life in Christ." Christy Penley serves as Church Culture and Students Pastor; Katie Brown leads the PRiSM 78 program. The student ministry produces a printable fall calendar, parent communication, and medical and consent forms for trips and events. Summer interns, most recently Alden Weathers and Ashlan Robinson, invest in PRiSM students during the summer months alongside the regular team.
First Table, Second Table, and The Family Table
The clearest way to understand Pulpit Rock is through its three tables, each of which forms a step toward deeper community.
First Table is for people who are just getting to know the church. Pulpit Rock buys breakfast; newcomers share a meal and hear the church's story. The idea is to keep things low-pressure and personal. First Table typically meets the last Sunday of the month during the 9:00 AM service. The church's philosophy is straightforward: "Sometimes you even need a place to belong before you believe, so wherever you are in your journey with God, you're welcome at our table."
Second Table is the next step. Second Table is a six-week experience with breakfast provided each week, table discussion, and time to go deeper in relationships. The church recommends Second Table for anyone who has been at Pulpit Rock for a few weeks or many years and wants to be in it rather than just attend it.
The Family Table is the membership commitment. People who take their seat at the Family Table say yes to being "formed into the image of Christ" and to discovering their place in the church's kingdom work. They commit to pray about how God leads them to invest their time, talents, and money, to look for ways to serve, and to develop community. The church, in turn, commits to regular communication and to inviting members into shaping what happens at Pulpit Rock.
Men's Basecamp and the Women's Renewal Ministry
The men's ministry at Pulpit Rock is called Basecamp, and its tagline sums up the spirit of it: "Build bonds that elevate - Find friends who motivate." Director Tim Kippel leads a steady rhythm of gatherings. Men meet on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM in Room 101 of the main building for a weekly study through books of the Bible. They also gather on Wednesday mornings at 6:00 AM at the University Village Panera Bread. On the last Monday of every month at 7:00 PM, Beers & Brothers brings men together for fellowship, often at a local brewery such as 105W Brewing. Basecamp maintains an email list and a private Facebook group, and walks through books of the Bible together - currently a series through Hebrews titled "Jesus: The Final Word." Recommended reading for men who want to keep growing between meetings includes books by Brennan Manning, Bob Goff, Mike Foster, and John and Stasi Eldredge, along with podcasts such as "And Sons," "Dad Tired," and "Fun Therapy."
The women's ministry at Pulpit Rock is called Renewal, and its welcome is plain: "Wherever you are in life, you belong - let's grow together in our relationships with God and build a strong, supportive community." Janae Collins directs Renewal. The ministry runs a year-round rhythm of Bible studies, retreats, social events, and small groups. The fall season includes a 52-week study through the Bible with Alabaster Co. called "A Beautiful Year in the Bible," a fall getaway at the Franciscan Retreat Center, and ongoing small groups. Janae Collins has written her own Bible study on anxiety, exploring characters such as Martha, Saul, and Moses to find peace in God's presence, and the women's ministry hosts studies of that book as well.
Renewal also runs Together Tuesday, a summer series of weekly park meetups for moms from across Colorado Springs, and seasonal events such as Bread, Broth, & Beyond, the Solace Retreat, and the Sisterhood Retreat. The ministry maintains its own monthly newsletter, an Instagram account, a Facebook group, and a curated Spotify playlist, and recommends a wide reading list that includes Annie F. Downs, Jess Connolly, Bob Goff, Ian Morgan Cron, Curt Thompson, Jennie Allen, Bri McCoy, Timothy Keller, and Jen Wilkin.
Marriage Ministry: Becoming One and Marriage Coaching
The Marriage Ministry exists to help couples get better at their own marriage rather than at marriage in general. Two main offerings anchor the work.
Becoming One is a ten-week class offered throughout the year. It walks couples through biblical principles of marriage intimacy, drawing on the book "Intimate Encounters" and covering topics such as identifying and meeting needs, communication, and healing unresolved hurts. Couples work on a plan to encourage lifelong intimacy in their marriage and family. The cost is $24 to cover books and materials, and upcoming dates are announced as they are scheduled.
Marriage Coaching is ongoing. A team of eight trained married couples at Pulpit Rock meets with other couples - married, premarital, or considering marriage - in a two-on-two format. The coaching couples are under the pastoral oversight of Jonathan Cleveland and include former military couples who can guide others through the unique challenges of marriage in that context. Coaches ask couples for openness, transparency, and a real commitment to investing in their marriage. The first meeting with a marriage coach typically happens on a Sunday morning at 9:00 AM.
Whole Care, Prayer, and Counseling Resources
Pulpit Rock's Whole Care ministry exists for the hard parts of life. The church is honest about the limits of what any one community can offer. "We don't have all the answers to everyone's struggles," the ministry explains, "but we do believe in providing resources that we pray will help you on your journey." To that end, Whole Care has assembled an extensive referral network of counselors and therapists across the Colorado Springs area. The list covers specialties that include marriage and family work, trauma, anxiety, EMDR, perinatal mental health, addiction, body image, sexual addiction, betrayal trauma, and grief. Many providers offer a free initial consultation. The list includes providers who accept Medicaid and reduced-fee clinics such as The Sanctuary Church Counseling Center, which serves low- and no-income clients.
A prayer team prays regularly for members of the congregation, and a crisis resource page is maintained for moments of urgent need. Parent resources are gathered through a partnership with Axis, and a curated reading list covers books on shame, transition, trauma, and spiritual formation. Books recommended by Whole Care include works by William Bridges, Curt Thompson, MD, Morgan Harper Nichols, Lysa TerKeurst, Charlie Mackesy, Dan Allender, and Steve Leder. Recommended podcasts include "Being Known" with Curt Thompson, MD, and "The Place We Find Ourselves" with Adam Young.
Sent: Love Your Neighbor, Tirzah, and the Ends of the Earth
One of the seven core values at Pulpit Rock is "We feel called to love the world." That calling shows up locally through Love Your Neighbor, the church's outreach arm directed by Patsy Woods. Love Your Neighbor builds and delivers bunk beds, complete with mattresses, bedding sets, pillows, and mattress protectors, to neighbors across Colorado Springs who need a safe place to sleep - children, teens, adults rebuilding their lives, and families starting over. The ministry runs an ongoing bedding drive each September to restock its shelves, and Pulpit Rock partners with CarePortal to connect volunteers with families in need. The ministry serves anyone in the community who needs a bed, with no restrictions on age or circumstance.
Internationally, Pulpit Rock walks alongside a small network of trusted partners. The most developed of these is Tirzah International, which runs a microenterprise small business training program for women in places such as Cape Town, South Africa. There, Minah leads a community center called Beautiful Gate. A recent cohort of twenty women, called Get Hope, completed the eighteen-month program and graduated; a new cohort of twenty-five has already begun. Pulpit Rock's women have visited the program in person, and the church shares stories of what God is doing through it. Tirzah also supports a sister program in New Delhi called Khushbu. Pulpit Rock's pastor, Jonathan Cleveland, also volunteers with The Exodus Road, a partner in the fight against human trafficking. The church sends short-term mission teams as well, including an annual Guatemala trip.
College, Singles, and the CHOP Community
The church runs a College ministry, and for adults in the twenties and beyond who are looking for connection, a group called CHOP (Community Happens on Purpose) brings together adults ages twenty-two to eighty for monthly gatherings. CHOP gatherings range from coffee and hikes to Bible studies, bowling, and bunk-bed builds for the Love Your Neighbor ministry. CHOP is not a singles ministry. It is simply people who have decided that "connection doesn't happen by accident. It happens on purpose." Recent CHOP gatherings have included lunch at Ivy Wild and a fall outing to a pumpkin patch at Venetucci Farm.
What Pulpit Rock Believes
The church's Statement of Faith centers on the historic Christian doctrines. Pulpit Rock believes in one God, Creator of all things, who exists eternally in three co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God the Father is the source and architect of humanity's salvation. The Son, Jesus Christ, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, lived a sinless life, died on a cross, rose from the dead on the third day, ascended into heaven, and reigns at the Father's right hand. He is the believer's Advocate and High Priest, and one day He will return to finish the work He started. The Holy Spirit indwells each believer, guiding, instructing, and encouraging them in life on earth.
The Bible, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments, is "God's revelation of Himself to humanity, inspired by God and written by humans under His divine guidance," and authoritative for faith and life. Humankind is created in the image of God and spiritually dead because of inherited sin and personal sin, but pursued and loved by God. Salvation is a free gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, "not based on merit, works, or ritual." The church is "the people of God unified and indwelt by the Holy Spirit," visible wherever believers gather and walk with God in community. Christian formation, in their words, is about living in the power of the Holy Spirit and "seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness," with a commitment to spiritual growth, holy character, and sacrificial love of others.
Beyond the formal statement, the church names seven values it tries to live by. They love God. They value courageous vulnerability. They want people to live free of shame. They value diversity and try to stay away from labels that divide. They live in the reality of their new identity in Christ as fully redeemed, not as "saved sinners." They are placed in the heart of the city to be the heart of the city. And they feel called to love the world. The church puts it this way: "We want to be a place where there's no need to pretend you have it all together. A place where you can be open about your doubts and struggles, heal from your wounds and discover the astounding reality of how Christ views you."
Giving, Serving, and Joining the Work
Giving is handled online through Church Center, where givers can set up one-time or recurring gifts, manage their profile, and view donation history. Text-to-give works by texting "PULPITROCK" to 44321. Giving boxes are placed throughout the sanctuary for cash and check gifts. The church keeps individual giving confidential - only the finance team sees donor information - and is happy to coordinate gifts of stocks, donor-advised funds, or RMDs. About fifteen percent of the general fund is directed to the church's missionary partners, and quarterly giving updates share how gifts are at work.
There is room for everyone to serve. Pulpit Rock's serve team includes openings in Kids Ministry (Nursery, Preschool, and Elementary on Sundays), Students (PRiSM 56 on Sundays, middle school and high school on Wednesdays), Adults (Small Group Ministry, Marriage Ministry, and Women's Ministry), and Church Life (Hospitality, Worship, Tech and AV, and Building Services). The Hospitality Team exists to make people feel valued and connected on Sunday mornings. Mary Hopper, the Hospitality Director, makes sure there are donuts in the Gathering Place, which, she notes, is very important.
Staff and the Elder Board
The Shepherding Team is made up of Senior Pastor Jonathan Cleveland, Staff and Leadership Pastor Kyle Collins, Executive Director of Operations Adria Robinson, and Church Culture and Students Pastor Christy Penley. The wider staff includes Danny Shaw as Kids and Family Pastor, Cindy Limbrick as Worship Expressions Pastor, Rowland Smith as Missional Culture Pastor (who also helps oversee The Pando Collective, a micro-church network launched and supported by Pulpit Rock), Caitlin Garrett as Formation Director, Katie Brown as PRiSM Program Director, Patsy Woods as Connections and Love Your Neighbor Director, Janae Collins as Women's Ministry Director, Tim Kippel as Men's Ministry Director, Tiah Ciganek as Communications Director, and Mary Hopper as Hospitality Director.
The Elder Board is led by President Allen Tate, Vice President Mark Stephens, and Secretary and Treasurer Brian Plaisted, alongside Erin Ahnfeldt, Pete Bressler, Tedd Cassidy, Jonathan Cleveland, Kyle Collins, Cory LaPlante, Christy Penley, Lacie Phillips, Doug Roth, Asher Tuggle, David White, Jen Whitmarsh, and Pam Zicker. Pastoral concerns can be sent to elders@pulpitrock.com.
Two Sunday morning services, a livestream on YouTube, kids ministry in both hours, students who meet on their own, men and women who gather throughout the week, marriages being coached, neighbors being given beds, women in South Africa being trained in small business, and a Table that keeps getting bigger. Around a table, Pulpit Rock Church keeps gathering.