West Bowles Community Church is a nondenominational community church on West Bowles Avenue in Littleton. It is known for three connected aims: connect with Jesus, connect with people, and connect people with Jesus. That rhythm reaches beyond Sunday worship into Bible-centered groups for every age, practical care ministries, and mission work in Denver, Peru, and Mexico.
From Columbine Hills to the Little White Chapel
The church officially began on September 21, 1985, at Columbine Hills Elementary as Family of Faith Evangelical Presbyterian. Several families gathered because they wanted to share Christ with the rapidly growing west side of Denver.
- 1986: The congregation moved to Chatfield High School and met there every week for more than five years.
- 1991: The church purchased the farmhouse that is its current property and changed its name to West Bowles Community Church.
- 1996: West Bowles was ministering to more than 1,000 people in three services in the little white chapel.
- 1997: The current main sanctuary and church building were built.
- 1999: The Columbine High School shootings deeply affected the church. Several youth-group students were at school, and one, Cassie Bernall, was killed.
- 1999-2001: The church experienced tremendous growth during this period and the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks.
- 2002: West Bowles was ministering to about 1,800 people every Sunday.
- 2003: In a mutual agreement, West Bowles and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church parted ways. It became a nondenominational community church.
- 2020-2021: The church continued through the challenges of COVID.
West Bowles remains proud of this past and emphasizes the future, with its story shaped by God's goodness, grace, mercy, and faithfulness.
Sunday Groups at 9, Worship at 10
For a first Sunday, the pattern is straightforward: groups meet at 9:00 a.m. and end around 9:45, while the main service begins promptly at 10:00 and wraps around 11:15. Groups meet in rooms around the church, and worship takes place in the main sanctuary. The 10:00 service is livestreamed on YouTube every Sunday.
A typical service includes powerful worship, a stand-and-greet opportunity for meeting someone new, and an engaging sermon. Sermon notes are available. The worship team uses both classic hymns and fresh new songs. Communion is part of the first Sunday of each month and is open to anyone who has placed faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. A few services each year, including Easter and Christmas Eve, are styled for the whole family.
- What to wear: There is no dress code. Shorts and a T-shirt, jeans and a polo, a suit, or anything else that feels comfortable are all welcome.
- Food and drink: Food, smoothies, and coffee drinks are available at the Gathering Place Café, and free coffee is available in the foyer. Visitors may bring food or drinks into the sanctuary.
- Past messages: The church maintains a video archive and podcast in addition to the Sunday livestream.
Little Hands Learn Big Bible Lessons
Children's programming is available during both Sunday hours for infants through fifth grade. At 9:00, a hands-on Sunday School class for ages two through fifth grade helps young children see, hear, touch, taste, and smell Bible lessons. At 10:00, Mini Church serves ages two through preschool in the Fellowship Hall with praise, activities, games, and a lesson. Junior Church serves kindergarten through fifth grade in the Chapel, where worship, skits or games, and large-group lessons lead into small-group discussions.
During the 10:00 service, sixth graders and older may sit with youth at the front left of the sanctuary or with their families. Upward Sports serves kindergarten through eighth grade and develops players mentally, athletically, spiritually, and socially. The church also offers summer VBS.
A Place for Middle School, High School, and College Age
West Bowles Youth Ministry meets Sunday at 9:00 in the Chapel for Bible Project videos and discussion. Jr. High gathers from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. for games, worship, a Bible message, and small groups. High School meets from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. with the same core elements, followed by dinner. A Thursday Bible study runs from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. with deeper discussion and prayer.
The youth ministry's aim is to help students grow deeper in faith, build friendships, discover who God is, learn to follow him daily, and live out their faith with joy.
Aspire College Ministry at Ages 18 to 23
Aspire gathers Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. for people ages 18 through 23. College enrollment is not required. The group focuses on deepening faith, building community, and navigating change, and a free meal is part of the gathering.
A Group for Every Season and Stage
At 9:00 a.m. Sunday, adults have seven groups with distinct formats:
- Family Life meets in the Dakota Room for discussion and fellowship. It also gathers for weekday men's and women's Bible studies and family activities.
- HomeBuilders meets in the Columbine Room for practical, Bible-based teaching about building strong Christ-centered homes. Single parents, couples, and others are welcome, with monthly activities included.
- Bible Roundtable meets in the Chatfield Room for laid-back, discussion-based Bible study and honest conversation.
- The Best Years Yet meets downstairs in the Music Room for senior adults who want to study God's Word and enjoy occasional events and fellowship.
- Open Door Class meets in the Gathering Place Conference Room behind the coffee bar for simple teaching, Bible study, and community.
- The Bible Project meets in the Chapel for video teaching and small-group discussion. It is open to people who are new to faith and lifelong believers alike.
- PurposeFull Season meets in the Library to explore well-being, purpose, and God's continuing call during the third third of life.
Women and Men Throughout the Week
MomCo, formerly MOPS, supports mothers from pregnancy through kindergarten age. Woman to Woman is a Bible study designed for busy women, with morning and evening sessions; the Wednesday groups meet at 9:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., with childcare for the morning and a light supper in the evening. Ladies Precept offers a relaxed study of Scripture from Genesis to Revelation.
Passion for the Word gathers men Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:15 a.m. for an interactive Bible study. Men of Valor meets Saturday mornings from 7:30 to 9:00 for fellowship, worship, and study.
Care That Walks Alongside People
The Care Ministry coordinates hospital visits, Communion for shut-ins, counseling, grief and loss support, one-to-one support, divorce care, and benevolence requests. Its goal is to offer care without losing sight of people who need it.
Stephen Ministry for One-to-One Christian Care
West Bowles' Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to people in the congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties.
GriefShare on Tuesday Evenings
GriefShare offers comfort, healing, hope, and encouragement to people who have experienced the death of a loved one. It meets every Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library on the Gathering Place main level.
Journey of Hope Cancer Care
Journey of Hope centers on bringing hope to patients, caregivers, family members, and friends affected by cancer. The ministry combines prayer, counsel, visits, and assistance with an emphasis on helping people understand cancer and respond with the hope God provides.
Give and Go: From Littleton and Denver to Peru and Mexico
West Bowles' missions approach is simple: give and go. Rather than only sending money, people who can travel take part directly, while those who cannot go can still participate by sending. The church shares the gospel through words and actions, including medical clinics, church buildings, houses, and community events.
Monthly Service to Local Needs
- Community response: Each month, West Bowles gathers particular items, serves meals, helps moms, mentors children, and responds to needs involving homelessness and special needs. A rotating monthly collection focuses on a specific item.
- Love INC: Since 2008, dozens of churches have worked through Love In the Name of Christ to provide volunteers and community resources. Free classes cover God-given potential, mental health, faith and finances, and healthy boundaries. Resources include food bank, rent assistance, shelter respite, mental health, and prepared meal information.
- Alternatives Pregnancy Center: West Bowles has partnered with Alternatives since 2016. The church has supported its work through baby bottle collections, diapers, baby clothes, gift cards, presentations, and other support for mothers and babies.
- ChannelMom: ChannelMom Media and Outreach loves, coaches, and encourages moms and families through media and outreach designed to share the love of God.
- Dry Bones: This ministry serves homeless teens and young adults in downtown Denver with resources, nutrition, entertainment, and friendships. West Bowles prepares and serves food for Dry Bones once a month.
- Whiz Kids: Volunteers provide weekly mentoring and tutoring for children who are struggling with school. Each student also hears a Bible-based lesson before leaving.
- All-Stars Club: This monthly Friday gathering serves children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Each three-hour event includes a volunteer buddy, adaptive sports, arts and crafts, karaoke, dancing, and a chapel service, while giving parents and caretakers an evening away.
Partnerships That Cross Borders
In 2003, West Bowles leaders visited Lima, Peru, beginning a partnership with Pastor Evert and his church. The relationship grew into ongoing support for a church and school they helped establish, including help with children's education.
Since about 2007, West Bowles teams have partnered with Missions Ministries to build homes in Juarez, Mexico. The annual trips last about four days and welcome people age five and older, including singles, couples, and families. No construction experience is required. Teams work with local crews to raise a 12-by-36-foot frame home on a concrete slab, side it, insulate it, finish the interior, install windows, and paint it. Community outreach accompanies the building effort and may take the form of a soup kitchen, blanket distribution, or activity with children at a local orphanage. West Bowles also supports short-term mission work in which young people teach Bible studies, serve communities, and prepare meals.
United on Essentials, Free on Secondary Things
West Bowles believes a healthy body of Jesus is united on essential issues and offers grace and freedom on secondary matters. Its governing principle is love, aligned with the new command Jesus gave in John 13.
- God: There is one Creator who is all-knowing, all-loving, and all-powerful and who exists as Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
- Jesus: Jesus is the eternal Son of God, fully God and fully man. He was born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for sin, rose from the dead on the third day, ascended to heaven, and will return in power and glory. He is High Priest, mediator, perfect sacrifice, and advocate.
- The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit dwells in every follower of Jesus to counsel, equip, empower, guide, and transform. Spiritual gifts are for service and the fruit of the Spirit is evidence of spiritual maturity.
- Salvation: Salvation is God's gift and comes only through Jesus Christ, who paid the ransom for sin and began the work of reconciliation. Trusting in God's work through Christ brings new life, freedom, eternal inheritance, and a public response of love through baptism.
- The Bible: The entire Bible is the authoritative, infallible word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and the final authority for faith and life.
- The church: The church is the body of Christ with Jesus as its head. Local congregations express it imperfectly by preaching and living the Word, pursuing purity and unity, making sacrifices for others, administering the sacraments with humility, practicing scriptural disciplines, and maintaining loving fellowship.
A Facility Built for Worship and Community Life
The main sanctuary, built in 1997, anchors a campus that also includes a mid-sized auditorium, several meeting halls, a library, conference room, Bistro, Gathering Place Café, and a full-size gym. The gathering spaces range from a 20-person library to an auditorium that seats 1,100 across two levels.
- The Main Auditorium seats up to 1,100 and accommodates large weddings, recitals, performances, and other major events.
- The Mid-Sized Auditorium seats up to 250 and supports plays, weddings, recitals, and events needing a compact stage.
- The Large Meeting Hall holds 160 with tables or 250 without them. Three adjoining rooms can be opened into one space or used separately.
- The Medium Meeting Hall holds 120 with tables or 180 without them and can be divided with a removable wall.
- The Small Meeting Hall holds 48 with tables or 75 without them, while the Bistro has a fixed setup for up to 75.
- The Library accommodates 20 to 25 and the Gathering Place Conference Room seats up to 30. The gym has a full basketball court, two regulation hoops, and four smaller hoops for children.
These rooms serve weddings, funerals, performances, meetings, receptions, and community events. Rentals must align with the church's mission and core values, require a facility host and certificate of liability insurance, and are not available on Sundays. Funeral and memorial services receive heavily discounted rates, and limited partial or full subsidies are available for registered nonprofit organizations whose missions align with the church.
The Rhythm Continues Through the Week
Past messages are available as videos and a podcast, while Realm giving and Easy Tithe make tithes and offerings available online. The West Bowles Connection arrives each Saturday with church updates, events, and ways to be involved. Look Again is a three-minute midweek email from Pastor Nathan that considers one Bible passage and an observation for the week. These ministries remain parts of one church, with West Bowles seeking to connect people with Jesus, connect with people, and connect people with Jesus throughout its community and beyond it.