Doug Inglish – Granby, Colorado … In the early 2000s, the Seventh-day Adventist church in Granby, Colorado, officially closed. But in the years since then, a little at a time, church members from various places moved there for work, retirement, or other reasons. They came from other parts of Colorado, other states, and even other continents, with one member coming from Nigeria to make a life for himself in the Rockies.
Being so remote from the nearest churches, they tended to worship at home, often viewing a worship service on Hope Channel or some other provider. None of them knew much about the presence of any other Adventists nearby.
That began to change over the last couple of years. As members made occasional trips to distant churches, they heard about the possibility of someone else living in their area. For Tad and Michelle Long, it was enough to encourage them to do something about it. Visiting the Estes Park Church, all the way on the opposite side of Rocky Mountain National Park, they made acquaintance with elder and Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) pastor Rex Bell.
Bell and his two brothers have a long history in Granby. Their parents helped establish the church there, and they spent much of their childhood in and around the mountains of Grand County. There could not have been a better advocate for finding a way to put a light in the community. With his encouragement, they put out fliers all over the county inviting people to a study of the Book of Revelation. This led to the discovery of five other local Adventist residents, in addition to a couple they already knew who live there part time.
Tad’s brother and elder, Robb Long, is a pastor and evangelist who served in several conferences and is currently the Ministerial director of the Indiana Conference. It did not take much persuasion for him to agree to come to Granby and hold meetings as part of the North American Division’s Pentecost 25 initiative.
“The first blessing to come out of the meetings is that it brought together about a dozen Seventh-day Adventists who live in the area,” commented Doug Inglish, RMC vice president for Administration. “They are meeting regularly for church services and getting to know one another. No longer do any of them wonder if it’s true that other believers are around, they now know it and are doing something about it.”
The congregants were joined in celebration of this by Robb Long and his wife Chris, Bell, and Inglish.
“The second blessing is that seven people who knew nothing of our church came the first night,” Inglish continued. “Not only do all seven continue to come, but they have also been joined by three more! The meetings are still going on, so please pray for the Lord to work His will through them.”
Inglish remarked on a “third blessing” that happened December 6 when they gathered for a meal and worship service. Following an encouraging message from the Bible about the effectiveness of prayer led by Tad, Inglish talked to them about officially forming as a group within the Rocky Mountain Conference.
“There are still some steps to take in the process, but the day ended with a handshake agreement that they could represent themselves as a Seventh-day Adventist Church, so that the process of recognition and the status as a group rather than a full church yet would not be confusing to seekers who come to learn about God and about what the Bible teaches us,” informed Inglish.
And what they chose to call themselves is the Grand Valley Seventh-day Adventist Church. They wanted a name that would not limit them to one community but would imply an invitation to all within the immediate area. Other actions that day included identifying a group leader, a treasurer, and a communication leader.
“We are beyond excited to see where our God leads with this endeavor!” says Tad. What began for Him and Michelle as a four hour round trip a couple times a month to the nearest church, and longer in winter, has already resulted in bringing together other Adventists who didn’t have that option, and now is connecting them with “souls who are looking for truth.” There is strong hope for the future in what seemed to be a dormant territory.
Inglish reflected, “Though the church closed a couple decades ago, it is clear that the Lord’s work did not end in Granby and the surrounding area. He always had believers there, and He always had a plan.” As Bell says, “What a joy it will be when we get to the Kingdom and tell those who built the previous church that the work was reestablished! The light never went out in Grand County.”
—Doug Inglish is the RMC vice president for Administration. Photo supplied.
