Music is an important part of Front Range Christian Church’s ministry.

Lead pastor, Ernest Smith, teaches the application of God’s word to everyday life during a Sunday service.  When Ernest is not leading FRCC, he is cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, playing sports, or pulling for the Broncos who he has supported since he was eight years old.

By Patte Smith, photos courtesy of Rob Nelson and Front Range Christian Church

Ernest Smith moved his family to Castle Rock in 2013 specifically to organize Front Range Christian Church. With that goal in mind, he succeeded and celebrated a one-year anniversary of the church’s founding in February of this year.

Front Range Christian Church officially opened on February 3, 2014 with services at Mesa Middle School in Castle Rock.  “Our mission statement is ‘Helping people become intentional neighbors through knowing and following Christ.’  We strive to engage the community with a Christ-centered church and serve those around us,” said Smith, the church’s lead pastor.  “Our one-year celebration marked not only the year that has passed, but also all the great things God has done in our church and in our community.”

“We had an on-going celebration in our community with balloons and giveaways, including 500 delicious bundt cakes,” laughed Smith.  “Some folks received a celebratory and detailed document recounting the history of our past year, the community projects we were involved in, church events, how many coffees we served, and how many mints people ate – I told you it was detailed.”

The congregation is very involved in community service around the Castle Rock area and partners with 21 other churches throughout the U.S. that share Front Range’s vision.  From Assemblies of God to Southern Baptists, many of these fellow parishioners travel to each others’ churches to help and support them.  “Some Dallas teens joined our teens working at retirement homes and with special needs kids,” said Smith.  “We also had a group from San Francisco come here to help us in the community.”

Weekly, more than 500 people either attend church or visit the live.frontrange.org website that features video sermons, online chat, an online Bible, and upcoming events.  Parishioner Rob Nelson noted that Front Range has been a life-changing experience for his entire family.  “We have all grown in our faith and we love the authentic community and strong relationships we have developed in the church.”

Smith and his wife Sara, originally from Charleston, South Carolina, have been married for 12 years.  They have a five-year-old son, Wyatt, and a three-year-old daughter, Waverly.  Smith reminded, “We can’t forget the two dogs, Romeo and Pearl.”  Smith was part of the staff of a large church for 15 years.  “In 2012, my family and I sensed God calling us to start a new church.  After visiting the Castle Rock area, we knew God was moving us here and we wanted to be a part of that.”

The church plans to open another location in the Meadows neighborhood in September of this year.  “We will be one church with two locations,” said Smith.  “We focus on two main things – loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves.  Our goal is to be great neighbors and serve the community in and around the Castle Rock area.”

For more information, visit www.frontrange.org.