US Mennonite Brethren

(Jeff Nikkel family at left)  Trailhead Church in the Denver, CO area (Centennial) is now off of subsidy and is a self-supporting church!   They are known as a serving church in the community. Everysecond Sunday of each month, the church provides service in some capacity in the community in lieu of holding worship services. People ask them quite often, “Who are you guys, and why are you doing this?” The church has a good number of young couples, with several babies in the nursery.

 The church has 18 small groups that form the lifeblood of the ministry. 

Attendance is currently 100+. This is a joint partnership church plant of Mission USA and the Southern District Conference.

Note: Anne Griffin, a gifted musician, has recently accepted the task of worship leading and limited administrative duties at the church.

Jeff Nikkel wrote recently about how the church is beginning to really connect with the community:

So, here is a brief update on how things are going for Team Nikkel and for Trailhead, which, I hope, will allow you to share in our joy.  Outside of full-scale revival, I’m not sure how things could be going much better.
I am experiencing a personal intimacy with the Lord that is new and exciting.  Jonathan Edwards, the great 18th century pastor and theologian, has said, “There is a difference between believing that God is holy and gracious, and having a new sense on the heart of the loveliness and beauty of that holiness and grace.  The difference between believing that God is gracious and tasting that God is gracious is as different as having a rational belief that honey is sweet and having the actual sense of its sweetness.”  I think that I'm starting to taste the sweetness of the Gospel for what feels like the first time. While I have always "believed" what I live and teach is true, it's often been in the same way I believe that photosynthesis or the Pythagorean Theorem is true.  God has been producing in me more of an experiential type of believing, if that makes any sense, that is really exciting.  The result has been more courage, passion, and joy in my life and leadership.  And the difference that makes in terms of ministry is like the difference between pushing a car up a hill and pushing it down a hill.
In December we did a survey of our folks at Trailhead and found that 87% of people agree that they have a deep, spiritual friendship at Trailhead; 84% believe that they have grown spiritually in the last year; 91% feels that they have opportunities to serve at Trailhead that fit their giftedness; and the things at Trailhead that people are most excited about are: our focus on mission, our emphasis on authentic community, our worship gatherings, and our commitment to spiritual growth.
In the last two months, we have added something like seven families, which pushes us to around 110 people.  And it seems like we continue to gain momentum.  To keep this from becoming a “War and Peace–length” update, let me just say: giving has been up significantly, we’re hearing really neat stories of personal transformation, we are experiencing a growing sense of unity and mission, Lianne and I continue to have incredible relational opportunities with people who are far from the Lord, and I hope to celebrate some baptisms on Easter.
For at least the first year of Trailhead we didn’t see much “fruit” and tried just to be faithful in being the kind of people and to doing the kinds of things that God was calling us, praying that God would provide the fruit.  At times it was quite discouraging.  Now, when it seems like the spigot has opened, I feel like I’m scrambling just to hold on.  What a great problem!  I continue to be blown away by the number of people around us who are interested in the Gospel, especially if we can distinguish the Good News of Jesus from their understanding of religion and often their negative church baggage.  
I’m going to leave it at that.  Please pray for us as we try to figure out what youth ministry might look like, as we try to maintain some sense of balance and prioritize our personal health, as we equip leaders, as we deal with the messiness of  “doing life deeply with each other,” and as we continue thinking about what it means to be a church plant that plants other churches.  I dream that someday Denver would be different because of the impact that Trailhead would have. If the possibility of recruiting, equipping, and sending out missionary-pastors through Trailhead to plant Gospel-centered churches excites you, let’s talk!
Despite the infrequency of my updates, I hope that you feel like you have been, and continue to be, an integral part of what is happening through Trailhead.  I am absolutely convinced that we would not be where we are today without your faithfulness in prayer and generosity in giving.  And the same goes for tomorrow.
Keep your eyes on Jesus, our only Hope and only Treasure!

Trailhead has the use of a tremendous facility located on a major street (Broadway) which gets lots of traffic, the Bethany Evangelical Free Church.  They would like nothing more than to fill this facility on Sunday afternoons.  Would you pray with them and for them, that the impact in the name of Jesus in Centennial would be dramatic?

Trailhead Baptisms (Watch now—click on the picture!)

Trailhead Church Website