Colorado Christian Fellowship began as an idea – an idea that there could be a church where God’s grace, love and compassion were evident, a place where a person could be free to worship God in truth and freedom, a place where truth, holiness, purity and love are understood, taught and lived out in the lives of everyone – church leaders and members alike. Indeed, it was to be a move of God.
After coming to Denver in 1992, Phillip F. Smith, Jr. (Apostle Phil), was ordained as a local deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and for three (3) years served on the ministerial staff of Shorter Community AME Church. Later he served as the Associate Pastor of Lowry Community Christian Church. However, after many prayers, Apostle Phil heard from the Lord, that the church he and Sylvia, his wife, had been searching for, was inside them, and that it was time for that church to be birthed. In 1995 Apostle Phil graduated from law school and began his legal career, but the Father had other plans for the Smith Family.
Apostle Phil and Sylvia began Colorado Christian Fellowship (CCF) with 27 people. The first Sunday worship service was held on August 16, 1998, in the library of Harvard Square Retirement Community in Denver. Apostle Phil often shares that he and Sylvia kept asking the Lord when he was going to send the pastor for this new flock. But Father let him know that he was the pastor of this flock. By November 1998, the church had outgrown its little space and the young church moved to the auditorium of the Double Tree Hotel on East Iliff Avenue in Aurora.
The church began to take form, and Sylvia and Apostle Phil were joined by Quetta Keenan as the pianist and worship leader. The church’s first usher was Toussaint Redcross, and Phyllis Mitchell handled the church’s finances. Bible studies were held in Pastor Phil and Sylvia’s home; and the first CCF Board of Elders -Louis Materre, Steve Mitchell, Toussaint Redcross, and Phillip F. Smith- were appointed during the first months of 1999.
The church grew steadily as members invited friends, relatives, and co-workers. As the church continued to grow, it was evident that the auditorium would soon be too small. The church moved to leased space at Uvalda and Mississippi Avenue, in Aurora, in January 2000. By the end of 2000, the church had grown to approximately 250 members. It was during those years that we grew together at worship services, prayer meetings, pool parties, picnics, workshops, men’s and women’s retreats, and ministry gatherings. It was a time of discovering our purpose and mission as a body; and in 2001 Apostle Phil defined the mission of the church; with an emphasis on five-fold ministry. We were to become an equipping and sending church.
In 2002 we began our first capital campaign; however, the property subsequently became unavailable and we were again looking for a permanent home. In the meantime, we acquired additional space in Havana Park Place and relocated our administrative offices to our current location.
In 2003, Apostle Phil and Sylvia planted the seeds of our missionary outreach, Global Change Network, U.S.A., traveling to Cambodia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, England, and Italy. On April 9, 2004, our first class of 33 ministers, who were all trained by Apostle Phil, were ordained at CCF. Since 2004 we have ordained over 250 ministers, who are members of Global Change Network, U.S.A. We have also trained and equipped ministers of our affiliate, GCN, Southern Africa. Within the next couple of years, the Christian Vocational Training School (CVTS) was launched and continues to expand and prepare believers to fulfill their destiny.
As we have grown, God has expanded every area of the church. The ministries of healing and deliverance and care groups have become defining elements of CCF. CVTS, launched in 2006, continues to expand and prepare believers to fulfill their destiny. We have over 35 ministries and departments to meet the needs of the church and surrounding community.
In 2006 CCF found land on 6th Avenue and Piccadilly Road suitable for CCF’s future home, CCF Village. It is a vision from God that promises to move our congregation to a new level of faith and growth. CCF Village also positions us to influence our community and the world for generations to come.
CCF is built on a foundation of prayer, commitment, perseverance, love, obedience, trust, holiness, and more. As we continue to build on this solid beginning, there is no doubt that CCF will continue to be “A Place to Call Home.”