It was a seemingly normal day at Riverside Baptist Church in downtown Denver. Pastor Rick Ferguson was meeting with others to pray about Arms Around Denver, his vision of reaching the whole metro area for Christ by planting satellite churches. The phone in the receptionist's office rang. A message was taken for Dr. Ferguson. On the other line was a seminary student who had called to tell his mentor that he sensed God leading him to plant a church. That seminary student was Joe Holman, founder and pastor of CFF from 1993-2000.
After graduation, Joe Holman moved with his wife, Denise, and their children to the north surburban area of Denver. They prayed about planting a church in Broomfield. God answered, providing them with enough money to devote their full-time energy to the beginning of the church, as well as the finances needed to buy supplies and pay the first three months' rent to Broomfield High School, where services would be held. They asked God to provide them with a core group of fifteen adults. Again, God answered. 15 adults joined the Holmans to help reach the lost and unchurched.
On October 24, 1993, Riverside Baptist Church - North (a.k.a. Riverside North) held its first service at Broomfield High School. God blessed the church with an unexpected 91 people present at their first worship service. The original founders' dream of reaching lost and unchurched people was being realized with approximately 75% of those first attendees coming from unchurched backgrounds.
In 1999, Riverside Baptist Church - North officially became Christian Family Fellowship. When the founding pastor, Joe Holman, was called to pastor another church, the people of CFF pulled together and reaffirmed their vision of reaching those who are without Christ! With the church deeply rooted in a purpose-driven model, they were able to stay focused on the purpose for the church's existence. In June 2000, the church called John Howeth to be their next pastor. Pastor John Howeth is committed to invest his life here through Christian Family Fellowship.
The future is bright and the best is yet to be! God can do great things through CFF as we continue to have a vision of reaching as many people as possible and making God known to them. We want to see people's lives made better by helping them know God better. Our focus continues to be bringing honor and glory to God, building up the church body, bringing people to Christ, and seeing people break free to become fully devoted followers of Christ. The history of Christian Family Fellowship is truly His story.
