THANK YOU!!!!!
Reaching our 75th anniversary is a testament to the generations of faith, leadership, and community that have shaped our church family. Thank you to everyone who took part in celebrating this milestone with us. To honor our journey, some of our former pastors and members have written in with reflections, memories, and prayers for our congregation. We invite you to read through their letters below and celebrate those who helped shape our story.
Congratulations and Blessings to Lakewood Church of The Nazarene from Pastor Scott & Kelli Simons!
Hello all our Lakewood friends!
We have such fond memories of the good people of Lakewood during my 4 years as Pastor! I think back to great events like the Luau Sunday, Trunk n' Treats and Fall Harvest Festivals, Christmas and Easter services, and getting to know the stories of the families there, especially those who had been at Lakewood for decades. We connected with several new students through outreach to Colorado Christian University and started some young adult ministries. It was in July of 2022 that I officiated our son Daniel & Lauren's wedding in the chapel on a very warm summer day! Our family loved living in the parsonage and connecting with the community through youth sports and local schools - Joel at Lakewood HS and Lukas at Slater Elementary. It was always special to walk the campus and think about its beginnings as the District campground.
I also recall the obstacles we overcame together as we partnered to get through Covid and the many good friends we said goodbye to in the 38 Memorial services we coordinated. We brokered the end of our contract with Victory ministries, and welcomed partnerships with the school and other local church groups. I recall working with our realtor to guide quite a few tours of our building as we sought creative ways to reduce debt and create income streams to facilitate ministry. During Covid, Kelli & I got to visit many of our people at their homes through filming "front porch fellowship" videos when we couldn't meet at church in person. I'll always remember that first Easter Sunday in 2020 when I preached the sermon into a camera in an empty chapel, but with a cardboard and paper "empty tomb" that Lukas and I crafted as a backdrop. So glad those days are behind us!
We pray for God's rich blessing on this church, staff, and congregation going forward, and that this Anniversary event is a great time of reminiscing but also resetting the course forward. The neighborhood around Lakewood Nazarene is constantly evolving, but the message of the Gospel is always relevant and life-changing.
Happy Anniversary Lakewood Church!
With our love and appreciation,
Pastor Scott & Kelli Simons and family - Caleb, Josiah, Daniel, Joel & Lukas
Greetings in Christ Pastor Brian and Pastor Sarah Troxell and Lakewood Church Family:
Congratulations as you Celebrate 75 years of Ministry to the Lakewood community. We were blessed to be part of those 75 years of ministry as your lead pastor from July 1998 through October 2002. Those were good years for us as we saw God at work among us in a variety of ministries. We were blessed to have our son, Jeremy, and his wife, Roberta as part of our congregation for about 6 months as Roberta completed her clinical rotations in Denver. A few highlights of our ministry time in Lakewood:
1. Easter special- “Stations of the Cross” with the leadership of Patty Murphy and Jim
Piper. Lots of Lakewood Naz participation and an amazing outreach to the community.
2. Building Expansion- a gymnasium along with a school addition. The support of the church people made this project a reality by prayer, financial giving, and construction workers. We remember a few faithful and consistent “building” leaders: Vernon Pierce, Steve Longley, Carl Cook, and Don Bechtold. The Lakewood Christian Academy principal, Jane Young was an encouraging supporter for the school which would provide additional needed classrooms.
3. Two Worship Services- Our visionary church board felt the need to begin a second
worship service that would reach a young generation as well as Lakewood’s unchurched
population. Jason Staudinger led the music for our Saturday evening worship service. It
was a vibrant and dynamic growing service. The worship leader, Rev. David and Becky
Erwin led the Sunday morning worship service. He brought an appreciation for traditional
worship to Lakewood. He often included community orchestra personnel in the worship
experience.
4. Christmas Services for the church family and community- Lakewood has long been known for their music through Christmas Cantatas using multi vocal and instrumental
presentations along with drama and “reader’s theater.” The congregation enjoyed being
part of this generational ministry. The Early Childhood ministry reached out to include
many families through their Live Nativity each Sunday morning in December following the
worship service. Those little actors always brought joy to Christmas.
As the pastor it was a privilege for me to share in the growth of our church with new believers and incorporating their personal testimonies in our services along with baptisms.
As we reflect on our ministry years at Lakewood Church of the Nazarene, we give God thanks for His many blessings and for the friendship that we still treasure today.
We would have loved to have joined you for your 75th Anniversary Celebration but the dates fall on the weekend of our youngest granddaughter’s, Sophia, State Swim Meet in Boise, Idaho. She is a high school senior this year. Know of our thoughts and prayers as you gather to worship on November 8th .
Love and Prayers from Clarkston, Washington, Pastor Bill and Janet Carr
GREETINGS AND CONGRATULATIONS LAKEWOOD CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE FROM BOB AND CAROL BROADBOOKS:
Carol and I received the announcement concerning the 75th Anniversary. Thank you for the invitation. Of course we always enjoy visiting Lakewood church. We have great memories of our time there.
Our first church out of Seminary was the Montrose, CO church. One summer, during our time there, the district assembly was held at Lakewood. I was ordained at the Lakewood altar in 1978.
In 1986, I was amazed to be invited by the then Colorado District Superintendent, Jim Diehl, to be the pastor of the Lakewood church. For four years I had the privilege of preaching in the same sanctuary where I was ordained.
God blessed Carol and me with the privilege of serving the wonderful people of Lakewood. During those years, we enjoyed their kindness and support. But most of all we enjoyed the sweet presence of the Lord and the joy of watching Him transform lives.
Of course, we would love to be at the celebration but I am not certain that our schedule will permit it. We will see!
God bless you,
Bob Broadbooks
GREETINGS FROM CHERYL BROWN
Thank you for your letter with information regarding the Lakewood 75th Anniversary. Sounds like fun and I will be happy to attend!
My journey at the Lakewood Church of the Nazarene started when I was 16! My parents started attending there on the recommendation of my piano teacher. Little did I know then that she was an aunt to my future husband, Wayne Brown!
Wayne and I both graduated from Northwest Nazarene College and were married at Lakewood by Bob Snodgrass.
I began working in Children's Ministries teaching Caravan under the direction of Ford Hubbard. When Ford left, I then became the Director of Children's Ministries in the eighties. I worked as a volunteer until 1991 when I was hired part time as Children's Pastor when Bob Snodgrass returned for a second term!
My responsibilities included staffing the Nursery, recruiting Sunday School teachers from Preschool through Sixth Grade, directing Children's Church, Sunday night programs and Wednesday night programs. In addition, I coordinated Caravan programs and Bible Quizzing events. My favorite times were running the Fall Festival every year to provide an outreach program as an alternative to Halloween. All of the adult Sunday School classes were responsible for a fair booth for kids to earn candy! And all of the Youth Group would also help out with food and snacks! It still is one of my favorite memories!
I continued the program initiated by Ford called High Country Adventures. Each week in the summer months, I organized outings using the church vans and many volunteers! We went miniature golfing, to Elitches, to Water World, to the Zoo, to Museums, to Boondocks, and the list went on and on! Such fun times and happy memories! Each summer also included a Vacation Bible School, sometimes indoors and sometimes in the local park to include the community.
In 1994, I was hired as the full time Children's Pastor, so I quit substitute teaching and I was able to concentrate fully on ministry. During this time, the new addition was built which included the gym and an education wing that would house the school, Lakewood Christian Academy.
As I am reminiscing, I realize that I am rambling, so I will now stop! I loved my time as Children's Pastor and will always cherish those memories!
Thanks for the opportunity to remember those special moments!
Cheryl Brown
GREETINGS FROM GREGG AND ROBIN COUNCE
I just received your invitation for the 75th anniversary of Lakewood CON. How fun that will be to reunite with friends from past years of ministry. I have another ministry obligation to attend to on that very weekend in Oklahoma, so I will be unable to attend.
If I remember correctly, I served at Lakewood CON from 1996-1999. I served with David Phillips and Bill Carr during those years. I currently serve in Sun City, AZ and hope to retire in the next 7-10 years.
Blessings to you and yours.
Have a good day!
L. Gregg Counce
Worship & Welcome Pastor
GREETINGS FROM MARK & JACQUE CORK
We received your note about Lakewood's 75th anniversary, and unfortunately, we won't be able to attend. Jacque will be in India on a work-related trip. We were at Lakewood from 1986 to 1988 — I was the Minister of Music & Communications. During our tenure, we launched the Christmas production, "Christmas Greetings from our House." I believe that continued after we moved to Phoenix, but I'm not sure for how long. Also during our time, we developed The Living Cross production for the Easter season.
We're sorry we can't be there in November. Congratulations on 75 years. What a milestone!
Thanks for reaching out to us,
Mark Cork