While there are many communities of faith across the United States and Canada that are creatively transforming their existing space to sustain their ministry, there are some that have the blessing of land to evolve their mission for their members and neighbors.
This is the case for Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
From the time 11 acres of land were purchased for the faith community by the Central Rocky Mountain Region in late 1993, Heart of the Rockies Christian Church (HRCC) had never intended to use all of their property for their own purposes—they always aspired to provide a place for city dwellers to cultivate a thriving and diverse community there instead.
Nestled between the Rocky Mountains and the eastern plains of Colorado, the church is located on a busy intersection in southeastern Fort Collins, CO. This year, their aspiration has become a reality.
And we supported their vision from the start, with our first loan funding the construction of the current church building 26 years ago, to today as we help HRCC enlarge and renovate that facility to accommodate a more robust membership and address handicap accessibility issues.
A vision for community and compassion
In 2021, we shared the story of how our technology grant helped HRCC provide both in-person and live-streamed worship services to its members.
But the bulk of our decades-long partnership has focused on supporting the contributions of HRCC to Heartside Hill, a project created to address the most pressing issue in Fort Collins—affordable housing—while ensuring that the community of faith properly maintains its aging place of worship at the same time. View a timelapse video of Heartside Hill’s construction.
Through capital campaign guidance from our consultant John Davidson and community development and construction advice provided by one of our Building and Capital Services Advisors, Jim Michel, HRCC was able to raise enough funds to reconfigure its church as it created fellowship and meeting spaces for its members and mission partners at the housing development’s community building. Meanwhile, they invested a portion of their building reserve fund in interest-earning Investment Notes with us.
Heartside Hill is a collaboration between HRCC, which donated 8.5 acres of its land to the project, and three faith-based nonprofit organizations: CARE Communities, Fort Collins Habitat for Humanity, and L’Arche Northern Colorado. Heartside includes 72 low-cost one-to four-bedroom units in six apartment buildings that are leased by CARE, nine single-family homes built by Habitat for Humanity in partnership with Poudre High School’s “Geometry in Construction” program, and two forever homes constructed by L’Arche to foster inclusive community among occupants with and without intellectual disabilities.
Supporting housing justice in the community
Since our last update in 2023, our ministry continues to walk alongside HRCC so that their vision of people building meaningful connections and a sense of belonging on their property is realized.
Last year, we provided a $375,000 loan to finance their share of the Heartside Hill Community Center, a multipurpose structure that is the site of the apartments’ clubhouse, after-school youth services, meeting spaces for local groups, and showers—the latter HRCC plans to use for “Be The Neighbor” mission trip groups that will come from across the U.S. The congregation co-owns the center with CARE Communities, which provides launchpads for home ownership to individuals and families making between 50-60% of the local average median income.
In August, HRCC celebrated the completion of the construction phase for the apartments and the community center, which are surrounded by playgrounds, outdoor gathering spaces, walking paths, community gardens, and abundant open space.
“It’s certainly exciting to see the project now, as we conclude the construction phase and enter the relationship stage with our neighbors,” says Sue Anderson, the church’s co-project manager for Heartside Hill. “We so appreciate the advice and support we’ve received from Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF) along the way. We couldn’t have done it without them!”
This fall, we provided another loan of $550,000 to expand the church’s 7,500 sq. ft. place of worship, which was already snug when congregants took occupancy in 2000. This funding will provide additional gathering spaces, family restrooms, a courtyard with a playground, labyrinth, and other features, new offices for its two pastors, and a facelift for the 25-year-old church building.
“It has been a pleasure to work with Jim Michel and the entire DCEF ministry in designing, raising local funds, and supplementing our resources through loans to accomplish God’s vision for Heart of the Rockies Christian Church of Fort Collins,” shares Gordon Thayer, HRCC’s treasurer, who also serves on Heartside Hill’s steering and building project teams. “The flexibility and support of DCEF have been essential to realizing the dream this congregation has cherished for 25 years!”
As HRCC looks to the future, it envisions the completion of the first two Habitat homes in December, with the L’Arche and remaining seven Habitat homes being completed between next year and the end of 2029. The construction of an Early Childhood Education Center connected to the community center remains on the horizon.
We inspire and empower congregations to create Holy Places where people connect with God, each other, and the community.
If your congregation is ready to thrive, transform, and serve more readily, then call or email your Building and Capital Services Advisor today.