We are in the fight of our lives. Everything’s on the rise. Inflation. Polarization. Mass shootings. Anxiety. Depression. Americans are left feeling that things are spiraling out of control and those in charge can’t fix them. We believe Jesus is the answer.

We are new in Castle Rock, so we’ve had the chance to meet many people and just ask their views. One neighbor said, “I grew up liberal. I’ve always been liberal. Don’t believe in God. But now I’ve come to believe that things have gotten so bad that we need some kind of moral standard that we can agree on. Things are out of control.” Then he asked, “You’re a pastor, how do you think it can be fixed?” 

I said, “It can’t be fixed with a system, we have to change the heart. The human heart is selfish from birth, we don’t teach our children to lie, but they do. That’s why we’re starting a church here, to help people find God. He alone can change people’s hearts.”

He answered, “Where’s your church? Maybe I’ll come visit you.”

I said, “It’s coming. But in the meantime why don’t you come over for a coffee. He said he’d love to.”

Another neighbor told us, “I’ve worked as a counselor in or local high school for over 20 years. I’ve never seen it as bad as it is now. The kids are struggling in unprecedented numbers. We don’t have enough people to help.”

We said, “We’ll help.”

Both of our neighbors are right. Even in Colorful Colorado, where people come for fresh air and what they think will be a comfortable life, they discover that escaping to the mountains doesn’t actually work. You can’t climb out of your depression by hiking, you just end up taking it on a walk and bringing it home with you. 

“Mental Health America’s 2023 State of Mental Health in America Report, Colorado ranked 45 out of 51 for adult mental health, meaning we have some of the highest prevalence of mental illness and lowest rates of access to care. A staggering 6% of Colorado adults are having serious thoughts of suicide, and over 34% of Colorado adults with mental illness reported being unable to receive the care they needed.”[1]

We are in the fight of our lives for the hearts and minds of people. Children are confused. Parents are hopeless. Teachers are helpless. Government is feckless. But Christ is still gathering an army who will fight back the darkness. And we are here to get as many as we can to sign up and stand up and advance the only kingdom that will not fail - the King of kings’ eternal kingdom.

So why Castle Rock?

Here a few statistics that inform our why…

• Castle Rock is the fastest growing city in Colorado. [2] Why would we not want to plant in the fastest growing city?

• Castle Rock is 30 miles south of downtown Denver, and 35 miles north of downtown, Colorado Springs. It’s positioned perfectly between these two world-class cities, and international airports that God can use for kingdom expansion.

• Castle Rock has a population of 80,000. According to the local government website it is “slated to grow to 130,000 to 150,000 residents” in the coming years. That’s 70,000 new residents that need Jesus and a life-giving church. [3]

• If Douglas County continues to grow at its current rate, it will add 90,000 new residents in the next 10 years. [4]

More about DREW…

I was born in Texas, but left at 8 months old and was raised as a missionary kid in Togo and Ivory Coast, West Africa. I came back and did my high school and university in the USA, married my high school sweetheart then moved to England to work on a homeless project. I then began working for a church in Bedford, England, called The King’s Arms, where I studied theology with the Newfrontiers network of churches. We moved to South Africa in 2003 and planted a church in Durban in 2006. In 2013 we moved to Glenridge Church, Durban, where I served as an elder and pastor. In December 2020 we moved to the USA, where I eventually became a pastor at Brave Church in Denver, CO. In September 2023, Brave blessed us to start a new church plant in Castle Rock called Rivers.

Some of my favorite authors include G.K. Chesterton, Charles Spurgeon, George Mueller, A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, Lilias Trotter, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Henri Nouwen, John Stott, John Wimber and Dallas Willard. I have many more, but those are my favorites who have gone on to join the great cloud of witnesses.

I have a Bachelors in Communication and a Masters in Organizational Leadership, but lean mostly on the Holy Spirt’s power to help me follow Jesus, become like him and do what he is doing. I believe our identity as his sons and daughters is our highest qualification.

More about MEGAN…

I’ve had the privilege of serving the church on three different continents. I love being in the nations and partnering with what Jesus is doing all over the world. It’s my greatest joy to see people encounter God and be set free to know him and make him known. 

I have a Bachelors in Biblical Counseling and have started a Masters in Clinical and Mental Health in order to work toward becoming a licensed counselor. My heart is to be a bringer of peace and to see hope restored to people with the love of Christ, especially vulnerable women and children. 

I grew up in Texas, got married at 20 and moved to England six months later, then to South Africa, and now we’re living back in the USA in Castle Rock, Colorado. Our journey, like everyone’s, has been filled with ups and downs. Through it all, Jesus continually brings us back to our identities as sons and daughters in him. That is the place we have to start and it’s the place we keep coming back to. We have five children: Jonas, Eden, Daia, Anya and Cayo. Anya and Cayo are on this ministry journey with us. Jonas, Eden and Daia attend Texas A&M University and serve at Antioch Church, College Station.

We also have a personal ministry page that gives you access to the books, videos and resources that we’ve created over the years.