Welcome to Community In Christ. We’re glad you’re here! At Community In Christ, we are a warm and welcoming congregation dedicated to sharing the love of Christ with all. Whether you’re new to faith, seeking a community, or looking for a place to grow spiritually, you’ll find a home among us. Join us as we worship, learn, and serve together, building a vibrant community grounded in faith and love. We look forward to getting to know you!
Faith Community and Christian Discipleship
Looking for a faith community and Christian discipleship that helps you grow spiritually and make a difference?
At Community In Christ, we welcome people from all walks of life to join us as we follow Jesus, serve others, and live out the Great Commission together.
Grow in a Faith Community That Cares
At Community In Christ, our faith community is grounded in the love of Christ and the truth of Scripture. Whether you’re exploring faith or deepening your walk with God, you’ll find a place to belong. We’re committed to fostering relationships built on grace, trust, and the shared desire to live out our faith together.
Make a Difference Through Church Outreach
We believe the church is called to serve. From local food drives to global missions, our church outreach opportunities give you the chance to love your neighbor in real and practical ways. You can be the hands and feet of Jesus—right here in your own community.
Strengthen Your Faith Through Bible Studies and Baptism
Our Bible studies are open to everyone and designed to deepen your understanding of God’s Word. If you’re ready to take the next step, we also offer baptism classes to help you publicly declare your faith and commit your life to Christ. There’s no better place to grow spiritually than in a faithful, grace-filled community.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Explore Christian Discipleship Opportunities
Discipleship is at the heart of what we do. Our Christian discipleship programs include personal mentorship, small group Bible studies, and interactive workshops. These are designed to help you develop spiritual habits, understand the Bible more deeply, and grow closer to Jesus Christ.
Get Involved Today
Now is the perfect time to take the next step in your faith journey. Join one of our upcoming events, sign up for a small group, or volunteer in a ministry that speaks to your heart. At Community In Christ, we believe in empowering every believer to discover their gifts, live out their calling, and make a lasting impact.
Be a part of a faith community and Christian discipleship movement that’s transforming lives—starting with yours.
Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am Pastor Gary Witkop, and I love being a pastor, especially here at Community In Christ. I have been a pastor for 36 years and this is my second time here at CIC. I have a BS degree in Aquatic Biology. I have served churches in Kelso, WA., Watertown, SD., and here at CIC. Before accepting the call to return to CIC I served as the Regional Pastor to the Western Region of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.
My wife is Debra and she is a third grade teacher. She loves children and it shows. Together we hope we can serve the Lord as the pastor and wife here at CIC and lead this congregation to draw closer to Jesus and to the people God has put into our lives. Deb and I love to camp, do almost anything in God’s great outdoors, and be with our children and grandchildren.
I came to the Lord through Inter-Varsity in college and went to Lutheran Brethren Seminary. I believe that Jesus Christ has the solutions for all the issues of our heart and soul and is the One we come to for everything. I look forward to meeting you in our worship service or anytime.
Meet our team
Our dedicated leadership of pastor and elders brings together a diverse range of experiences and expertise, from seasoned spiritual leaders to respected mentors. Together, they provide guidance, support, and insight to nurture our community and foster spiritual growth.
Mark Timmier
Elder
Steve Thompson
Elder
Wyatt Timme
Elder
A Journey of Faith: The Story of Community In Christ
Community In Christ began with a calling—a calling answered by Luther and JoAnn Larson, who were sent by the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America (CLBA) Board of Home Missions to plant a new church in Arvada, Colorado.
The Larson family arrived on July 1, 1978, and just two months later, they held the church’s first worship service at Fremont Elementary School. What began as a small gathering quickly grew into something more.
Planting Roots
On September 11, 1979, the church was officially chartered as a congregation, with 20 voting members and 13 children. Shortly after, another family joined—bringing the total to 22 voting members and 16 children.
In those early days, Community In Christ met in various rented spaces, faithfully gathering wherever the Lord provided.
That all changed on December 22, 1981, when the church purchased property at 12229 W. 80th Avenue. After a season of remodeling, the first worship service in the new building took place on January 10, 1982, and the facility was officially dedicated on September 26, 1982.
Growing in Grace
God continued to bless the church with growth and provision.
In 1999, a major building addition was completed and dedicated in July. Over 200 people attended the first service in the new space on Easter Sunday of that year. The addition, which cost approximately $235,000, was a milestone in the life of the church.
In 2000, NexTel Communications donated a steeple, a visible symbol of Christ’s presence and a testimony to God’s continued faithfulness.
Faithful Shepherds
Throughout the years, several pastors have led the congregation with faith and integrity:
- Luther Larson (1978–1988, 1993–1995)
- Peter Bradford (1988–1989)
- Joel Backstrom (1990–1992)
- Gary Witkop (1995–2009, 2017–present; retiring August 2025)
- Jason Rogness (2010–2017) – now church planter in Parker, CO
- James Swanson – incoming pastor, beginning August 2025
Each pastor has contributed to the spiritual growth and direction of the church in unique and meaningful ways.
Elders Who Serve
Leadership has also come through faithful elders, beginning with George Kalmbach, elected as the first elder on January 1, 1980.
Other elders who have served include:
- Darwin Ohlin
- Dennis Whalon
- Richard Sorensen
- Wyatt Timme (elected February 5, 1995)
- Bill Poore (elected February 4, 1996)
- Steve Thompson (elected in 2009)
Today, Wyatt Timme, Steve Thompson and Mark Timmier continue to serve, offering steady leadership and spiritual care to the congregation.
Looking Ahead
From living rooms and rented schools to a permanent home, Community In Christ has always been more than a building. It’s a testimony to God’s faithfulness, and a community devoted to sharing the love of Jesus, making disciples, and growing together in faith.
The journey isn’t over—it’s just getting started. ask about our virtual bible-studies.
FAQs
What is your position on the Bible?
The Bible, both the Old and New Testaments, as they were originally given, are the true and divinely inspired Word of God. They are without error, both in their entirety and in every detail. Thus, they stand as our final and unerring authority for all matters of faith and conduct.
Who is God?
There is but one God, eternally existing in three distinct persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—united in one divine essence. This holy mystery reveals the fullness of God’s nature and His active presence in our lives.
Who is God the Father?
God the Father has made Himself known as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, to whom all creation and every creature are subject. His sovereign authority governs all that exists, reflecting His power and care over the world.
What is the penalty for sin?
God created Adam and Eve in His own image, intended for a loving fellowship with Him. However, they fell into sin through Satan’s temptation, severing that precious relationship. As a result of their disobedience, the entire human race became wholly depraved—self-centered sinners who stand in opposition to God. By nature, we are unable to trust, fear, or love Him, subject to the devil and condemned to death under the eternal wrath of God.
Who is Jesus?
Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son, is the visible image of the invisible God. To achieve our redemption, He took on full humanity, being conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Fully God and fully man, Jesus, through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death on the cross, secured our redemption. He rose from the dead for our justification in the very body that was crucified. Afterward, He ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father as our interceding High Priest. Jesus will return personally, bodily, and visibly to gather believers to Himself and to establish His millennial kingdom. He will judge the living and the dead, creating an eternal separation between believers and unbelievers. His kingdom will have no end.
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit, the divine Comforter, is eternally one with the Father and the Son. He convicts us of sin, leading to heartfelt confession, and regenerates the dead in sin, sanctifying and preserving believers in true faith. Through His guidance, the Church is empowered to fulfill the Great Commission, proclaiming the Gospel and comforting the weary. Let us yield to His leading, for in Him lies the path to righteousness and eternal life.
The knowledge and benefit of Christ’s redemption are delivered to humanity through the means of grace: the Word and the sacraments.
a. Through the Word of the Law, God reveals our lost condition, prompting repentance. The Word of the Gospel brings belief in Jesus Christ, justifying us and initiating our sanctification. The Holy Spirit awakens us to our sin, convicts us, and invites us to accept God’s grace, granting instant forgiveness and Christ’s righteousness. The Word then instructs believers in leading a godly life.
b. In Baptism, God offers the benefits of redemption, bestowing regeneration and newness of life on all who believe. The baptized are called to daily repentance and faith in Christ’s forgiveness. By grace, they receive the power to overcome sin and live anew. Infants are baptized, becoming members of the Church, and, through the Holy Spirit, they will come to acknowledge their sinfulness and confess their faith in Christ.
c. In Holy Communion, Christ gives His body and blood in, with, and under the bread and wine, declaring forgiveness and strengthening the faith of believers.
Eternal salvation is available to all through God’s grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone. This salvation has both an instantaneous and ongoing aspect.
a. Justification is God’s gracious act of instantaneously acquitting repentant believers and crediting them with Christ’s righteousness. At that moment, each believer receives a new, godly nature, and the Holy Spirit begins the process of sanctification. Human effort has no role in justification.
b. Sanctification is God’s continual work of spiritual renewal in the life of every justified person. Through the means of grace, the Holy Spirit reproduces Christ’s character in believers, guiding them to live out their new nature. He empowers them to resist sin and produces spiritual fruit and gifts. The process of sanctification will be complete only when the believer reaches glory.
The Church Universal comprises all who truly believe in Jesus Christ as Savior. A local congregation is a gathering of believers in a specific area where the Gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are rightly administered.
Confessing members of the local congregation include only those baptized in “the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” who confess personal faith in Christ, maintain a good reputation in the community, and accept the constitution of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. It is important to acknowledge that hypocrites may be present in the congregation—those whose unbelief is not evident to others.
The Lutheran confessions summarize biblical doctrines. We adhere to the following writings: the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds, the unaltered Augsburg Confession, and Luther’s Small Catechism.
For More Information Check out The Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America website.