Community News
Stay connected with the heartbeat of LoveFirst Community and our mission to serve Loveland and beyond. This is where you’ll find updates, inspiring stories, and official announcements about our events, outreach programs, and partnerships. Press ReleasesCommunity StoriesPress Releases
Our press releases offer official statements and media-ready updates about LoveFirst Community’s initiatives, mission trips, and collaborations. These announcements help share our vision with the broader community and invite others to engage with our work.
Annual “Week of Hope” local mission service projects
Aug 9, 2025
LoveFirst Community recently finished several weeks of its annual “Week of Hope” local mission service projects. A total of 306 teenagers and their leaders from church youth groups served the Loveland area this summer as part of the annual effort organized by Group Mission Trips.
Youth came from 14 states: Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Kansas, Colorado, North Carolina, Nebraska, Tennessee, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Kentucky, and Iowa.
The youth worked with 16 local organizations to provide volunteer service across the area. The organizations include Brigit’s Bounty, Catholic Charities, the City of Loveland, Columbine West Health & Rehab, Elderhaus, FOCO Cafe, Food Bank of Larimer County, Habitat for Humanity, Hearts & Horses, HighPointe, Iron Horse, Lago Vista, Lemay Ave Health & Rehab, Mill City Church, Respite Care, and Weld County Food Bank.
Week of Hope missionaries donated an estimated 9,200 hours this summer, in addition to paying for their own expenses.
The youth stayed and worshipped in the LoveFirst Community center at 2000 N. Lincoln Ave. after their work day. The day-to-day Week of Hope operations were led by three visiting college-age women: Mary Becker (WI), Antonia Yang (WA), and Karis Lindstam (SC).
“This annual summer mission is a great way for youth to show love first in their actions and words. These youth and the churches who support them have given Loveland much-needed services this summer,” said Lee Sparks, LoveFirst Community’s Mission Team Leader.
LoveFirst Community is a new congregation formed by a merger of First Baptist Church and First Christian Church.
New LoveFirst Community Formed in Loveland
June 26, 2025
Loveland’s First Baptist Church (American Baptist Churches USA) and First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) were officially merged into a new congregation on Sunday, May 4 by vote of the members of the new church.
The new congregation will be known as “LoveFirst Community.” At the same May 4 meeting, the new congregation elected leadership and called its pastors. The Lead Pastor is Rev. Michael Stein, who had been Lead Pastor of First Christian for several years.
LoveFirst Community emerged after First Baptist and First Christian, who were both 145 years old, began to have conversations in Spring 2024. Both had a long history of worship and service in Loveland.
The new congregation plans to build on that foundation to embrace new mission opportunities along with its friends and partners in the community. Both congregations had similar theology and practices. Both congregations were willing to embrace combined identity, mission, vision and values.
The name “LoveFirst Community” was chosen to reflect the congregation’s renewed commitment to the first commandment of Jesus to love God with one’s whole being, and to love all neighbors as ourselves. The name also pays respect to the history of First Baptist and First Christian. The name reflects a commitment to reach out effectively to the community of Loveland. Finally, the name reflects a desire to create a new community in which all are welcome, especially children and their families.
The new congregation will continue to support the 50-year ministry of Community Preschool, which will continue to be housed at its Sixth Street Center, 1003 W. Sixth St.
LoveFirst Community will meet for worship on Sundays at 10:00 am at the Lincoln Avenue Center, 2000 N. Lincoln Ave.
Community Stories
From local service projects to worship celebrations, our Community News section shares the ways God is at work among us. You’ll meet the people making a difference, see the impact of our ministries, and get inspired to join in.
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