About Us
We believe that Christ died for our sins, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and has sent his Spirit to live in our hearts and lives. The Third Christian Reformed Church bases these convictions on both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible. Our theology is further summarized in the following confessional standards: the Apostles' Creed, the Heidelberg Catechism, the Belgic Confession, the Canons of Dort, and the teachings of John Calvin. As a church our highest calling is to proclaim the good news of salvation by grace in our worship services, then to live lives of thankfulness to God by providing opportunities for spiritual growth and by reaching out to our world in love and mercy.Our Staff
Sam PerryMinister of Worship
Dave De Ridder
Minister of Discipleship
Tom Draayer
Minister of Pastoral Care
Kelly Herrema
Ministries Coordinator
Linda Schaer
Administrative Asssistant
A Brief History
With a nucleus of 81 families, the Third Christian Reformed Church was organized in 1952. From that beginning the church has grown to a membership of over 800. There are ten Christian Reformed churches in the Denver-Boulder area, including a Cambodian mission church and one in the Sun Valley district of our city.The Christian Reformed denomination was founded in 1857 by a group of Dutch immigrants who settled in the west Michigan area. The denomination in the United States and Canada, now more.
A Narrative History
1946 was a year of returning veterans, growing families, and full churches. Crowded conditions also existed in the First and Second Christian Reformed Churches of Denver. Their members ultimately recognized that forming a third congregation would be the best solution. On December 2, 1951, at the First Christian Reformed Church under the chairmanship of Rev.An inaugural worship service was held in August, 1952, at the Denver Christian High School at the corner of South Pearl and East Evans. On September 19, 1952, a committee of Classis Rocky Mountain organized The Third Christian Reformed Church with 81 charter families. Rev. John Zwaanstra was installed as pastor on January 23, 1953.
The Denver Christian High School library was soon outgrown as a place for Sunday worship services. The Denver Christian gym at East Florida Avenue and South Clarkson Street, became our next worship meeting place, followed by an even larger space at Grant Junior High School on South Washington Street.
Land for the present site was purchased in February, 1953. Soon after, construction of the parsonage was begun. It was built primarily by volunteers from our charter membership. Construction of the church building began in September of 1954, and by June, 1955, the building was complete and the dedication service held.
After eleven years at Third, Rev. Zwaanstra accepted a call to Burnaby, B.C. Canada in 1964. The same year Rev. Kermit Rietema was called to be his replacement. It was during this time that our inner city mission project in the Sun Valley community had its beginning. The church and parsonage were built there at Decatur and West Holden Place.
Rev. Rietema accepted a call to the Holland, Michigan, Maranatha CRC in 1971, and in 1972 we extended a call to Rev. James R. Kok. Soon after, Ron Nydam joined the staff, first as an intern and later as a full time pastor. He and Rev. Kok formed the first team ministry at Third Church.
In 1977 the sanctuary was remodeled and a balcony constructed to allow for more seating. A major addition to increase the number of classrooms was also completed.
Rev. Nydam retired as a full-time pastor in 1984 and began Pastoral Counseling of Denver, an agency of Christian counseling. As his replacement we called Rev. Wendell Meyer. He served the church until 1988 when he accepted a call to Calvary CRC in Minneapolis. That same year a call was extended to Rev. Tom Draayer to serve as co-pastor. This was also the time that the organized Cambodian ministry began holding services, first in the Sun Valley church building and now in their own facility on Helena Street in Aurora near the junction of I-70 and I-225.
In 1990, following nineteen years of service to Third Church, Rev. Kok accepted a call by Classis Central California to serve as interim pastor to vacant churches in the area. Rev. Draayer then became the church's senior pastor. Subsequently, a call was extended in 1991 to Dave De Ridder who became Pastor of Discipleship and Youth.
Since 1974 we have been served by the following interns: Ron Nydam, Mike Van Hofwegen, Doug McCleod, Tom Draayer, Jim Van Tholen, and Tim Van Zalen. Al DeVries served the church for a time in a coffee shop ministry.
We have also helped sponsor and develop the following other churches: Emmanuel in Salt Lake City, Crestview in Boulder, Eastern Hills in Aurora, New Life in Houston, and the San Antonio Christian Reformed Church.
