Foundations Church has served the Loveland area for more than a decade. Their heart lies with the youngest among them – Foundations Kids.
“This church was founded on a simple principle – Foundations was and always will be a place for people. You matter to God and you matter to us. That’s what we want all people – young and old – to know when they walk through the door,” Mike Ruest, Communications Pastor explains.
The initial plan for Foundations Church was started by a prayer group of families and individuals who wanted to create a church in Northern Colorado that didn’t exist. In the beginning, the founding group didn’t have the grand vision of what Foundations has become, but they knew that together, they could create anything. And they did – they created a place that many now consider their church home.
Foundations Church held its initial service on 11/11/11 at Bill Reed Middle School. The founding members thought that maybe 50 people would join for no more than a simple Bible study. Instead, the school’s auditorium was packed with nearly 1,000 people. That was just the beginning and as they say, the rest is history.
The church has grown significantly over the years in both membership numbers, staff, and facilities, but one thing has always remained the same – its commitment to the congregation and community. They’ve never once wavered from this core value.
“We have a reputation for helping people because that’s what we’re about. We don’t just say we’re going to do something, we do it,” Pastor Mike says.
The church has two locations – Loveland and Windsor – and serves thousands of people both inside and outside of the church every single day. When they see a need, they work together as a church family to fill it.
In the last two years, Foundations Church has given more than $800,000 to individuals and families in Northern Colorado to help with housing, food, medical bills, childcare expenses, and more. They have given an additional $614,000 to local and global nonprofits working to ease the effects of COVID. This past December, they raised over $150,000 to help relocate Afghan families. One family was relocated right here in Loveland.
It’s more than just money, however. In the aftermath of the Cameron Peak fire, the congregation filled over 50,000 bags of sand to reduce the risk of flash floods in the burn scars, they sewed surgical caps for medical providers who ran out of supplies during the height of the pandemic and donated meals to first responders.
If all of that wasn't enough, Foundations Church also recently launched an initiative late last year to help open a new faith-based recovery program to begin to address the staggering addiction crisis facing Northern Colorado. They’ve raised almost $300,000 to date to fund this project and have purchased land for the program.
The facility will be known as The Addiction Recovery Collective (ARC for short). It will offer recovery programs, skilled trade apprenticeships, and counseling to help people recover and improve their station in life. ARC is still in the initial phases, but they aim to begin serving those in need soon.
“We know people are hurting and we want to come alongside them,” Pastor Mike adds. “We have some of the highest suicide and addiction rates in the country and we can’t just sit back and let it continue. We see a need and we’re working as fast as possible to fill it.”
Foundations Church is especially focused on the children in and outside of the church.
“Our children are the church,” Early Childhood Director Stephanie Ferrell says. “They’re the church, not just because they’re the future, but because they are the ones that make this place what it is. They make it special.”
“We want to build connections and relationships,” she adds. “Jesus taught us that we connect through his love and we want to show kids love. We want to show them Jesus.”
The Foundations Kids ministry is supported by several staff members, including a team of 75 volunteers who mentor and minister to kids every weekend.
The team also hosts many activities for kids throughout the school year; especially during the summertime, to give children a safe, happy place to learn about their faith and have fun. They host camps, parents-nights-outs, and many family events for members and non-members alike.
During the holidays, Foundations Kids works alongside the congregation for their Adopt a Family Program to ensure that kids in need have something special for Christmas morning. During this festival, we provide hundreds of parents in need with the ability to give gifts to their children
“We invite you and your family to come as you are. Truly. You are welcome here and we’ll love your kids and come alongside your family,” Stephanie Ferrell adds.