Colorado

Former megachurch pastor Ted Haggard will continue to host prayer meetings every Thursday night in his home after drawing around 150 to the first gathering last week.

Haggard had expected 10 to 20 people to show up at his home in Colorado Springs last week for the first prayer meeting, which he set up to connect with friends and help people.

However, the charismatic leader-turned-salesman not only drew many more – including at least 30 people who he had never met before; he also drew a great deal of support – enough to convince him to make the gathering a weekly one. more >>

The Rev. Charles E. Blair, the founder of one of Denver’s first megachurches, died last Thursday at the age of 88.

He died at 7:20 p.m. surrounded by family members at his home, according to a statement posted on the Web site of Calvary Temple, the church he founded. In addition to the megachurch, Blair also pioneered radio and television evangelism in Denver.

In the 1970s, Blair’s reputation was marred by a securities fraud conviction in which he was found guilty of cheating people, many of them church members, out of $17 million. He has maintained that he did not intend to deceive people. more >>

For the first time ever, Promise Keepers is opening the door to women for its 20th anniversary event in Boulder, Colo.

The evangelical men's organization, which has drawn more than 5.5 million men to its conferences since 1990, is inviting wives, daughters, mothers and sisters to the July 31-Aug. 1 "A Time to Honor" event at Folsom Field at the University of Colorado.

"We expect men to invite thousands of women to 'A Time to Honor.' This will be powerful," said Bill McCartney, who was recently called back to lead Promise Keepers as chairman. "We want to honor women in a profound way at this event." more >>

Former Episcopalians who have been ordered by an El Paso County judge to leave their historic property will begin anew on Palm Sunday as St. George's Anglican Church.

The new church is formed by the majority of congregants from Grace Church & St. Stephen's in Colorado Springs who split from the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado. St. George's is the fourth breakaway Anglican parish to be established in the county.

"We are moving to a beautiful location situated among rocks not unlike where Jesus' tomb was located, and like him we will be resurrected to new life as a congregation, with a new name, and a new future," commented the Rev. Donald Armstrong, rector of the new parish. "This biblical similarity is not lost on us." more >>

A breakaway Episcopal parish in Colorado Springs lost a court battle over its historic property on Tuesday after a judge ruled in favor of The Episcopal Church.

After a two-year long dispute, District Judge Larry Schwartz of El Paso County ruled that the $17 million gothic-style church belongs to the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado and not Grace Church & St. Stephen's.

Father Donald Armstrong, rector of Grace Church & St. Stephen's, respected the judge's decision but said they will review the ruling with their attorneys before making a formal response. more >>