Gunbarrel Baptist Church: September 2026
A New Church Family in a New Season
Gunbarrel Baptist Church (GBC) is a newly launched church in Gunbarrel, Colorado, just northeast of Boulder. Launched in June 2026, GBC is a church reclamation, or “replant,” born through a partnership between Harvest Church and Highland Baptist Church.
After years of decline, Harvest had become a small group of faithful believers who reached out to Converge for help. Converge connected them with Highland Baptist Church, which sent Pastor Nathan Anderson and a core group of people to come alongside that faithful remnant.
Together, they have become Gunbarrel Baptist Church, a new body of believers built on the same unchanging Gospel.
GBC is Family Focused and Gospel Centered, seeking to faithfully proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ has come to redeem broken people, make disciples, strengthen families, and lead people toward maturity in faith.
After years of decline, Harvest had become a small group of faithful believers who reached out to Converge for help. Converge connected them with Highland Baptist Church, which sent Pastor Nathan Anderson and a core group of people to come alongside that faithful remnant.
Together, they have become Gunbarrel Baptist Church, a new body of believers built on the same unchanging Gospel.
GBC is Family Focused and Gospel Centered, seeking to faithfully proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ has come to redeem broken people, make disciples, strengthen families, and lead people toward maturity in faith.
A Gospel Opportunity in Gunbarrel
The Boulder area is beautiful, highly educated, outdoors oriented, and strongly shaped by science, self expression, and various forms of spirituality. In many ways, it is a community that feels as though it already has what it needs.
That makes the Gospel both challenging to communicate and desperately important.
Gunbarrel itself has a strong small community feel, with a mixture of younger families and established retirees. While only a small percentage of people in Boulder and Gunbarrel identify as Christian, GBC sees this not as a reason for discouragement, but as a tremendous opportunity and responsibility.
Their desire is not simply to establish another church that gathers on Sundays, but to become a faithful and loving Gospel presence in the community God has planted them in.
That makes the Gospel both challenging to communicate and desperately important.
Gunbarrel itself has a strong small community feel, with a mixture of younger families and established retirees. While only a small percentage of people in Boulder and Gunbarrel identify as Christian, GBC sees this not as a reason for discouragement, but as a tremendous opportunity and responsibility.
Their desire is not simply to establish another church that gathers on Sundays, but to become a faithful and loving Gospel presence in the community God has planted them in.
Meet Pastor Nathan Anderson
Pastor Nathan Anderson moved to Colorado with his family when he was 11 years old and eventually grew up at Highland Baptist Church.
After college, Nathan and his wife, Carla, returned to Colorado. Nathan served as an intern at a Converge church in Parker while Carla completed her music degree at Metro State. Eventually, they sensed the Lord leading them back to Highland, the church where Nathan had grown up.
Nathan began teaching Sunday School and occasionally preaching before being asked to serve as a lay elder. He later joined the staff as Family Pastor, a role he served in for around eight years. Carla continued serving in Highland's worship ministry.
During the season leading up to the launch of GBC, Nathan and Carla increasingly sensed the Lord leading them toward something new. They did not know exactly what that would look like, but they continued praying and trusting Him to make the next step clear.
Then the opportunity to consider becoming the pastor of Gunbarrel Baptist Church came.
After college, Nathan and his wife, Carla, returned to Colorado. Nathan served as an intern at a Converge church in Parker while Carla completed her music degree at Metro State. Eventually, they sensed the Lord leading them back to Highland, the church where Nathan had grown up.
Nathan began teaching Sunday School and occasionally preaching before being asked to serve as a lay elder. He later joined the staff as Family Pastor, a role he served in for around eight years. Carla continued serving in Highland's worship ministry.
During the season leading up to the launch of GBC, Nathan and Carla increasingly sensed the Lord leading them toward something new. They did not know exactly what that would look like, but they continued praying and trusting Him to make the next step clear.
Then the opportunity to consider becoming the pastor of Gunbarrel Baptist Church came.
Leaving a church family they deeply loved was not easy. But Nathan and Carla became convinced that the Lord was making His calling clear and leading them into a new season.
Trusting His way and His timing, they said yes.
Today, Nathan serves as pastor of Gunbarrel Baptist Church, helping lead this new congregation into what God has next.
Trusting His way and His timing, they said yes.
Today, Nathan serves as pastor of Gunbarrel Baptist Church, helping lead this new congregation into what God has next.
Some Recent God-Sightings
Even in these early months, the story of Gunbarrel Baptist Church is filled with moments that remind its leaders that God is at work.
A Church Family Already Learning to Love
Although GBC is only a few months old, the church is already seeing evidence of a genuine love for people and for one another.
Their church family has shown a willingness to step into one another's lives, serve one another, and carry one another's burdens, even when doing so is inconvenient, difficult, or costly.
For a young congregation, these early signs of community are encouraging. GBC is learning what it means not simply to attend church together, but to become family together.
Their church family has shown a willingness to step into one another's lives, serve one another, and carry one another's burdens, even when doing so is inconvenient, difficult, or costly.
For a young congregation, these early signs of community are encouraging. GBC is learning what it means not simply to attend church together, but to become family together.
A New Beginning From a Faithful Remnant
The story of GBC began with a small group of believers who remained faithful through a difficult season.
What could have been the end of a church became the beginning of something new.
Through the partnership of Harvest, Highland, Converge, Nathan and Carla, and a growing group of believers in Gunbarrel, God is bringing new life to a Gospel witness in the community.
What could have been the end of a church became the beginning of something new.
Through the partnership of Harvest, Highland, Converge, Nathan and Carla, and a growing group of believers in Gunbarrel, God is bringing new life to a Gospel witness in the community.
Looking Beyond Sunday
GBC wants to be more than a Sunday gathering. They want to faithfully live out the Gospel in their community and look for opportunities to build relationships with people who may have little connection to the church.
One of those opportunities is beginning to emerge at CU Boulder, where GBC is exploring ways to come alongside CRU and serve college students.
The church is still discovering what those opportunities will become, but they are praying for God to open the right doors.
One of those opportunities is beginning to emerge at CU Boulder, where GBC is exploring ways to come alongside CRU and serve college students.
The church is still discovering what those opportunities will become, but they are praying for God to open the right doors.
How You Can Pray
As Gunbarrel Baptist Church begins this new chapter, there are several important ways we can pray for this growing church family and the work God is doing through them.
Wednesday Night Ministries
Pray for the launch of adult Bible study, youth ministry, and Awana. Pray that these ministries would faithfully teach God's Word, disciple believers, reach families, and help people grow deeper in their relationship with Christ.
Opportunities at CU Boulder
Pray that God would open the right doors for GBC to come alongside CRU at CU Boulder. Pray for wisdom as they build relationships with students and seek opportunities to make the Gospel known on campus.
Strength and Sustaining Grace
A church replant requires many hours of ministry and service. Pray that God would give the GBC family endurance while protecting their families and relationships. Pray that He would continue cultivating a deep joy as they labor together for the sake of the Gospel.
Coming Up at Gunbarrel Baptist Church
On October 30 and 31, Gunbarrel Baptist Church will host a Reformation Conference in partnership with Highland Baptist Church.
The church is looking forward to two days of biblical teaching, fellowship, and encouragement as they reflect on the truths recovered during the Reformation and, most importantly, the enduring authority and sufficiency of God's Word.
The church is looking forward to two days of biblical teaching, fellowship, and encouragement as they reflect on the truths recovered during the Reformation and, most importantly, the enduring authority and sufficiency of God's Word.
A New Church With an Unchanging Gospel
Gunbarrel Baptist Church may be new, but the Gospel they proclaim is not.
From a faithful remnant to a new church family, God is writing a new chapter in Gunbarrel. As GBC continues to grow, disciple, serve, and build relationships in its community, CRM partner churches have the opportunity to pray alongside them and watch for what God will do next.
From a faithful remnant to a new church family, God is writing a new chapter in Gunbarrel. As GBC continues to grow, disciple, serve, and build relationships in its community, CRM partner churches have the opportunity to pray alongside them and watch for what God will do next.
Posted in Featured Church
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