Colorado Family Church

Did you ever hear of a church sending its members back to their roots? Right here, at the Colorado Family Church, that’s exactly what happened. The Colorado Family Church, also known as the Unification Church, isn’t your typical Sunday service spot. It has a rich, sometimes controversial, history tied to its founder, Sun Myung Moon. Back in 1989, Reverend James A. Baughman, then president of the Unification Church in America, announced a global initiative from this very organization. The goal? To dispatch members back to their hometowns. They were tasked with tackling what the church considered societal evils. Think drug abuse, bigotry, crime, and family violence. This directive came directly from Sun Myung Moon himself. He believed the world was experiencing a second Pentecost. Just as Jesus entrusted his work to the apostles, Moon, who considered himself the “first generation of a new tradition,” passed the torch to his followers. At the time, the Unification Church boasted a significant presence. Around 10,000 committed members and 45,000 associates in the United States alone, with 3.5 million worldwide. The Colorado Family Church played a key role in this initiative. Baughman, who visited Unification congregations across the country, likely stopped here in Denver. He urged members to be resources in their communities, not necessarily to convert, but to rejuvenate faith. This building, a hub for the Unification movement, became a launchpad for this ambitious project. This mission, called “tribal Messiah hometown providence,” aimed to bring the church’s influence to the heart of American communities, radiating outwards from centers like the Colorado Family Church.