Tri-Lakes RPC

Location: Monument, Colo.

Organized: Dec. 15, 2013

Members: 36 communicant; 13 baptized

Pastor: Alex Tabaka

Web: www.trilakesreformed.org

Approaching from the south, drivers are faced with the option to turn left into The Fuel Church’s parking lot, with numerous large signs marketing “Church Redefined,” or the option to turn right at a quaint sign that implies Church Reformed with the words “Tri-Lakes Reformed Church.” Despite the appealing and well-marketed alternative across the street, more and more people are deciding to turn right each Lord’s Day morning.

Tri-Lakes Reformed Church (TLRC) started in 2011, daughtered by Springs Reformed Church (SRC) in downtown Colorado Springs, about 20 miles south. The first worship service was held at The Barn (aptly named for its architectural shape) on March 13, 2011. The Barn overlooks a pristine woodland lake nestled against Colorado’s breathtaking Front Range.

In its infancy, TLRC began with a handful of members from SRC. The average attendance was only about 30. However, within a period of a couple years, the congregation was officially established in the Midwest Presbytery of the RPCNA with a regular attendance of about 70.

Regardless of recent destructive wildfires, or periods of rain, sleet, or snow, the members of TLRC gather each Lord’s Day. During the school year, Sunday school classes train four age groups to observe all that Christ has commanded. The youth regularly memorize Scripture and the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and they receive recognition for their achievements twice a year during the monthly fellowship meal. Every first and third Lord’s Day each month, the members of TLRC gather for an evening worship service and then have a time of congregational prayer. Pastor Tabaka is currently preaching through a sermon series on 1 Corinthians 15.

TLRC has grown considerably over the past three years. Pregnancies and births have been common blessings since the congregation’s inception. Recently, Alex and Melissa Tabaka had their third child, and another young couple rejoiced in the birth of their second child on the same day. The congregation has also been blessed with a steady stream of visiting families, several of which have been regularly attending the worship services.

As TLRC continues to grow, one of the challenges they face is squeezing everyone into The Barn comfortably. Affordable real-estate opportunities are not readily available.

The members of TLRC are constantly encouraged by Pastor Alex and the session to never be comfortable with the size of their congregation. TLRC is always actively pursuing ways to reach out. It’s not about numbers and filling chairs. Rather, it’s about seeing the body of Christ grow for the glory of God. It’s not about redefining what a church is, but reforming modern misconceptions according to how God defines it in His Word. They pray that, more and more, citizens of the Tri-Lakes region will decide to turn right at the junction rather than left.

—Matthew Stickel

Prayer Requests

❁ Pray that God will provide a larger facility to meet in the Tri-Lakes area, and that He will provide the necessary funds when the time comes.

❁ Pray that outreach efforts to the community will bring forth good fruit for Christ’s glory.

❁ Pray that Pastor Tabaka and the session will lead the flock well, and that the church will continue to grow in faith and love for Christ and one another.

 Fun Facts

❁  Tri-Lakes refers to three communities in the area—Monument, Palmer Lake, and Woodmor—all of which have a small lake near them.

❁  A mountain near Monument is called Mount Herman, which reminds us of the mountain mentioned in Psalm 133 (spelled a little differently).