Colorado or bust! The fall of 2009 found church planters Chuck and Kelly Loftis on the move once again, attempting to plant an Open Bible church along the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies. By this time the couple had learned not to become too attached to a specific location, having planted two other churches.

On November 1, 1993, Chuck and Kelly left a robust ministry as youth pastors in Rapid City, South Dakota, and successfully launched Solid Rock Church in Spearfish, South Dakota. In 1997, the Loftis family left Solid Rock, now thriving, and struggled to launch public services in a place called “the Siberia of America” in the middle of the worst winter on record. Prairie Family Church (PFC) of Bismarck, North Dakota, was zero for six in attempts to begin public services, due to blizzards six weekends in a row. Nevertheless, the Loftises rejected any thoughts of “quitting” and believed God would provide a breakthrough. That breakthrough finally came in their sixth month in Bismarck. Eventually PFC flourished, becoming a warm, hospitable haven on the North Dakota prairie.

Why would a couple, on multiple occasions, uproot their family in the midst of effective, enjoyable ministry? Chuck admits, “It is a strange feeling to become dissatisfied with it all.” But he has become accustomed to recognizing when the Holy Spirit is calling him to a new plant.

“1 Samuel 15:22 makes it clear that obedience is greater than sacrifice,” he said. “So, as I see it, while the sacrifice of uprooting is great, greater still (and blessed) is obedience to follow the leading of God’s call on our life.”