A missional community of New Life Church serving the city of Manitou Springs.
Partner with us as we pour into the city through prayer, worship, and outreach opportunities.
Learn more about the genesis of Manitou Mission, the history of Manitou Springs, meet our team and watch archived services by scrolling down to our “Find What You’re Looking For” section.
“You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14-16, The Message
Serve with Us
Manitou Worship Nights
Come worship on the last Tuesday of each month as we pray and worship over our city. All ages are welcome! Fields Park always has free parking, and our backup location, the Manitou Art Center, also has free parking after 6p.
When: Last Tuesday of the month
Time: 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Where: Fields Park | 114 El Paso Blvd [backup location: Manitou Art Center]
MannaTuesday
MannaTuesday is a monthly gathering for the volunteers of Manitou Mission. We enjoy a potluck meal together (please bring a side or dessert to share), tell our stories, and recalibrate for ongoing mission with a time of devotion and worship.
To volunteer with Manitou Mission, please complete a “Serve” application by clicking the button below. If you are a badged volunteer with any of our New Life congregations, you’re already eligible to serve with us. Volunteer simply by clicking “Sign up to Volunteer” below.
When: Tuesday, September 10, 2024, and the second Tuesday of the month beginning November 12, 2024
Time: 5:30 p.m.-7:00 p.m.
Where: Kirkendall Home | Crystal Hills, Manitou Springs
Manna Tuesdays
Album Release
Manitou Worship: Songs of the House Vol I released January 5 and is available on all streaming platforms. It includes original music and scriptures read by our missional community. Come to Manitou Worship Nights to receive a free CD from our welcome table.
The Pantry
Come serve at the Pantry! Every week, we partner with the city to help serve locals of Manitou who are in need of food assistance. If you would like to become even more involved and help with shopping, coordination, or setup, please email us at ManitouMission@newlifechurch.org.
When: Wednesdays
Distribution Time: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. [setup and tear-down occur before and after this hour]
Where: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church | 808 Manitou Ave
Connect with a Group
Women’s Lectio
Manitou Women
Manitou Men
Manitou Men
Connect with Our Staff
Dr. Joe & Erica Kirkendall have lived in Manitou Springs since their first year of marriage in 2007. Dr. Joe has been a pastor with New Life since 2004 after graduating from Fuller Seminary. Erica came on staff in 2017 when they launched New Life Manitou where they pastored together over 7 years. Dr. Joe and Erica are passionate about being on mission with Jesus. Though they have served all over the world, they believe the greatest impact anyone can have is in their own local community. They have four boys all in the Manitou Springs schools. Join them on mission and come on over to their home for potlucks on MannaTuesdays.
Find what you’re looking for
MannaTuesdays are a time for us to receive sustenance—to be refreshed in the presence of the Lord and recalibrated to be on mission with him. Being on mission with Jesus is a lifestyle, not just an event. We hope you’ll join our missional community as we apprentice Jesus together.
Our previous services will remain available to view on our YouTube channel.
Manitou is a quaint, spa town founded in 1888 at the height of tuberculosis. It was established as a place of healing and restoration because of the natural springs throughout the town. Celebrities, presidents, and all the wealthy of the time came far and wide to seek out the healing waters of Manitou. Today, Manitou Springs is a tight-knit community full of artists, authors and intellectuals. It is full of very spiritual people, but for being such a spiritual town, there are only a handful of churches and not many Christians. Manitou Springs was voted the third friendliest city in the country. It’s welcoming to tourists and derives much of its revenue from the tourist industry as people still come to seek respite in this sweet, Euro-spa town.