Manitou Mission
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 on 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
Stories and Songs
Stories & Songs is a women’s community event that for the past eight years has allowed space for women to meet neighbors and enjoy refreshments in Lynda’s garden while listening to women share their unique stories and original art. This is an open event, so feel free to bring your friends and neighbors. To apply to share your story this summer, please click here.
When: 3rd Thursdays of July and August | 6:30-8pm
Where: Corner of Crystal Hills Blvd/Bevers Ln in Manitou Springs
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: 6:30p – 7:30p
Where: Fields Park | 114 El Paso Blvd [backup location: Manitou Art Center]
*Children are welcome*
Baptism in the Park
As part of our Manitou Worship Nights summer series, we’re hosting a special baptism service in Fields Park on Tuesday evening, July 30, 6:30p. To register to be baptized, click on the link below. Note that spontaneous baptism also are welcomed!
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. If you would like a physical copy, we would love to give you one! Come worship with us for Manitou Worship Nights on the Last Tuesday of each month at 6:30p at Fields Park. (Note that location will change to the MAC, the Manitou Art Center, for the fall.)
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
Time: 1p-2p
Where: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church | 808 Manitou Ave
Connect with a Group
Manitou Women
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 sermons 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.