Tell Us About Village Calvary Church's Story and Church Family
Village Calvary Church is a people and a place that strives to worship Jesus with our whole heart and mind. We are a modern church that came into existence as the result of a merger between Village Baptist Church (est. 1961) and Front Range Calvary Church (est. 2012) in August of 2023. As a result, Village Calvary Church has both Baptist and Calvary denominational roots.
We seek to serve the Lord and the people of Thornton, both within the church and through many outreach efforts that impact our city. Village Calvary holds services both online and in person on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m., averaging about 250 people on a typical Sunday and around 50 on Wednesdays. We love that we are continually welcoming new faces!
Our worship teams lead with a balance of modern songs and traditional hymns. Sunday services tend to feel larger and more energetic, while Wednesday services are more intimate.
Those who walk through the doors of Village Calvary Church will find opportunities to hear the Word of God preached, engage in life-giving community, love others through service, and build the Kingdom of God for His glory. Whether attending a Sunday service, a Wednesday service, or one of the many outreach events held throughout the year, individuals will hear, see, and experience the Word of God. Everything the church does is rooted in Scripture. As 2 Timothy 4:2 states, “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
Historically, Village Calvary Church has received consistent feedback from new attendees that it is one of the most welcoming and loving churches they have experienced. The church also maintains a strong prayer culture that is evident among leaders, pastors, and congregants, who routinely take time before and after services to connect and pray for one another.
It has been a joy to witness God grow Village Calvary Church into a strong, multigenerational church family with a small-town feel. Each person who enters the church is greeted warmly and treated like family.
Pastor Craig Babcok
Pastor Craig Babcock attended Oregon State University, where he earned a B.S. in Anthropology. He also holds an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Calvary Chapel University and a Ph.D. in Biblical Exposition from Liberty University. 
He came to Village Calvary Church through the merger with Front Range Calvary Church. Pastor Craig has a deep heart for the local church and the Lord’s people. Growing up in south Denver, he has spent the last 15 years in ministry as a pastor, church planter, and coach. Prior to being called into ministry, Craig served in the Navy and in law enforcement. His central focus in teaching is the Word of God and allowing the Lord to work in the lives of those who trust in Christ. Craig married his wonderful wife, Christy, in 2002, and they have three children. He enjoys running, being outdoors, and going on adventures.
What are some of Village Calvary Church's distinct ministries?
God has placed two distinct and meaningful ministries before Village Calvary Church. The first is an authentic passion for pastoral and church leader development. Wednesday evening services are intentionally used as opportunities for younger and/or less experienced teachers, pastors, and elders to preach and refine their sermon delivery. This process is overseen by the executive pastoral team and supported by the elders, junior pastoral team, church staff, and congregation. Since this ministry began under Pastor Craig Babcock in 2021, nine men have been trained, and one has been sent to step into a pastoral role at another church.
The second unique ministry is the small-town church support ministry, led by Associate Pastor Glenn Gilpin. Over the past two years, Village Calvary Church has had the privilege of supporting small-town pastors throughout Colorado and Wyoming by visiting their churches on Sundays, taking them to dinner, praying with them, and providing occasional pulpit supply. Every pastor reached out to (twelve in total as of 2025) has expressed deep gratitude for the care and encouragement provided. The church has also been able to fill in for seven of those pastors, including one who was on sabbatical during the summer. This ministry meets a significant and ongoing need.
How Are You Seeing God At Work?
God’s work has been evident throughout Village Calvary Church—in the lives of leaders, pastors, volunteers, and members alike. His movement is seen in worship services, the worship team, youth and children’s ministries, and outreach events. Village Calvary Church seeks to make authentic connections within the surrounding community. One example of this effort is the annual end-of-summer carnival, 
which draws dozens of families from nearby neighborhoods who might not otherwise attend church. Through opportunities to connect, pray with individuals, and share the gospel, many new families have joined the Village Calvary congregation. As a result, both the children’s ministry and Vacation Bible School nearly doubled in size over the past year. Through the faithfulness of the Children’s Ministry Directors and volunteers, children experience meaningful worship, biblical teaching, and relationships with adults who genuinely love and care for them. 
On any given Sunday after service, children can be seen playing and laughing together, embracing the church as a second home. God has also worked through the generosity of the congregation, which has invested more than $200,000 in building and grounds improvements, in addition to countless volunteer hours dedicated to beautifying and maintaining the church. The building was constructed in 1986, and ongoing improvements are necessary to support a growing congregation.
Please Pray With Us!
1. For the pastors being raised up within Village Calvary Church - that they would continually seek God’s wisdom and guidance as they lead, teach, and make decisions.
2. For the church as a whole - that it would grow together in the Lord, remain unapologetically committed to the Word of God, and use Scripture as the foundation for everything that is said, done, and taught.
3. For the mission to support small-town churches - that we would serve them well, be a source of encouragement, and strengthen pastors as they faithfully continue in ministry.
4. That we would continue to find meaningful ways to connect with the surrounding community and facilitate outreach events that plant seeds of hope and create pathways to Christ for new believers.
Upcoming Special Events
Village Calvary Church will be hosting a Get Out of Debt seminar taught by Bob Marrette on January 31st.
We will also host a Marriage Conference at the end of February taught by Pastor Craig Babcock and guest speaker Al Pitman.
Associate Pastor Glenn Gilpin will be retiring January 25th and there will be a reception with hors d'oeurves for him after service. Pastor Glenn has been the pastor of Village Baptist (and now Village Calvary) for 23-1/2 years and a part of Converge Rocky Mountain for 32. While he is officially retiring, he will remain as part-time staff focusing on our ministry to small-town churches.
Glenn & Cathy Gilpin
