Rick and Becky Olmstead were full time teachers and part time pastors of a small Calvary Chapel in Tehachapi, CA when they were challenged to lay it all down and start a church in Fort Collins. In the midst of a road trip to attend a friend’s wedding in Iowa, they stopped to eat at Shakey’s Pizza in Cheyenne. On their way out of town, Rick had a very strong impression to move to Fort Collins to plant a church (Hence, the local expression, “Was it God or was it pizza?”). After much discussion, prayer and multiple confirmations of this call, Rick and Becky took a risk, said “yes” to God and moved to Fort Collins in 1982. Along the way, God miraculously provided people, finances and all they needed to get started.

The church had small beginnings with its first meeting in the Olmstead’s home with seven people. As the church grew, they met at various locations in Fort Collins including St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Blevins Junior High School, City Park and eventually the current location of our North campus on Riverside Avenue.

Rick is humbled to consider the plan God has unfolded for him and Becky. In the natural sense, Rick was not likely to succeed—growing up without a dad, moving from family to family during high school and having raising two teenage brothers in his early 20's. While many people may have considered his life a loss, God had a plan. He took a nobody from the streets of Los Angeles, changed his life and gave him the unique opportunity to pastor this church.

More recently, Vineyard Church of the Rockies has added two more locations, one in Windsor, led by Jack English and one in South Fort Collins, led by Hans Breuer. We're excited about the future that God has for our church as we expand and grow in North Colorado!