Michael HildalgoGRTS (M.Div. '02)

“Ministry is like artwork,” says Michael Hidalgo (M.Div. ’02), lead pastor at Denver Community Church (DCC).

Hidalgo has seen men and women gain a deeper understanding of how they can use their gifts, talents, passions and resources to be a part of the healing of our broken world in their context.

At work. At school. At home.

It was one of the ideas he grasped during his education at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.

“GRTS ’s intentional engagement with the local church, and encouraging their students to work with the church, is probably the greatest strength of GRTS ,” he said.

The philosophy he and his team purpose to reflect and develop at DCC is a community of men and women who are learning and experiencing more about how God has gifted them to touch lives around them.

Hidalgo noticed that many churches launch by focusing on the cultivation of unity and solidarity within the church, but admits this pursuit can often lead to nurturing the church alone rather than extending and offering to the community the healingwe as Christians have experienced.

“If we, the Church, begin by reaching out, pursuing justice, serving our neighbor and giving to those in need, solidarity and unity will begin to grow,” Hidalgo said.

Michael, his wife, Beth, and their two children moved to Denver to be a part of the recently launched church, which seeks to be “a holistic, Christian, missional community.”

Hidalgo advises current students and other believers to pursue awe and the wonder of God in all of their study and everything they do.