True Light Baptist Church

True Light was founded on March 12, 1988, the result of much prayer and wrestling in the Spirit, by Rev. William T. Golson Jr., wife Melvia, and children Melody and William III. The church was initially planted in a hotel, the Holiday Inn, in Montbello. The Holiday Inn was the only hotel in the area that was willing to allow regular meeting times and places. This providentially established the area of ministry in Montbello.

The first service was held in the Copper Mountain Room of the Holiday Inn. Approximately nine months later, in January of 1989, with a charter membership of 51, the church moved from the hotel to a storefront down the street in the Chambers Place Shopping Center, 4812 Chambers Road. This location allowed for great visibility to those who frequented the shopping center and those who traveled one of the main access roads, Chambers Road, into Montbello.

In 1993, the church purchased four acres of land upon which it presently sits. The providential circumstance of the purchase of this land, approximately one-tenth of the asking price, has throughout the years served to anchor the ministry location in Montbello. God’s favor is evident in placing the church directly across from Montbello High School, within eyesight of two elementary schools, and on what has evolved to be one of the major access streets.

The church has conducted two phases of construction on this site, Phase One in 1995 and Phase Two in 1999. A third phase is in design and development to meet the growing demands of the congregation and to continue to enable the church to increase its influence in the community.

True Light is one of the most progressive African-American churches in the City of Denver. It is a 21st century church. Utilization of technology is used to assist in teaching, preaching, keeping the members informed, enlisted, and motivated. Numerous opportunities are available for the transference of members’ secular employment skills and personal abilities in the church.

Every church has a particular DNA, something that it is called to focus on within the context of its particular arena of influence. True Light’s DNA has been family focused ministries with a diversity of activities, educational opportunities, and service opportunities for all ages. The personal ministry of each member has been a continuing emphasis, and leaders have been challenged to greater competence in biblical education.

Over the years, the church has been involved outwardly in the revitalization of Montbello High School, reading programs in elementary schools, selecting principal leadership, design of Green Valley Ranch High School, Mayor’s Homeless Initiative, community Infant Immunizations, and has strategically placed its members in positions of influence whereby it can be influential in academic and community affairs. Internally, the church has been involved in after-school tutoring, youth mentoring, AWANA, Boy Scouts, health screenings and education, extended personal finance training, arthritis exercise groups, Weight Watchers, Puppet Ministry, Gospel on the Green, scholarships, and many other meaningful ministries. A weekly radio program takes pastoral teaching beyond the walls of the church to the surrounding region.

Globally, the church supports missions through its conventions: American Baptist USA, Inc. and National Baptist USA, Inc. Additionally, it supports two missionaries directly in Zimbabwe, in Malawi, and missionaries from the church have been to Nassau, Bahamas to share in teaching Vacation Bible School on a number of occasions. Numerous local ministries and other churches have also benefited from True Light’s generosity.