A spiritual beacon in Colorado since 1960

It all started in the sales auditorium of a vacuum store. The Kirby Building on West Colfax, to be exact. There were 17 adults and even more children. This group of visionaries began meeting on January 18, 1959 as a study group, learning and embracing the Science of Mind and Spirit Principles. Just over a year later, on March 14, 1960, Mile Hi Church was officially recognized as an affiliated church with the Church of Religious Science. Rev. Roger Miller, a local youth pastor and a favorite with the teens in the group, was Mile Hi’s first minister. It was the beginning of an incredible story that illustrates the power of committed individuals with a vision!

• The congregation quickly outgrew the Kirby auditorium and purchased a church building at 25th and Chase, offering two services to accommodate the growing church community. Rev. Roger Miller served as Senior Minister until June 1962.

• From late 1962 until October 1966, Rev. Lester Bashara served as the Senior Minister. During that time the congregation outgrew the small church building and began renting the Lakeridge Theatre in Wheat Ridge to host the Sunday services.

• In October 1966, Dr. H. Fred Vogt came to Mile Hi and served as Senior Minister for 27 years until his retirement in March 1993. Under his spiritual leadership the Mile Hi family continued to grow and the vision emerged to have a permanent home of their own. Through the commitment of a few hundred Mile Hi’ers, the land was purchased and the dome-shaped structure at the corner of Alameda and Garrison in Lakewood became the new home for Mile Hi Church. The first service was held in August of 1973.

• Dr. Fred began a five-minute radio show, “Good News with Dr. Fred,” in 1977 and later launched a Sunday morning half-hour television program, “New Design for Living,” that aired for 16 years on a major Denver network station. After his retirement, Dr. Fred continued to serve Mile Hi as Minister Emeritus until his passing in 1999.

• Dr. Roger W. Teel was called to return to Mile Hi and serve as Senior Minister upon the retirement of Dr. Fred in March of 1993. Dr. Roger, having served churches in Portland, Oregon and Huntington Beach, California, as well as in the home office of United Church, also served Mile Hi Church previously as Associate Minister and Co-Minister.

• As Mile Hi continued to grow, the need became clear for a space for classes, youth, and connecting. Once again, through the committed individuals that of this Mile Hi family, the Community Center was built and formally dedicated on July 12, 1999. It serves as home for the Teen Center and some of the church offices, provides much needed classroom space for both the youth and the adults of Mile Hi, as well as space for fellowship following church services.

• The Mile Hi Administrative building was built on the east side of the campus, and officially opened in December 1999.

• An exciting Groundbreaking ceremony for a new 1,500 seat Sanctuary (over 43,000 square foot) building was held in March 2007 with an expected completion of the building in April 2008.

Over the years, Mile Hi and the beautiful souls that are the Mile Hi Community, have come together to follow their hearts and answer the call to become an ever brighter beacon to the spiritual community around the globe. Thousands of people have been touched by what Mile Hi has done since that first meeting in the sales auditorium of the vacuum store, and as the future unfolds before us, you can count on this community answering that next higher call as well.