About Koinonia
What Koinonia Means
Welcome to Koinonia. Koinonia is pronounced “Koy-nä-NEE-ah.” It comes from the Greek verb koinoneo, meaning “I share,” “I communicate,” “I commune with.”
In the original Greek, Paul used the word,
“koinonia,” in 1 Corinthians 1:9, Philippians 2:1, and Acts 2:42 to
mean, “fellowship in the spirit of Christ.” It is also found in
the books of Romans, Galatians, Hebrews, and Peter. Today, you
will find words like fellowship and communion used in our more familiar
English translations.
What We're About
KOINONIA: THE COMMUNITY
ANOTHER WAY OF LIVING…..
SIMPLY, PEACEFULLY, TOGETHER
Koinonia is an inquiring faith community seeking a relevant expression of 21st century spirituality that manifests the compassion, justice, and interfaith understanding of the Christian tradition. Our understanding is that a pertinent spirituality will affirm all truth wherever it might be found, whether it be in science, different world faiths, our inner experience of truth and beauty, or in scriptures.
At Koinonia we celebrate an approach that emphasizes the journey over the destination and the questions over the answers. We see diversity in views, beliefs, and lifestyles as gifts to be appreciated and explored. As we learn from one another, that learning informs and motivates our service to the world and enhances our own spiritual growth.
Koinonia’s vision of the future is one of wholeness and peace. Our understanding is that Jesus was correct when he taught that the path of meaning and fulfillment entails extending love, peace, and creativity to the world around us. We therefore take as our watchwords the simple motto, “Love God, Love People, Celebrate Life, Pass it on!”
Statement of Inclusion
As a people of faith in the teachings of the Christian tradition, the Koinonia community offers a spiritual oasis of love, compassion, and acceptance to all who come here. We welcome and affirm people of every cultural and religious background, sexual orientation, family composition, level of physical and mental ability, level of economic means, race, age and gender.
Koinonia belongs to the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (AWAB), Brethren/Mennonite Council for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Interests (BMC), and is officially aligned with the Church of the Brethren and American Baptist Churches USA.
A Place of Acceptance
Our church is an accepting place that offers persons of all ages:
- Encouragement and opportunity to question and seek spiritual growth
- Learning experiences that enrich and challenge
- Fellowship that is both formal and informal
- Support in times of difficulty and stress
- Service through involvement in important issues
- Worship that is meaningful and uplifting
We value each individual and foster respect for diversity. We practice our faith through our daily life choices and through active involvement locally and in the world.
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The History of Koinonia in the Grand Valley
The Koinonia Community has its roots in Grand Valley Church of the Brethren, founded in 1897. Outgrowing the first building built in 1900, the congregation built a larger one near the corner of 24th and H Roads in the Appleton area. They changed the name to the First Grand Valley Church of the Brethren, as other Brethren churches were built in the valley. That church was destroyed in a fire in February, 1917. A new structure was erected at the same site. That building stood vacant in more recent years, and it, too, was lost to fire in 2007.
In the early 1960’s, the congregation acquired 4
acres of property at 25 and G 3/8 Rds. and built the present A-frame
building, hopeful that moving closer to town would attract more young
families. Ten years later they began a cooperative effort with the
First Baptist Church in Grand Junction to revitalize the church’s
program with five families from First Baptist who joined the
congregation. They chose the name Koinonia to signify that both groups
sought a “fellowship in Christ” as Paul wrote about in the New
Testament. They drafted a constitution, and hired the first minister,
Ronald K. Harris, who was the assistant pastor at First Baptist.
Leaders of the Church of the Brethren and the American Baptist
Churches, USA, participated in the restructuring agreements, and
Koinonia remains aligned with both denominations, which have common
values and a similar history beginning in the Anabaptist Movement of
the Protestant Reformation in Europe. The two denominations are
affiliated at the national level.
In the 1980's a long-range planning committee
assessed the needs of the growing congregation and designed an addition
which doubled the size of the present building and offered
opportunities for new program development. This new wing of the church
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The American Baptists are known for their strong defense of civil and religious liberties. American Baptist ministers, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rev. William Sloan Coffin, are examples of courage, faith, and inspirational leadership.
