About us
Who we are
Ravencrest Chalet is a Bible School and Retreat Center in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Northern Colorado. We are a member of Torchbearers International, a ministry of 25 centers around the world committed to sharing the Life of Christ.
Our purpose
Ravencrest exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people according to the Holy Bible; to lead them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior; to promote the Christian faith by means of evangelism, service and fellowship among the body of believers; to encourage mission-oriented living and strive to increase the Kingdom of God throughout the world.
statement of faith >
God is the Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Lord Jesus Christ is God and co-equal with the Father; all things are created by Him and for Him.
Through the action of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary, He became man and was without sin.
Christ died willingly in the place of sinners and rose bodily from the dead to redeem this fallen world and through His atoning blood became the only Mediator between God and man.
By accepting His salvation through faith, man is justified from his sins and receives forgiveness and eternal life.\The Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead, appeared to His disciples and returned to the Father. Now, in the Person of the Holy Spirit, He dwells in the lives of those who receive Him (His Church). Jesus Christ now dwells in the lives of those who receive Him through the Person of the Holy Spirit; Christ will return to deliver just judgment and to bring all things to completion.
The Holy Spirit is a co-equal with God the Father and the Son; through Him a person is regenerated and transformed into the likeness of Christ.
The Bible in its entirety is the revelation of God for mankind, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Our story
Ravencrest Chalet was built in 1963 as a fine replica of an old chalet located in Switzerland. After functioning as a home for ten years, Ravencrest was purchased by four businessmen and turned into a Bed and Breakfast Inn, popular for it’s “elegant European comfort and charm. The four businessmen had a vision for Ravencrest beyond just that of a Bed and Breakfast. In hope that the Chalet be used for God’s glory, one of the owners contacted Major Ian Thomas, who visited the Chalet in October of 1973. It was apparent to all involved that the Lord had something remarkable in store for Ravencrest Chalet. This was confirmed when early in 1974 the beautiful buildings and grounds were purchased and turned into a Bible School and Retreat Center.
In years following the initial purchase, Ravencrest has been a home to hundreds of Bible School students, a place of rest to numerous retreat guests, and an opportunity for growth to countless campers. Above all, Ravencrest Chalet has been a vessel to display the glorious Life of Christ Jesus our Lord!
Torchbearers International
Torchbearers International (sometimes known as ‘Capernwray’) is a worldwide community of believers in the saving, transforming and indwelling life of Jesus Christ. There are currently 25 Torchbearers Centres in 20 countries on 4 continents around the globe. Many of these Centres operate ‘Short Term’ Bible School (6 weeks to 12 months) in English and other languages.
Beginning in England in 1947, at Capernwray Hall, Torchbearers was a God given vision born out of the devastation of World War II when Major Ian Thomas, returning from the war, determined with his wife Joan to open their hearts and doors to European young people. Providing them with lodging and food in a holiday setting, Major also gave insightful teaching from the Bible and soon these guests began to discover the adventure of knowing Jesus Christ personally.
It was the German youth who came in those early years to Capernwray who began calling themselves the “Fackeltraeger” or “carriers of the torch”, and so the name “Torchbearers” was born. The dynamic reality of the Christian life as a relationship with the indwelling Christ began to rekindle the lives of hundreds from all over Europe as Bible Schools sprang up first in Germany and then Austria. Now the ministry has spread to every continent in 26 different Centres, and thousands of people each year have been changed by the reality that first touched the life of Ian Thomas at the age of 19.
More information about Torchbearers International and Major Ian Thomas and all of his published works are available on the Torchbearers International website.
