Eight Colorado churches are participating in National Donor Sabbath on Sunday, which spreads the message that all major U.S. denominations support organ donation.
This year Colorado becomes the first state to focus on living donor donation, such as the donation of a kidney by Pastor David Baca of Westminster’s Crossing Church of the Nazarene to his friend and parishioner Chuck Nelson.
Although two-thirds of Coloradans are registered organ donors — one of the highest rates in the country — the transplant waiting list continues to lengthen, and someone on that list dies every three days, according to the American Transplant Foundation.
The foundation’s executive director, Anastasia Darwish, will be available to answer questions at Crossing Church of the Nazarene before its 10:45 a.m. service today. The church is also observing Donor Sabbath during its 9 a.m. service.
Other churches participating this year are: Augustana Lutheran Church in Denver, Burns Memorial United Methodist Church in Aurora, Fellowship of the Rockies in Rifle, First Presbyterian Church and First United Methodist Church of Glenwood Springs, Green Mountain United Methodist Church of Lakewood and The Orchard Church at Carbondale.
