On a spring day at the end of the school year, Boulder High School had a surprising visitor across school grounds, and he was not met with a great deal of compassion.
This person was John Choque, a local Christian street preacher and founding pastor of Gospel Evangelist Church. He can be found on the streets of Boulder, Louisville, Superior, and Denver, preaching the gospel and all things Jesus Christ.
I was walking back to school after grabbing some food on Pearl Street, and I noticed Choque’s large banner and bright clothes covered in bible verses. I had seen him in Boulder before, but never across the street from my two thousand student non-religious public school.
Holding a banner with the words, “Jesus saves,” I couldn’t help but be intrigued. As a Christian myself, I was curious to hear Choque’s message. The atmosphere around him was tense, with some students showing annoyance at his presence and others laughing or making snide remarks. A Boulder High School staff member also warned him that he would be charged with trespassing if he didn’t leave immediately, even though he was within his rights because he was on a public sidewalk across the school. Nonetheless, it was evident that his arrival had stirred up a mix of emotions among the students.
Boulder has consistently been ranked one of the least religious cities in America, known for its progressive values and thriving LGBTQ+ community. The clash between Christians and the prevailing atmosphere of tolerance and acceptance in Boulder underscored a deeper conflict that has been simmering beneath the surface.
Is there a future for Christianity in Boulder? According to the Denver Post, only 17% of the residents in Boulder are classified as “very religious’ ‘, and 61% claimed to be nonreligious, propelling Boulder to the second least religious city in the US. This disparity in religious beliefs has created a challenging environment for evangelical Christianity to gain a foothold in the community.
The clash between evangelism and Boulder’s secular culture highlights the ongoing debate over the role of religion in a city known for its progressive ideals. Some argue that Boulder’s emphasis on inclusivity and tolerance extends to people of all faiths, including those who wish to share their religious beliefs publicly. Others, however, believe that the presence of religious street preachers like Choque and “hateful churches” are an unwelcome intrusion into a city that prides itself on its non-religious identity.
As Boulder continues to evolve, the question remains: can a city known for its secularism find common ground with those who hold religious beliefs? While the clash between Choque and the students of Boulder High School was tense, it also served as an opportunity for dialogue and a chance to bridge the gap between different worldviews in this diverse and ever-changing city.
