Our Story

They all walked into a bar!

Maybe that’s getting ahead of ourselves a bit. We are a bit of an odd duck. We are a church that owns no properties and meets in bars to talk faith, support one another, and to learn from Jesus a very tangible way, making lunches for Denver’s unhoused. 

Our founder, Rev. Jerry Herships—originally a comedian and bartender—was drawn into ministry after feeling that the connections he made with his customers at the bar were often more real and deeper than anything he’d experienced in church. Jerry decided the church and the bar could learn a lot from one another so he decided to bring these worlds together.

In 2009, Jerry was seeking a new way to help people be the church so he started inviting folks from Saint Andrew’s UMC in Highlands Ranch, Colorado where he was Associate Pastor to help him distribute sack lunches to homeless folks. This ministry eventually became the driving purpose behind the AfterHours Community’s gathering.

Jerry has written two books telling his unique journey to starting these ministries. You can find them using these links.

• Last Call: From Serving Drinks to Serving Jesus

• Rogue Saints: Spirituality for Good-Hearted Heathens

July 1, 2019 brought a big change to AfterHours, our first change of pastor and director. That person was Rev. Dr. Tyler Kaufmann. In need of a break from traditional church setting Tyler moved to Colorado intending to manage a coffee shop awhile holding small group faith studies in bars and coffee shops. He let leaders of the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church know his plans and was eventually invited to become AfterHours’ next leader.

Here’s a clip of Tyler and Jim Francis discussing AfterHours with Gina on Mile High Living.

Now in our twelfth year, the AfterHours Crew is looking forward to what lies ahead with our new Director, Logan Robertson. Logan has a great deal of experience and connections with Denver’s unhoused and impoverished population. You can read more about him right here!