Rocky Mountain Parish Health Ministry was the creation of Judy Lovaas at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Fort Collins in 1993. Her efforts were based on the pioneering efforts of the Rev. Dr. Granger Westberg who promoted the use of nurses as health ministers in churches. His vision of religion and medicine as being complementary, and the recognition that illness involved the whole person were key components in the development of health ministry. Parish Nursing was recognized by the American Nurses Association as a specialty practice in 1993 and the University of Colorado, School of Nursing began offering the Parish Nurse Basic Preparation Program.

In 1999, Rocky Mountain Parish Health Ministry held the first "Spirit of Caring" Conference through the generous donation of the Bill Nash Family to educate and encourage parish nurses in Northern Colorado. Rocky Mountain Parish Health Ministry was incorporated as a 501c3 in 2002. Today, faith communities throughout Northern Colorado are reclaiming their role in health and healing with health ministry programs. Rocky Mountain Parish Health Ministry has an active membership of 25 health ministers serving churches in Larimer and Weld Counties.

In 2010, Rocky Mountain Parish Health Ministry voted to become a state-wide organization and we look forward to an exciting year on new ministry for Faith Community Nurses in Colorado.