For over two months this summer, nearly 500 teenagers from across the United States converged on Cortez to paint the town red — and a host of other colors.

YouthWorks!, a non-profit multi-denominational organization based in Minneapolis, Minn., sent up to 65 high-school students a week for seven weeks to Cortez to paint houses and spread Christianity by hosting vacation Bible schools.

Last week, which was their last, the students painted the barns and corrals at Medicine Horse, a non-profit riding-therapy center northwest of Cortez.

A different set of teens arrived each Sunday from churches in Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Minnesota and set up camp at First Assembly of God and Evangel Assembly of God in Cortez with adult chaperones and four staff members in tow.

During their five days on the job, the youths are split up in two groups. Half will paint while the other half hosts vacation Bible schools, They switch off in between.

Daniel Moline, a YouthWorks! staff member, said the Bible schools hosted between 40 and 50 children a week, and houses were painted in Dolores, Cortez, and Towaoc.

Sponsors of Youthworks! donate the house paint, which is recycled. Moline said the community’s response has been gratifying to the group.

"It blesses us to see that they’re blessed by us," explained Moline.

While in town the youths have visited the Cortez Cultural Center to watch native dances, hiked around McPhee Reservoir, and enjoyed barbecues in the park.