In Acts 4, Peter and John recount their confrontation with the ruling council where they declared the authority of Jesus in healing a lamed beggar. They were threatened not to speak in His name, yet they refuted the religious leaders and declared they must obey God rather than man. When released, they reported back to the church and they “lifted their voices together,” praying Psalm 2, and then responded:
29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
It’s powerful when God’s people gather to meditate upon the Word of God and pray in faith, in complete submission to the Lord, and with an expectation of the empowering of the Holy Spirit. God shakes our hearts deeply, rekindles our gratitude and devotion to Christ, crushes our pride and self-sufficiency, uproots selfishness and bitterness, renews our passion to honor the Lord with our lives, and calls us to proclaim the excellencies of Christ. These spiritual disciplines attune our soul to live wholeheartedly for the glory of God and are the driving force of our abiding relationship with Christ. This is the Way!
Across Montana, pastors are catching that vision, and they are calling their churches to a time of prayer and fasting. They are preaching repentance, teaching fasting, and calling their churches to rend their hearts, return to the Lord, and rejoice in His grace. Hearts are being humbled, a biblical perspective and pursuit are being restored. One pastor recently expressed, “I am seeing a seismic shift.” Another shared, “There is an excitement in the church of what God is going to do.”
The movement has begun! Churches in Huntley, Big Timber, Belgrade, White Sulphur Springs, Boulder, Montana City, Helena, Noxon, and St. Regis have begun the 40 Days of Prayer. Unity is being restored. Churches are being revived. New churches are being planted. Men are being ordained. Missionaries are being called out, and the gospel is being boldly proclaimed.
Pastor Jeff Cahill is experiencing the fruit of spiritual renewal firsthand from their emphasis in 2025. He led Valley Community Church through the Renew Montana process, and he sees a sense of community growing at Valley Community. His leadership team now owns the mission, and his people are more intentional about sharing their faith. Each week, the church plants acorns to reflect their community engagement and they are praying for Oaks of Righteousness to emerge. Jeff says, “It’s planting season.”
I am praying for this momentum to continue, and a half dozen more churches are currently exploring the 40 Days, with several intending to launch just after Resurrection Sunday. The Renew Montana Network is growing, and pastors are being trained in spiritual renewal and church revitalization. We have distributed over 400 prayer guides to churches. So far, I have also had the honor to preach in Lincoln, Helena, Billings, Huntley, Hamilton, Choteau, and St. Regis this year, proclaiming the joy of pursuing Christ.
In Montana, we are not surprised if we feel the rumble of an earthquake. I pray the Lord shakes the spiritual landscape of Montana with great intensity! If you want to join the movement, go to www.renewmt.org to learn more.
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