When God called me to serve as associate pastor in Libby around 25 years ago, I can remember many times being offered opportunities to go on mission trips around the world, but I never felt the desire to do so. I participated in several local trips within a few hours of home and went to Canada a few times, but I never felt compelled to take the time or spend the money to go to the other side of the world. However, about three years ago a pastor friend of mine began to work on me to join him and a couple others on a trip to Uganda. At first, I did not want to go and came up with many excuses, but ultimately after praying and talking with my wife I decided to go. I am so glad I did because it opened my eyes to things in the world I had never seen and showed me how God is working in other places.
About a year ago we began to plan a second trip, and the further we got into the planning process the more it seemed that it was simply not going to work out. Several of the people that were planning to lead different aspects of the trip had to back out for health reasons or family situations. I came close to abandoning the trip because I did not feel qualified to put together or lead a trip around the world. Once again, the Holy Spirit and my wife stepped in and convinced me to go. So, on January 13, myself, Pastor Ryan Mills from Great Falls, and my father Jerry Bennett boarded a plane for Africa with the purpose of loving on churches and pastors in Uganda.
As we got closer to Uganda, I got more and more excited to reconnect with dear friends and to pour into the churches, especially the pastors and their wives. My heart for Uganda is to love the people there, encourage them to grow in their faith, and to challenge the pastors to love their wives, children, and communities the way Christ expects us to. I can say that this trip excelled in those opportunities! Through the generosity of the Montana State Convention, Triangle Association, Crossroads Memorial Church, Conrad Baptist Church, Libby Baptist Church, and several individuals we were able to preach and teach in a handful of churches; provide two all-day church strengthening events in local churches that take at least an hour on dirt trails to get to; conduct a 2-day Pastor and wives Marriage Retreat, a youth conference, and a marriage conference; and visit several local church plants to speak and encourage them. I was able to focus teaching primarily on making God’s Word the foundation of our Christian lives. My father Jerry concentrated on teachings about good stewardship of God’s blessings. Pastor Ryan taught on biblical marriage. As these topics built upon and drew from each other, it was wonderful to see God seamlessly weaving them all together to bless His people.
The highlight of the trip for me (Pastor Coby) was to be able to spend two days with 26 local pastors and their wives, encouraging them to make their marriages a priority. Because of the generosity of so many Southern Baptists, we were able to pay for all of their rooms, their food, bring them gifts, and give them money to go on a date. Out of those 26 couples, about 22 of them had never stayed in a hotel, and about 20 of them had never slept on a bed. This was a huge blessing to them! It was such a joy to be able to encourage, laugh with, and challenge them to make their marriage a priority. Pastor Ryan did an amazing job of leading the husbands to lead and love their wives as Christ leads and loves His bride, the Church. We spent about four hours just answering questions that they had.
For Pastor Ryan, the highlights of the trip came as the points of tension began to come into focus between Ugandan culture and God’s Word regarding marriage. God allowed him to press into those specific challenges and encourage these brothers and sisters in Christ to embrace their identity in Christ as primary and pursue the blessings God intends for them in marriage done His way. As we leaned into God’s Word and ways, the questions about marriage that were drawn out and the group’s team effort in addressing them by seeking to faithfully live God’s Word led to some of the most fruitful times of fellowship and discussion we had. For Jerry the highlight on this fifth trip to Uganda, was to see God at work in Pastor Coby’s and Pastor Ryan’s hearts in developing a deep love and respect for pastors and their wives, along with the people of Uganda and Africa. He also was able to see this outreach as an important perpetual ministry of Montana churches and its Convention.
There are so many other amazing things that God did that we do not have time to write about, but I want to encourage everyone to consider taking a trip to another part of the world to share the hope of the Gospel and encourage other believers. It will change the way you see the world…and God’s ongoing work in it. We have already begun to plan our 2028 trip back to Uganda, and this time I hope to take my wife and two youngest sons to reach and touch even more lives. Thank you to all that gave and prayed—your love was so appreciated by all of the different churches!
Coby Bennett, Conrad Baptist Church
Jerry Bennett, Libby Baptist Church
Ryan Mills, Crossroads Memorial Church
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