The Montana Southern Baptist Convention (MTSBC) began a seven-year reciprocal partnership with Baptist churches in Alberta that are affiliated with the Canadian National Baptist Convention (CNBC) in 2020 following the unanimous vote of messengers to the 2019 annual meeting held in Kalispell. Despite challenges caused by COVID-19 in the early years, the partnership has yielded fruit in a variety of ways including enhanced point-to-point cooperation between congregations and church plants on either side of the international border and active participation in annual meetings of the respective state and provincial conventions.
In Summer 2026, the MTSBC added a new chapter to this ongoing story of collaboration. Baptists in Alberta have worked together to host camp experiences called Summer Youth Celebration (SYC) since 1988. Michael Lew, the CNBC’s Next Generation Team Leader, describes SYC as an intentional effort “to reach the next generation with the good news of Jesus, challenge them to live as disciples of Christ, and send them out as disciple-makers.” This year, Goodwater Church in Whitefish and Easthaven Baptist Church in Kalispell coordinated to send a group of young adults who teamed up with peers from Monroe, Louisiana and led recreational programming for SYC 2026. Two hundred seventy-six students in grades 6 through 12 plus local church leaders from across the province gathered at Prairie College in Three Hills, Alberta over July 19-25 to encounter Jesus around the theme “Live Ready, Live Sent.” Dr. Shane Spannagel, Regional Ministry Leader for CNBC Alberta, and I served as camp speakers. The Spirit’s work was evident as around 20 students indicated that they had made first-time professions of faith in Jesus, 40 students expressed interest in baptism once back at their local churches, and 15 students publicly accepted a call to vocational ministry.
Numerous opportunities exist for MTSBC churches to partner with our brothers and sisters in Alberta.
• Bidirectional Church Partnership: Vibrant connection between congregations presents a primary avenue for realizing mutually supportive relationships with CNBC Alberta churches. Darryl Brunson, pastor and planter of Expedition Church in Livingston, has long championed the MTSBC’s partnership with Alberta and acknowledges much more could be done. For example, volunteer teams from Montana could help CNBC churches with outreach initiatives especially during the summer months. This might include supporting the Overflowing women’s conference happening April 3, 2027. According to Brenda Peacock who serves in Alberta with the International Mission Board, CNBC churches could use help executing soccer camps, basketball camps, and even kite flying events! Ministry leaders can contact Dr. Mikey Mewborn, Executive Director for the MTSBC, at mikey@mtsbc.org or Dr. Spannagel at sspannagel@cnbc.ca to discuss practical ideas about how churches in Montana and Alberta can help each other fulfill the Great Commission.
• Theological Education: Canadian Baptist Theological Seminary and College is poised to celebrate forty years of training God-called men and women for spiritual leadership in tough places in 2027. Their campus in Cochrane, AB serves as an important beacon for Baptist theological education in Canada and beyond. The summer months of July and August present an ideal opportunity for MTSBC churches to send mission teams to tackle pressing facility needs such as replacing aging roofs, addressing HVAC system concerns, landscaping, and using the school’s tractor and mower to mow their beautiful 149-acre hilltop property. Interested churches can reach out to Barry Nelson, vice president for advancement, at barry.nelson@cbtsc.ca to initiate dialogue about potential pathways for partnership.
• CNBC Alberta Annual Gathering: MTSBC churches have encouraged our colleagues in Alberta by providing support during CNBC Alberta’s regional meetings. Joel Murphy, church planter of Sweet Grass Mission in Big Timber, led a team to support the most recent CNBC Alberta regional meeting in October 2025. The CNBC will hold a national gathering in Newfoundland in October 2026 reducing the support requirement in Alberta this year. MTSBC churches interested in supporting CNBC Alberta’s regional meeting expected to happen on Saturday, October 16, 2027, can connect with Joel at jtm_jr@hotmail.com.
• Summer Youth Celebration Alberta: SYC leaders rely on spiritually and physically adept volunteers to execute recreational programming for campers. Believers gifted in vocal and instrumental leadership are needed each year to guide the musical elements of daily worship services during SYC. If your MTSBC church has individuals or groups who might be interested in supporting the next iteration of SYC in July 2027, then reach out to SummerYouthCelebrationAlberta@gmail.com for more information.
God is on the move in Montana and Alberta. Let’s ask the Lord how we might leverage our proximity to our neighbors to the north in ways that spur one another on to love and good works and move the needle on expanding Christ’s kingdom.
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