On January 16-17, over a dozen of Montana’s current and future church planters gathered at Fairmont Hot Springs for the annual Church Planter Retreat. This is a much-needed time each year when church planters and their wives can connect with each other while learning and being encouraged in their ministry.
The speaker this year was Danny de Armas, Senior Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church, Orlando. Danny did an excellent job of uplifting and encouraging the church planters and their wives while teaching them strategies to help with the struggles they all face in ministry. He taught valuable lessons on parenting, resolving conflict within the church, loving people to Christ, and much more. Veronica Brunson of Expedition Church in Livingston said, “It was awesome! The topics were very relatable. We learned a lot and were reminded of a lot.”
Along with the current Montana planters, future church planters, Spencer and Jenna McCorkel from Bryant, Arkansas; and Ben and Hillary Mason from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, were able to attend. The McCorkels and Masons are planning on team planting in Missoula this spring. Spencer said, “Jenna and I loved gathering with other church planters at the retreat. We found friendship and encouragement in every moment. The Lord used the retreat to renew our hearts and give us friendships for our journey.” There were also two couples who have come to Montana to plant Resonate Churches on college campuses. Alex and Molly Robinson live in Bozeman and are on the Montana State University campus. Preston and Tracy Rhodes live in Missoula and are on the University of Montana campus.
This time to connect is important, especially because of the isolation often-times felt in our large state. It is important for church planters to be able to share in the struggles and the successes of church planting. “Getting to spend time with the new church planters was my favorite part. I love what God is up to in Montana,” said Darryl Brunson, of Expedition Church in Livingston.
Please keep our church planters and their families in prayer as they are following God’s call to expand His message in Montana. They will always appreciate your prayers and encouragement. For more information on church planting, to www.mtsbc.org/plant. Or contact William Johnson at [email protected].