“Reach the freshmen and you can reach the campus. Reach the campus and you can reach the world,” explains Preston Rhodes, campus pastor of Resonate Church – University of Montana (U of M). The new campus church at the U of M in Missoula began Sunday evening gatherings in September, but there was much work and preparation that led to … Read More
7 myths about sex abuse in churches
For most Southern Baptist pastors, the idea that their church might harbor an abuser is horrific. Almost every Southern Baptist pastor I know got into the ministry to serve and protect God’s people. They are genuinely heartbroken by this. Yet we are still here, and that’s in part because of a few myths that are all too commonly believed in … Read More
Ukrainian believers: ‘Standing on our knees’
By by Nicole Leigh KHARKOV, Ukraine (BP) — It was still dark outside as I rose to go to prayer. A chill in the room told me that it was going to be a frigid mile walk to the square. I wanted to crawl back under the covers but resisted. “I’ve been doing this for only three days while my Ukrainian … Read More
Get Real West 2019
Students face tremendous pressures every day, but they can live faithful, Christian lives. This year at Get Real West, speaker Shane Pruitt will expose the lies that entrap them and show them how they can grow in their walk with Christ and overcome the challenges they confront every day. The theme “Victorious” will remind and encourage students that faith is … Read More
On-ramps to Church
I am becoming increasingly concerned about the chasm that is growing between evangelical Christians and the culture around us. American culture has changed radically in recent years. Christian values are giving way rapidly to something pagan and humanistic. We see this all around us. Christian organizations are being labeled as hate groups merely because they adhere to basic biblical teaching … Read More
The Beauty of Local Cooperation
The Beauty of Local Cooperation Across the state of Montana, churches are separated by time and space, so each has to be intentional about staying connected. The churches in the Triangle Baptist Association still see the value in local cooperation and realize they play a strategic role in strengthening one another. At their Annual Meeting this past Sunday, they pledged … Read More
Church Planting Annual Update
With the MTSBC annual meeting just around the corner, it is a great time to review what has happened in the last year in the area of church planting. In the spring of 2019, Gracepoint Church launched on the east side of Billings in a community known as The Heights. Gracepoint currently meets at the Medicine Crow Middle School. Jim … Read More
First Person: Our Future Leaders
Friday, September 6th, one of the most amazing and inspiring things I have ever seen occurred on the high school football field in Noxon, a small town in western Montana. After the game with Heart Butte, members of the Baptist Mountain Church Youth Group who attend Noxon school decided to be the example to the community. Putting aside the competitive … Read More
5 INTENTIONAL WAYS TO SHAPE THE CULTURE OF YOUR CHURCH
By Jimmy Scroggins Culture can be a nebulous term and is not easily defined in the context of any organization, including the church. Culture is what it feels like to be a part of your church. It’s more caught than taught, and it’s always mediated through leadership over time. Leaders must think carefully about how we want our churches to feel. … Read More
EDITORIAL: Your state convention helps churches reach your state and our world for Christ
My first international mission trip took place on a farm in central Kentucky. As a new pastor in the community, I found myself interacting often with migrant workers from Central and South America. And I soon realized that most were spiritually lost. From conversations with farmers, I learned many of them were as concerned as I was about the eternal … Read More