Here is a brief look into Bozeman, Montana: Contrary to popular belief of friends back in Tennessee and elsewhere around the country, there are stoplights, a Walmart, Target, Costco, internet and paved roads where people drive cars (not horses) here in Bozeman. It is the fourth largest city in Montana, with a population of about 40,000, and is located in the south-western part of the state. You can get to Yellowstone National Park in under an hour and a half and a ski resort in under 20 minutes (Bridger Bowl Ski Area). ALSO, there is an airport in town, so any of you who want to hop on a quick flight, I can be there to pick you up within twenty minutes. Mostly jets fly in here too instead of "prop jobs" so you should have no problems! :)
Ok, to the ministry side of Bozeman: Approximately 90-94 percent of those in Bozeman are lost (do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ). Yes, those statistics really do exist in the United States! Kirkwood Baptist Church, where I have the privilege of serving, is located less than three miles from Montana State University and is right across from the only high school in the city. There are neighborhoods and apartment complexes surrounding the church that have many children, and we are looking to target some of those areas this summer!
The past week we have been hard at work here, praying, organizing, planning, preparing and praying some more about what God would have us do this summer. In addition to getting ready for Vacation Bible School and outreach events in the park, we are going to start a kickball club for the first part of the summer that serves the local neighborhoods. It will meet on a weekly basis and will include devotions each week for the kids. Also, with the London Summer Olympics coming up at the end of July, we are going to do a camp with the theme, "Olympic Week: Run the Race" which will focus on Hebrews 12:1-2 that tells us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us fixing our eyes on Jesus." Please pray for Pastor James and Misty Wyatt, the church members, along with Andrew and Jennifer Lane who are on their way out from Kentucky to serve at Kirkwood, that God would unite us all around what He is leading us to do!
One of the statements made multiple times to me before I came to Montana was the difficulty of sharing the Gospel here. This week I spent time studying a passage that reminded me the importance of planting my feet in God's Word over the opinion of man. In John 4 Jesus' disciples return with something for him to eat and find him talking to a Samaritan woman. As they urge him to come along, in John 4:35 Jesus says to his disciples, "Listen to what I am telling you: Open your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ready for harvest." I thought of how often in our lives we get distracted by something, such as our immediate physical hunger, when our job is to keep our eyes on Him, knowing that engaging in matters of eternal significance bring far greater joy and satisfaction. God tells us to "seek first His kingdom" (Matt 6:33) and promises us in His Word that the fields are ready for harvest. The question is, what are we going to do with the time and talents He has entrusted us with?
The time is now! Looking forward to seeing God move in this city!
