Church in Montana (Great Falls, Bozeman, Havre: low income, real estate market, home)

[westward bound]

We are coming to Montana to start an Independent Baptist Church. Possibly in the area of Three Forks. If you are interested in having an Independent Baptist Church started in your area or you attend a church without a pastor just let us know. Maybe we can help each other.
God Bless,
Bro. Robby Austin
Isa. 6:8-9a

[ncmomof2boys]

My husband and I, along with our two young boys, are posibly taking a job in and moving to Big Sandy, MT. I've been trying to find churches in the area. Coming from the "Bible belt" of the South, this is a new experience. According to everthing we've researched, there are no Baptist churches of any kind in the area. With a population of around 700, they need someone to proclaim the true Word of God. Most of the area churches are either Catholic or Lutheran. The closest Baptist church we can find is between 45 minutes to an hour away in Havre. Those distances are assuming perfect weather, not taking in to account snow and/or ice. Just something to consider.

[BDahl]

Welcome to Three Forks, my home town, for local churches we have Church of Christ, Catholic, Lutheran, LDS, AG, Bible, and Jehova's Witness; no Baptist, I am sure you know that already by now. Three Forks could use a little bit more of God in this community, with many families earning low income and the need for some morality.

Some tips about Three Forks:

Grocery Store: Three Forks Market, recently bought out long time business McCreanor's Food Farm

School:
High School Population: 200
Mascot: Wolves
Colors: Red and White
Principal: Tom Blakely

Restaurants: 3-4 (In town: Three Forks Cafe, Wolf Den Chinese; Outside town: Wheat Montana, Cattleman's Cut), There were more but have since gone out of business.

Pharmacy: 1, next to school; other recently went out of business

Gas stations: 2 in town, 2 at Highway Junction 3 miles away.

Newspaper: Three Forks Herald, weekly publication.

Entertainment: Nothing.

Telephone and Internet: Qwest (Telephone + DSL), Cable Co. (Very Slow)

Cable TV: Analog Cable, very poor quality.

Bars: Too Many, about 3-4 total.

Strip Clubs: 1, Teasers 3 miles outside of town, only one in the area, the other being in Big Sky ~45 miles away at the Buffalo Station.

Casino: Wolf Den Resturant

Drugs: Meth has been a slight problem the last few years.

Mayor: Gene Townsend, been in office forever, uses Tax money to leave his mark on the community by building Trails and other useless things that the community doesn't need.

Auto Repair: 1 shop

Nearby locations:
Logan, town of about 50 about 5 miles away eastward.
Manhattan, comparable to Three Forks in size and ammenities. ~15 miles away eastward.
Belgrade, the nightly pit stop for alot of Bozeman workers, with housing districts abound. ~22 miles away eastward.
Bozeman, 30 miles away (east), where you will probably do most of your shopping.
Butte: 30 Miles the other way (West), through a mountain pass, not much to see, a working man's town.

It will be a challenge for you I am sure, but hey, glad to have you onboard as a fellow christian.

So what is your story?

[GiftShoppeGuy]

I think it's sort of funny that the boys from Manhattan/Belgrade, who do construction, come and work for us here in Great Falls in the winter months.....

Guess I just somehow had it in my head that Bozeman really had it goin' on...

[Larkin]

Do your homework, Pastor. If Three Forks has the population to support your church, I'd be surprised. You need a strong congregation and parent church to keep you and your family fed and clothed. Jobs in Montana are scarce.

[gold west]

We have an Independent and Southern Baptist Church in Whitehall. Tracy Jones is the pastor for the Independent Church. We're just about 30 miles from Three Forks.

[Reziac]

I registered here just so I could reply to some of your posts You make excellent points about the economic hardships that going from a $60k real estate market, to a $250k market does, especially when jobs don't and can't keep up.

I grew up in Great Falls (did you have Ms.Jaune[sp?]/nee Neuschwander for English at GFHS? , went to college in Bozeman then lived near Belgrade for some years, but moved to So.California in 1984 because I couldn't make a living in MT Now I'm working on moving back to MT or maybe ID, it's just gotten too nuts here. I'm clear out in the desert, and 5 years ago I was 15 miles from town. Now town is 5 miles away and closing fast.

Anyway, about Three Forks... Another problem that's migrated from CA is the yuppie-izing of formerly-rural areas, to the dismay of the original residents. Frex, you know those big ponds over by the interstate? we used to train gundogs there; the ponds were wild and beautiful. Now -- they're part of a golf course. What is a golf course doing in Three Forks, of all places?!

A friend has a cattle ranch north of Manhattan. Used to be in splendid isolation, now it's almost entirely surrounded by new housing, bought by people who think cattle are noisy and smell bad and should be prohibited.

Where do we who *need* a rural environment GO, when all the habitable rural areas have been entirely eaten by development?? Second (and this is a real problem) where do you grow crops when the best farmland is being built over -- like the swath of former wheatland west of Bozeman??

~REZ~

[frymanz]

Originally Posted by ncmomof2boys

My husband and I, along with our two young boys, are posibly taking a job in and moving to Big Sandy, MT. I've been trying to find churches in the area. Coming from the "Bible belt" of the South, this is a new experience. According to everthing we've researched, there are no Baptist churches of any kind in the area. With a population of around 700, they need someone to proclaim the true Word of God. Most of the area churches are either Catholic or Lutheran. The closest Baptist church we can find is between 45 minutes to an hour away in Havre. Those distances are assuming perfect weather, not taking in to account snow and/or ice. Just something to consider.

I read your quote about the area of Montana you are going to (probably there by now), and I will be praying for your need for an Independent Baptist church that teaches & preaches the Word of God in that area. I live in Indiana, but have lived in Riverton, WY in the past. Please keep me updated on your spiritual needs. I would count it an honor to pray with you, and encourage you in the Lord.

In Christ,
Pastor R. Fryman

Dear Christian,
I read your posted note about the area in Montana you are moving to. I will pray for your spiritual needs there. I am currently living in Indiana, but have lived in Riverton, WY in the past. I know a little about the vast distances there between things, and the dire need for good Bible-believing Baptist churches. Please let me know how things are progressing. I will try to be an encourager to you.

In Christ,
Pastor R. Fryman (Dana Bible Baptist Church, Dana, IN)

[13levine]

Originally Posted by ncmomof2boys

My husband and I, along with our two young boys, are posibly taking a job in and moving to Big Sandy, MT. I've been trying to find churches in the area. Coming from the "Bible belt" of the South, this is a new experience. According to everthing we've researched, there are no Baptist churches of any kind in the area. With a population of around 700, they need someone to proclaim the true Word of God. Most of the area churches are either Catholic or Lutheran. The closest Baptist church we can find is between 45 minutes to an hour away in Havre. Those distances are assuming perfect weather, not taking in to account snow and/or ice. Just something to consider.

I lived in Havre for 15 years and attended the Presbyterian Church on 4th avenue and 7th Street. There was a Baptist Church across the street but maybe it's gone now. It was very small. There was another large Baptist church (southern Baptist) on the hill about 9th street and 9th ave. South east part of town (I'm guessing at the address). I've been gone from Havre about a 12 years. So no doubt there have been lots changes. We used to own Susie's Copy Shop in Havre.

[rangerider]

Originally Posted by BDahl

Butte: 30 Miles the other way (West), through a mountain pass, not much to see, a working man's town.

Sorry this is off topic, but not much to see in Butte? C'mon.....

One of the most historic places we have in the state. Not to ride you, but study a little about Butte and then go visit. You'll be glad you spent the time. Aside from a fascinating mining history, some of Montana's most pivotal political and economic history occurred there.

Again, apologies to moderator, but sneaky inconsistencies keep me up at night...