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Story | First Christian Church

Church isn’t something you go to

"Our work was cut out for us in the Wild West"...

The Wild West is alive and booming in Montana – and that’s not always a good thing, says Rick Page, senior minister at First Christian Church in Lewistown, Montana. “Gambling is legal here – so there are lots of casinos. There’s also an extremely high usage of methamphetamines, a high rate of alcoholism, and a high suicide rate,” he said. “So our work is cut out for us.”

Members at First Christian had plenty of ideas for their first Faith in Action Day, held in November 2007. One group cooked a “thank you” breakfast at the local fire/ police station; others provided thank-you baskets of goodies for police and firefighters, emergency room staff and school staffs. Another group of ladies spent time at the local Laundromat, surprising customers by feeding their own quarters into the machines. Teens went door to door, explaining who they were and asking people if they would like to be prayed with. Yard work and light handyman work were performed at a number of needy homes. And a young ladies’ Bible study group enlisted the aid of a burly Christian rancher for protection and went into casinos and bars in downtown Lewistown, sharing their faith and handing out gift baskets.

“We’re a small church of 150 in a town of only 6,000 – and on our Faith in Action Sunday, we had 100 workers,” explained Pastor Rick. “Faith in Action was a true transition point for us,” he continued. “We went from maintaining our church to actually BEING the church in the community. Our people saw that church is not something you go to – it’s what you ARE.”

They held a celebration service that Sunday evening. “You have to understand, Montanans are very reserved – stiff, even. In the past, when we’d have open-mike times of sharing, they went over like a lead balloon – no one wanted to speak. But at this celebration service, every single person got up and shared. The excitement was palpable. It was truly an epiphany for us.”

First Christian has continued to serve Lewistown. They’ve asked teachers, who often spend their own money for classroom supplies, to create a “wish list,” and they’re slowly whittling it down as wishes are being fulfilled. At the town Christmas celebration, they gave away loaves of bread – banana nut, pumpkin, zucchini, etc. – when all the other booths were selling their wares. They also bought Christmas dinners for 37 needy families.

Their latest project is at the new methamphetamine treatment center in Lewistown – the first of its kind in the nation. Pastor Rick is working with the board to become their chaplain. And the church has permission to hold Bible studies onsite. First Christian is continuing to show its faith in action – and God’s love – to their Lewistown community.