The Cooperative Program turns 100 years old next year. This missions funding plan adopted by Southern Baptists in 1925 has raised over $20 billion since its start. Through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists have been able to provide the funds they need to keep tens of thousands of missionaries on the field around the world, in the United States, and right here in Montana. The Cooperative Program figures prominently in every single church’s existence in our state. From the very beginning of the first SBC church planted in Montana in 1952, the Cooperative Program has helped support churc ..read more

One of the roles of the Renew Montana Network is to help churches assess their spiritual health. Our measurement tool is designed around nine indicators of spiritual maturity. There are three identities (worshipper, family, missionaries), three foundations (gospel, scripture, prayer), and three structures (leadership, membership, discipleship). Each of us must be continually renewed in each of these areas. Are you willing to take an honest look at the spiritual condition of your church? You do not have to enter our formal process. You can find 72 targeted questions here: Church Health As ..read more

Crossover is an evangelistic event being held on Saturday, October 5, immediately following Refresh, Montana’s annual meeting. Many churches throughout Helena are planning outreach events the Saturday after Refresh. Churches throughout Helena are also encouraged to plan a Harvest Day on the Sunday after Refresh. WAYS YOU CAN PARTICIPATE PRAY Begin now to pray for Montana Baptists that they will have a heart to come to Helena from near and far to join together to lift up the CROSS of Jesus OVER Helena on October 5 and 6. Ask God to stir the hearts of pastors and churches throughout the Helena ..read more

Churches that minister in communities suffering from generational poverty must not only continually share the gospel with the lost. They must also teach the biblical principles and skills that people need to break the chains of poverty. Generational poverty is distinct from being simply low income. Generational poverty brings with it a lack of educational opportunities and the support needed to break the cycle of poverty from generation to generation. This is hard, demanding work. Often the pastors of these churches must ask their families to go without many things others take for granted beca ..read more

By Melita Thomas, posted June 27, 2024 in Baptist Press. The days and weeks immediately following VBS are the most crucial for outreach. But so often this critical element seems to fall through the cracks. We all have good intentions for connecting with children and families again after VBS, but then the aftermath of VBS kicks in. The excitement of VBS is over; people are tired; life returns to normal; it’s time to go on vacation … there are tons of excuses, and most are valid. Melita Thomas But here’s the thing. Follow-up will not magically happen on its own. You must have an i ..read more

By Aaron Earls, posted May 7, 2024 in Cooperating for the Gospel, Cooperative Program, SBC News BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (BP) – Baptisms, worship service attendance and small group participation all grew in 2023 among congregations affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, while the recent decline in total membership among congregations slowed. The Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by Lifeway Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions details the annual numerical changes for the Southern Baptist Convention. Membership declined fo ..read more

It’s exciting to see the different activities some of our MTSBC churches are using to reach their communities. They’re offering youth camps, sports camps, VBS, Backyard Bible Clubs, game night dinners, and many other unique outreach events to connect with people and share the gospel. The Lord never intended for His people to be silent about the gospel. His command to His church was: “Go, therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you” Matt. 28:19-20a. How is that going ..read more

The following article is from The Resound Network, a ministry of the Missouri Baptist Convention. It provides some important information on revitalization and replanting. To print a PDF of this article, click here. Seasons of growth, plateau and decline are present in almost every church at some point in its history. For some churches a season of decline could lead to its eventual demise. The task of every church is to be keenly aware of where it is presently and what steps toward its future it must take. The question a growing church asks: What must we do? A growing church is a blessing and ..read more

The weather is warming up, so I’m thinking about wetting a hook! A fresh filling of the bait bucket with live bait always seems to have the promise of a hopeful day of fishing. The bucket of new and fresh bait signifies a day of high expectations of what might bite the bait, new stories to be told of the “biggest fish ever,” and exciting experiences to be shared with loved ones and friends. After all, we fish for bragging rights! Proverbially, life can be like a fresh bucket of live bait. We have dreams we chase because we desire to make them come true. We take on challenges that inspire our b ..read more

IMB Missions College creates connections for cross-cultural ministry By Sue Sprenkle Representatives from 21 states came together for an intensive training on cross-cultural missions taught by International Mission Board missionaries on April 2-5. The annual Missions College hosted near Richmond, Virginia, brought IMB missionaries from all over the world together with pastors, church members and missions leaders.  The goal of the conference is to give Southern Baptists access to IMB resources and to each other. The event includes learning tracks that allow participants to dig deep in ..read more