About Heart for Helena


When my wife and I were first married, we had little idea how God would stretch us and bless us through family. But, we had our dreams- dreams that grew with refreshed hope. God gave us a love for family and hope in His covenant blessings. During these last 30 years, as we lived by faith, God added eight children - and now a son-in-law, two daughters-in-law and a grandson until we look like this.

God has also been at work in our hearts giving us a love for the people and place of Helena, Montana. After nearly 30 years serving churches in the Southeast, I have been called by the Rocky Mountain Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America to be an evangelist - loving the gospel and Helena through planting healthy churches. Our compass is moving from the South to the West. For me, a native Coloradoan, this is coming home. For my wife, it is coming to the place where she "feels more alive!"

As we have participated in the birth of our children, we now long to participate in the conception and birth of a new church. We've been reading the Helena Independent for several years. We had the privilege of investing our sabbatical (the summer of 05) in Helena. We have a heart for Helena - because we believe God has a heart for Helena too - those involved in government, arts and just plain folks too.

What kind of church is needed in Helena? We intend to ask many people. So, this is clearly the conception stage. We are not ready for birth yet. But we want to introduce ourselves and give you a sense of what we have in mind - still, seeking to be responsive to what we learn from Helenans and from the Holy Spirit as He unfolds this new community.

We trust that over the years we have learned to serve. We want to serve you wherever you are on your spiritual journey - whether you are indifferent - or have rejected Christ - or are spiritually skeptical/mildly curious about Christ - or whether you are already a committed follower of Jesus. In 2000 nearly 50% of Helenans had no church affiliation at all. And what about those on church rolls who have given up on the church? We met many during the summer of 05. We want to focus on connecting with those who are disconnected from God, their neighbor or the church because God is at work in us and in them.

God makes those connections - and we believe He uses:

THE GOSPEL
The Gospel proclaims that - through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ - we are given new life. The truth of this message tells us that, on the one hand, we are far more flawed than we may have ever known, yet, at the same time, we far more loved and cherished than we ever dared hope. The Gospel declares that God has irrevocably demonstrated His love to those who believe and who will believe in Christ. Because of this gospel we can live with God and love Him - not be indifferent to Him, rebel against Him or simply perform for Him (Eugene Peterson - another Montanan).

THE PRIORITY OF WORSHIP - Gospel Astonishment
Worship is the primary mission of the Church - it will continue through eternity. Our worship of God's extraordinary beauty and holiness builds up believers and helps the spiritually skeptical, curious, and unconvinced. Such worship honors God and helps us, weak as we are, to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

THE PRIORITY OF THE CHURCH - Gospel Culture
Where similarly graced and astonished people gather, a gospel culture takes root - even among independent Westerners. The purpose of the Gospel is to create a new community, the Church of Jesus Christ. The Church is the principal means of growing the Kingdom of God on earth. Community, as modeled in the love of the Triune God, can be emphasized in Community Groups that enable us to live in genuine community with one another and the neighborhoods where we reside. "Christian community is not an ideal which we must realize; it is rather a reality created by God in Christ in which we may participate." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer). True community has nothing to do with idealistic expectations that everyone is loving or lovable all the time. One of the beautiful things about the Church is that it is, in essence, a group of imperfect people God has gathered together whose members have nothing in common but their commitment to Jesus Christ. In the church we are willing to take the time to foster deep relationships built on Christ. The compassion of Christ brings His kingdom near - in word and deed - to those in need. Compassion is meeting deep human needs through ministries of mercy - inside and outside the church.

THE PRIORITY OF MISSION - Gospel Movement
The Gospel keeps us from getting settled into selfish comfort zones. Through the Great Commission Jesus has called those who follow Him to go to our neighbors - across the street and around the world - with the good news of Jesus Christ. Jesus calls us to engage our culture. We believe the city is the most strategic place for Christians to live and minister - that, as goes the city, so goes the culture. As a capital city, Helena is a strategic mission field where God's people must be present and ministering. We pray for and love Helena - and the world - so that through the Gospel - God's kingdom will come and His will be done - on earth as it is in heaven.

All this is very ambitious. But, we expect to see God's grace at work in Helena through the gospel. Pray with us - partner with us.

Love,

The Bostroms