The Mission Field Is Here

by Rich Cook, Area Rep for Great Plains

As many people know, the Great Plains has seen a huge population explosion because of the oil boom. This has both positive and negative effects for our churches and communities. I’ll begin with the impact on our communities.

The oil boom has brought people from many different places to western North Dakota and eastern Montana. This has produced a need for new construction, new services and new businesses. Most of this is looked on positively.

But with this growth comes other issues: housing shortages with increasing costs, homelessness, increased crime, prostitution, drugs, human trafficking and an infrastructure too small to handle the growth. Many public service units find themselves understaffed. Other businesses face a shortage of employees because many people, including former employees, are finding much better pay working for the oil industry.

What does all of this mean for the CCCC churches? Kingdom opportunity. God has brought the mission field to us. As a result, two of our churches, closest to the oil boom, are going through expansion projects.

Ebenezer Congregational in Sydney, Montana, saw the potential of the Lord adding daily to their number those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). It started with a lift elevator and handicap bathrooms to minister to those who needed assistance. Then there was a need for more classrooms for children. Finally the growth led to the expansion of the sanctuary. As Pastor David Meehan says, “We simply want to swing wide the door, so that He might be glorified, His people edified and the Kingdom enlarged through simple, honest worship.”

Ebenezer Church, Sydney, Montana

Evangelical Bible Church in Dickinson, North Dakota is also growing as a result of its ministry to the community. Available space has shrunk with the growth of the congregation and their school, Hope Christian Academy. Associate Pastor Ron Dazell says even the church’s nursery room is being considered as a space for teaching Hope’s high school class.

Construction was held up for various reasons, but now things are fully underway. The “shell” is still being worked on and they expect to have electricity, plumbing and HVAC complete by March, 2015. Finishing of usable space will be done as funds allow. Their goal is to have some space usable in the new section by the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year.

Even in the midst of these changes God has brought unity, exceptional leadership, and increased giving to missions.

Evangelical Bible Church, Dickinson, North Dakota Before

After

Both congregations have made a point of remaining debt-free. They are relying on God’s provision and God’s timing for these expansion projects.

Some of you may be wondering what the negatives of this could be for these churches. The biggest negative is what most Congregationalist fear — change! Change can be very threatening to individuals, families and congregation. But there can be no growth without change. So this negative is minor compared to the opportunities that lie before these congregations in the mission field where God has placed them, and where the mission field is moving to them.