One-Year Anniversary in Billings, MT

I want to take a moment and reflect upon our year in Billings.  I can hardly believe that the 10^th of this month marked our one-year anniversary to Billings (well, at least that was the day that Craig and I pulled into town with the cars; this also being the day that Steve totaled his car outside of Sheridan!)  As I reflect over the year, here are a few things that come to mind:

The Lord provided a new car for the Houlihan’s…

As Steve was driving to Billings, without Tasha or Isaac thankfully, things took a turn for the worse as he was driving through a snow storm outside of Sheridan, Wyoming, just two short hours from Billings.  On the interstate he hit a patch of ice, slid, turned and flipped his Pathfinder!  Fortunately Steve was okay but the car was not… it was totaled.  After looking all over for the right car they were able to find a Mazda that they really liked in Denver, Colorado.  It has this great green color and I am sure it is the only one in Billings!

The Lord provided work…

November 2^nd Shelly began her work as a hospitalist at Billings Clinic.  What a blessing her work and co-workers have been!  Her boss is a believer, and a good friend of mine.  Of the 10 providers 6 are believers!  Shelly has also really enjoyed the work as it has been challenging and rewarding.

Steve was also provided a job working with Dave Hagstrom and FINE Housing.  What was supposed to be 6-month job turned into a full-time job.  Not only that, but come the 1^st of January, Steve will be taking over as the President of Koinonia Housing Construction Co., the for-profit construction company/job training that is owned and operated by CLDI.

Tasha was kept busy watching the Basye kids a couple days a week as well as being a stay-at-home mom.  This September Tasha began taking classes at MSUB in pursuit of her MA in Counseling… something she hopes to have accomplished in the next 2-3 years.  School is paid for my her work-study program, she is still home with Isaac a majority of the week, and when Isaac is at day care he absolutely loves it!

I kept busy immersing ourselves in the South Side, building relationships and planting the church.  This led to spending time with such people as Charlie, Rex, Sherri and many others.  Additionally, this led to my involvement with Larry Gaalswyk and his work with guys coming out of prison as I teach a weekly study at the Rescue Mission.  During this past year I also had the privilege of starting the Fellowship House, a nine-month internship for college age persons that is part of CLDI.  Lastly, come the New Year I will be more involved with CLDI as I transition into the role of Executive Director, continuing to be involved in both the church as well as the Fellowship House.

The Lord provided housing…

First there was 3617 2^nd Avenue South.  This was the brand new, four bedroom home that we lived in with the Houlihan’s.  We lived in community with the Houlihan’s for 6 months while our house was being built.  This proved to be a very beneficial time as we were all living in a new city, trying to immerse ourselves in the South Side and plant a church together.  The kids absolutely loved being around one another and we adults had many opportunities for date nights (it was easy to leave the kids for a date when you live with another couple)!  It really was a blessing to live together in community.

Our home was finished at 407 South 31^st Street.  The very first part of April our house was finished and we moved into our new home, built by KHCC, on April 12^th.  We love it as it has been a great blessing and wonderful place for our family.  Additionally, Shelly did a phenomenal job designing the house such that it is a great place for hosting church!

The Houlihan’s close on a home the same day as us… and right next door to us!  God works in some amazing ways.  The house next door, that used to be a drug house, was in the midst of being foreclosed on and the Houlihan’s were able to buy this four unit property (two houses, each with an upstairs house and full basement) for a steal.  So, not only did God provide them a house right next door to us, but He also provided them extra income as they can rent out the other three units and pay for their mortgage and utilities!

The Lord has provided friends…

The Lord has provided us with some amazing people here in Billings.  Though we will never be able to “replace” our friends from Memphis, He certainly has brought some amazing people into all of our lives.  How grateful we all feel that we are not alone in doing ministry here in the South Side, but much to our surprise, we are surrounded by many like-minded folks!

The Lord has planted Billings Fellowship Church…

From our first meager gathering in the basement of our home at 3617 2^nd Avenue South last October (this simply being the Basye’s and Houlihan’s), the church has grown considerably.  In November of last year we began meeting at 316 Jefferson Street in a home owned and operated by CLDI that functions much like a safe house.  After meeting there for several months we began meeting in our new home in late April.  We have been blessed with fellow brothers and sisters such as the Emerling’s (and their two kids), the Porrett’s (and their four kids), Roy, Murray, Cody (and his girls), and many others.  Honestly, it is hard to believe what God has done in a year.  I give great thanks and praise to Him.

The Lord has allowed us to establish many relationships in the neighborhood…

Through meeting such people as Charlie and Dave, we have been provided the opportunity to meet many of the people in our community and build relationships with them.  In many ways, our immersion into the South Side has been much more rapid than I would have imagined as the community has graciously welcomed us all as part of the community.  Our friends that have visited from Memphis have been shocked by the relationships we (God) has established in our community in just one year.  I agree… what took at least three years in Memphis (in terms of breaking down walls and getting to know our neighbors) has in a large part already happened.  Again, praise to Him.

The Lord has grown our families…

We came here as two families with three kids.  Come late February the Houlihan’s will give birth to a second child, a beautiful little girl I am sure.  The Basye’s will give birth to their third child in late May… I’m hoping for twins, but we’ll see what happens!

The Lord has provided health and joy in the lives of our kids…

I can’t thank God enough for this… our kids are healthy – Isaac, Elijah and Ellie.  Not only are they physically healthy, but they are happy, loved, joy-filled and their hearts are sensitive to the workings of Christ.  What a gift each of these children are to all of us.

The Lord has provided enjoyment of Montana weather and culture…

What can I say?  We love the weather here!  Never too hot, nor has it been too cold, though last winter was a little colder than I would have expected!  Many times this past summer, when everyone else was complaining about how hot it was, I was thanking God that it didn’t seem hot at all and that we had essential no humidity (especially compared to the deep South).  And culturally we love the people.  Dressed up here is a newer pair of Wranglers, some scuffed up cowboy boots and a bottom-up shirt.  Now that is what I am talking about!  People love the outdoors, hiking, hunting, camping, fishing, traveling… yeah, I would say it is indeed a fit for the Basye’s.

The Lord has provided great support for the work we do…

In every regard the Lord has surrounded us with people that not only have a vision for Christian community development, reaching the poor and making disciples, but He has also provided us with people, churches and organizations that are excited about the work we are doing and are in full support.  This comes as a great source of encouragement, especially to me.

I am sure there is so much more that the Lord has done that I am simply forgetting to mention.  Thank you God for leading us to this place.  I praise You for not sending us alone, but sending us with companions and friends as we sought to immerse ourselves in this community and plant a network of house churches.  May none of us ever fail to give glory and praise to You for all that you have done and will continue to do.  I simply thank You that you have blessed us as you have and that we get to participate in what you are doing in this city and the world abroad.  All glory and praise to you, my King!