The cul-de-sac that leads to the cloister at Montana Christian College is actually an open mountain highway to ministry, where classroom sequestration yields preparation and passage for sharing our Lord’s life-changing message.
“Months ago I envisioned Mission Montana, a ministry focused on moving our College family to reach our city, state, nation, and world for the cause of Christ,” said Dr. Marvin Jones, president of MCC.
The culture of missions Jones has inculcated among the MCC family was reflected on Nov. 5 when he hit the road for ministry on a 7-hour jaunt from campus with faculty and students in tow at Church of the Rockies in Red Lodge. Jones preached, and Professor Jasmine Alnutt and student Eric Anderson led the worship music.
“We want everyone to be engaged in ministries outside of their personal context,” Jones said. “We’re trying build upon that experience to say, ‘Okay, the next time it may be 17 hours outside the country.’” He said he wants to help develop ministry to Montana’s churches. “We will be active senders or go-ers to whatever mission field Gods sends us.”
Intent on recruiting like-minded students, Jones brought a handful of students to greet attenders at MCC’s display booth information table.
“I’ve known the church since first coming to Montana,” Jones said. “It was a very good time for us to enjoy the pastor, Justin Carter, and the church. I was pleased to see our students modeling Mission Montana and representing our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
One among the many students who live-out Mission Montana is Christian Leadership major Toby Kruse. He recently taught a young adults Bible study at Easthaven Baptist Church in Kalispell.
“It was exciting to have this opportunity to teach and practice a skill-set I intend to continue to develop and utilize throughout my life,” Kruse said.
Teaching from Proverbs 4, Kruse highlighted the wisdom of following God and guarding one’s heart from anything destructive. “It might not be easy. It might be hard,” Kruse said. “You might have to climb a mountain, but you will succeed because God’s path is a walkable path.”
Dean of Women and Instructor of History Jasmine Alnutt is a frequent off-campus ambassador for the College and its Mission Montana initiative. Next spring she will be featured at a woman’s retreat in Alberta, Canada, titled “Hold the Line.” The meeting’s focal verse is Jeremiah 12:5, “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?”
