First Nations Churches on Mission to the Fort Peck Reservation in Northeast Montana
by Paul Young
First Nations Association churches from North and South Dakota recently completed their first mission trip out of state. Members from Dakota Baptist Church in Fort Totten, First Baptist Church—Sisseton, LaPlant Baptist Church, and Hilltop Baptist Church in Lower Brule joined with members from Builders for Christ to help Brockton Baptist Chapel move forward with the completion of an addition to their building.
Pastor Milton Owen (First Baptist—Sisseton) first proposed the idea that the First Nations churches from the Dakotas, who had all benefited from the generosity of the Builders for Christ in the past, take a step of maturity and give back to another Native work. It was the first missions experience for several members of the Dakotas team.
The team worked hard finishing sheetrock, painting, and completing the electrical work alongside the more experienced members of the Builders for Christ team. There was a wonderful spirit of unity as the team came together from multiple churches in six states.
First Baptist Church of Poplar graciously hosted the large mission team for the week. This led to ministry opportunities as team members were able to help their host church with discipleship classes and Sunday morning worship, as well as share testimonies of God’s saving grace from one tribal community to another. The group left the Fort Peck Reservation weary, but grateful for God’s provision and protection during the week and planning their next trip together.
First Nations Association is a network of several Dakota Baptist churches serving on different reservations across the Dakotas. Paul Young is the pastor of Dakota Baptist Church in Fort Totten, ND and a Church Relations Missionary for the DBC.
