The Extensive Northwest

The Extensive Northwest The Extensive Northwest
W. Don Hockaday
P. O. Box 833, Billings, Montana The Northwest includes the eight extensive states: Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Montana has nine small congregations with a total of about 171 members. These are mostly rural and scattered at different points. Wyom`ing has two small congregations. There are about forty members in these two congregations. I Itah has no members, so far as I know. Since Brother J. E. Wainwright’s visit to Reno, we have a small group, in Reno. So far as I know, this represents the state of Nevada. North Dakota is represented by a few members near Crosby. South Dakota has 15 or 20 members at Huron. Minnesota has three small congregations with a total of about 18 members. Wisconsin has six small congrega`tions with a total of about 81 members. I had a letter several years ago from a sister saying that there was a large congregation at La`Crosse, Wisconsin, but Brother Ottinger, who has done a great deal of work in Wisconsin, did not seem to know about it. The attitude of the people, as it appears to me, is illustrated by the two instances I will relate. During one meeting, I was holding, we had a 16-inch snow. I was talking to a man on the street about the snow and its benefits and he was especially friendly. I told him about the meeting and invited him to attend. He immediately seemed to me to freeze into stone. The other day, I was trying to get a lot on which to stretch our tent for the meeting soon to be held by Brother Roy Cogdill. I asked a lady, who owned a certain lot, and in the conversation told her what I wanted with it. She immediately said, “I can keep you from having it there if I want to.” She also said that this was the attitude of the neighbors. Of course, there are noble exceptions to this, but this will give you an idea of the attitude toward the simple gospel of Christ.

It would be my suggestion that in this mission work we should build with an idea of permanence. I do not think that a man is apt to establish a congregation in a two- or three-weeks meetings that will remain. A congregation is established in these raw fields on the same principle that a woodpecker builds his nest. He keeps pecking in the same place until he has a nest and we must keep preaching in the same place until a church is established. When you select a field to fellowship in mission work, stay with that field and let the missionary know that you intend to stay with him with your prayers and fellowship. When a man enters a field of this kind, one of his greatest diffi-culties is a place to meet. We should have as well equipped meeting houses as the sects. In driving to Sheridan, Wyoming, I passed through a little town where there were several Indians. There were several buildings, the sign was painted in front, “The Indian Mission.” In Sheridan, a certain denomination had two preachers come here; they erected a temporary enclosed tabernacle. I did not go inside, but I am sure arrangements had been made for heat. They had leased ground for six months. A thirty-minute daily radio broadcast is held by these preachers. If a missionary could have a building belonging to the church to give the idea of permanence, it seems to me that it would be one of the greatest assets he could have. Then if he could have an operating fund, so that when he needed something badly, he would not have to send out an S.O.S. call and wait the good time of the churches to do what was needed to be done.

I wish I could draw a map to present the next idea. There is a main highway running across the state of Montana from east to west on the south side of the state. A main line of the railroad runs oarab lei to this highway. This highway and railroad run through Spokane, Washington. There is a good church there. Between there and Bil`lings on this highway are the larger towns, Missoula, Butte, and Boze`man. Then southward, across the state of Wyoming is another highway. On this highway are the larger towns, Sheridan, Casper, Chey`enne, Wyoming, and then Denver. I am sure you see the picture connecting these larger towns. Brother Charles L. Johnson is soon to be in Sheridan for regular work. Brethren, why cannot this connect`ing link be made?

Cannot the home preacher select with the help of the elders a cer`tain needy field and interest the home congregation in that field? May he not urge that that field be part of the regular budget of that church? Is not a budget that does not have a needy field as a part of that budget, lopsided, when the Lord says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation?” During the late war the government filled the boys and the people at home with a tremendous enthusiasm to win the war. Cannot the home church become filled with enthusiasm to win the world for Christ? It has been said, “The flock at home must be fed and tended; the work at home must be vig`orously prosecuted; but that is too small a thing to constitute the chief work of the church.”

I wonder how much of the world could be evangelized with the money that we Christians waste? Should we not be willing to keep books with the Lord and spend more to reach after souls in regions that know not the true gospel than we waste? Question: Would not a little more plain living and large giving better become those whose first question is not, what shall we eat? what shall we drink? or wherewith shall we be clothed? but what can I do to best advance the kingdom of God?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Which states form the great Northwest?
2. Which state has no churches? Which ones have very few?
3. What is the attitude toward religion and the church on the part of those living in these states?
4. What opportunities and what difficulties do these states present?
5. What attitude and what help should churches and Christians outside these states show toward
these states and the workers? What could even a little financial help and prayers accomplish for this territory?
6. What fellowship can I and my church have with this work? Which field should we choose?
How much fellowship should we have in it? Whom should we train or choose as our messenger?