Being Missional in Montana

How does a small church with an average attendance of 40 people make a difference in its community?  

It starts with a pastor and people who have a missional heart — a heart that reaches  out to others with the message of love and transformation that Jesus Christ taught and brought with him more than 2,000 years ago.

And that’s exactly the kind of heart that Pastor Don Jabaay and members of Green Meadow Community Church, small in numbers though they are, have shown.

Christian Reformed Home Missions points to Green Meadow CRC, located in Helena, Mont., a city with a population of 30,000, as the kind of small church whose spirit is fresh and whose focus is full of faith and inspirational.

This little church is working hard to reach those who don’t know the gospel.

“God is doing a wonderful thing with small churches,” says Pastor Don Jabaay.

In a community where more than 70 percent of people do not attend church or know the Lord, Don says, he is certain God has placed his church in Helena for a reason and purpose.

He uses every opportunity — and, he says, every excuse — that he can to connect with people in the community. He builds relationships over conversations and cups of coffee. He connects with radio broadcasters, police officers, newspaper editors, and many others.

His congregation prays regularly for God to bring new people to their church.  But they don’t stop with prayer.

One member has invited a co-worker to church . . . and she continues to come.

Meanwhile, another woman comes to church with a special need — her husband is in prison. So the church and the pastor minister to her, and her husband, too.

Last fall, the church hosted a Family Night for four weeks with the topic of Heaven (using the book, Heaven by Randy Alcorn).

Green Meadow Community is also developing new leaders for the future. Presently, two young men are being mentored for ministry.

In two and a half years, Pastor Don Jabaay will retire.

As he looks to the future, he prays that God will bring just the right pastor to minister to the Helena community.  

“The Lord is working slowly and persistently through smaller churches like us,” he says.