ELKO, Nev. (BP) — An example in contrasts, Nevada is home to the glitz of Las Vegas as well as the loneliest road in America. It appears on lists for both the fastest-growing and least densely populated states. The land has mountains but also vast deserts.
It’s also known as some of the best stargazing country you can find. Outside of the metropolitan areas of Vegas, Reno and Carson City exists open country with so little light pollution that one can not only view the Milky Way with the naked eye, but through it to the next galaxy. In 2019 the Massacre Rim Work Study Area, in the northwest part of the state, was named one of the darkest places on earth.
Light shines brightest in the darkest places.
That metaphor isn’t lost on Nevada ministers like Robin Stork, director of missions for Northeast Baptist Association and pastor of Spring Creek Baptist Church.
Ministry is hard in the state. It’s harder when you consider the scope of Storks’ job. His association has 23 churches across 55,000 square miles (Only Tanana Valley Baptist Association in northern Alaska may be bigger.). Drives of 200 miles or more are required in most every direction.
“There are no quick trips around here,” said Stork, who worked for 23 years in the gold mining industry. “But being on the road gives you time to think, so you try and make the most of it.”
He had to cut back on his travel after accepting the pastorate of Spring Creek a few months ago. Before that he had piled nearly 200,000 miles on his 2014 Mazda 3. He sold that to buy a van for his wife and now drives a Durango.
Most of Highway 50, the loneliest road, lies in his association.
“You can go for hours and see nothing,” he said. “When I drive in the winter, I have all kinds of supplies because you may be there awhile if you break down.”
In the office, most of the communications are maintained by phone and email. Once a month, pastors and wives meet at First Baptist Church in Battle Mountain.
The agenda is loose. Stork may print out and bring an article or Lifeway Research result for them to discuss. “More often than not I put the plans aside because we have other issues to talk about,” he said. “We brainstorm together.”
Many of the pastors, like Stork, aren’t seminary trained and lean on their experiences and insight from others.
“We have several younger pastors with little training. Some are ranchers while others work in mining or a supporting industry like trucking. We have military veterans like me,” he said.
Times come when they have to back each other up.
“Some of them have severe PTSD and we may have a situation where we need someone over there to preach,” said Stork.
The Nevada Baptist Convention also hosts meetings twice a year for the association’s pastors.
“They’ve been phenomenal in putting together training programs for us,” Stork said. “They just want us to be together and meet the state staff, see how they can help us.” He added that similar events are hosted by the state in Reno and Las Vegas.
“For a long time, there was a sense of separation,” said Storks. “These meetings have made it more apparent that we don’t have to stand alone.”
The times between those gatherings can test pastors in a culture that has its own set of challenges.
“We’re so spread out and some of these places can get desolate without fellowship from other Christians. Our time together is important, and we can fellowship in a way that brings comfort in knowing we can call on our brothers for help.”
His most recently monthly meeting in Battle Mountain on July 25 focused on communications, specifically how churches can have better practices in reaching communities. The group talked about the importance of brevity in messages and getting to the point.
Help from outside is welcome in sharing the gospel. Church revitalization remains key among those areas being addressed.
“We’re always looking for missionaries and churches to come help us, whether it’s for Vacation Bible School or church planting,” said Storks.
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