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Montana Baptists to bolster ties with Canadian Baptists


BILLINGS, Mont. (BP)–Closer ties between Montana and Canadian Baptists were underscored during the Montana Southern Baptist Fellowship’s Oct. 11-12 annual meeting.

A resolution adopted by the fellowship noted: “Whereas the Montana Southern Baptist Fellowship has entered into a cooperative relationship with the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists, be it resolved that all churches of the Montana Southern Baptist Fellowship are encouraged to actively seek ministry roles in Canada.”

Jim Edlin, the fellowship’s director of communications, told Baptist Press, “There is beginning to be a good amount of cross-border cooperation between Montana and the Canadian Baptists. This has been growing for several years.”

Easthaven Baptist Church in Kalispell, Edlin noted, has been a pacesetter, having already undertaken a couple of mission trips into Canada.

Other resolutions:

— thanked Clyde Billingsley, who retires as executive director at the end of the year, and his wife, Judy, for their six years of service to the fellowship.

— noted “that in accordance with the Biblical mandate to pray for our leaders, we encourage all Christians to pray and vote for leaders who are committed to and demonstrate Godly character.”

The annual meeting, at Rimrock Baptist Church, Billings, drew 155 registrants, more than in recent years. Increased attendance was also reported at the Oct. 10 Pastor’s Conference and Woman’s Missionary Union meeting.

Elected unopposed as president and vice president, respectively, for the coming year were Joe Pickard of Billings, the fellowship’s interfaith witness director, and Mike Kauffold, pastor of First Baptist Church, Wolf Point. Bert Murphy, interim pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Great Falls, was re-elected recording secretary.

A budget of $1,319,375 was approved for the coming year, an increase of $49,560 over the current budget. The budget anticipates $387,000 in Cooperative Program giving by the state’s 125 churches and missions, with 22 percent to continue to be allocated to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries.

Next year’s annual meeting will be Oct. 10-11 at Westside Baptist Church, Great Falls.
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