— Rev. Len Pine, PMU North American Field Director and Idaho Church Planter

With much praise and rejoicing, the year-old congregation in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, is gratefully establishing its testimony in the community with the help of its new building. The renovation work continues little by little, but the building is fully functional and a beautiful place in which to worship. Visitors are making their way to the services on a regular basis, and the body is encouraged by the repeat visits that it sees from folks in the community. A truly blessed dedication service in September, and a special mid-week presentation in October by Mrs. Ruth Moran of Bright Hope Ministries on the grace of God to endure through cancer, continue to bear fruit, along with the regular preaching of the Word.

I intend to begin keeping office hours at the church soon to be more of a presence in the heart of the community, and a suitable area is being prepared and appropriate furnishings secured for that purpose. At the same time, the weekly Bible study in Sandpoint, Idaho, continues to progress toward seeking formal mission status with the Great Western Presbytery with a faithful group of Reformed believers intent upon being salt and light in Bonner County. Thank you for your prayers for the works in Idaho. — Dr. Pine

]]> http://presbyterianmissions.org/idaho-mission-gets-settled-in-new-sanctuary/feed/ 0 http://presbyterianmissions.org/usa-%e2%80%94-dr-len-pine-pmu-north-american-field-director-and-church-planter/ http://presbyterianmissions.org/usa-%e2%80%94-dr-len-pine-pmu-north-american-field-director-and-church-planter/#comments Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:04:50 +0000 adminkaren http://presbyterianmissions.org/?p=2531  

Friends, greetings in the Lord’s name. He has been so good and faithful to us this year that it is hard to know where to begin. A good place to start would be to say “Thank you!” for your prayers and support of the work here in North Idaho.

The biggest focal point of the work since May especially has been the renovation of the building here in Bonners Ferry. Once a neglected and overgrown eyesore that made the neighbors wince every time they saw it, the church-turned-business-turned-residence-turned-church-again has risen like the mythical phoenix to be a place that is both delightful to look at and to be in. The entire community has marveled at the transformation, and even in mid-process, the change has made people glad that we moved into town. Since the first Sunday in September, we’ve been enjoying the use of it at last, though there is still much work to do before it is “finished.” Many, many hours of hard work by our small congregation and friends from our Presbytery and the community have resulted in a place that exalts our Lord, as He enabled us.

Church planting is seldom one long, smooth climb toward establishing a mature body. Along the way, there are always ups and downs and the challenges related to beginning something new. This fall, one of our core families was forced to move out of the area due to employment demands, but the Lord has been bringing others to encourage us. We hope the family will be able to return next year but are thankful for the blessing they are being to one of our sister BP churches.

I continue in my role as Field Director at PMU, a necessary and welcome obligation. I spent nearly three weeks away in Cambodia this summer and another at Synod. Then, I fell ill with pneumonia and threw my back out setting up the log posts for the church sign, which has made work very difficult for the past month. Still, the Lord continues to do and keep the work, and I am confident that His testimony in and through us here will be well established. Just this past Lord’s Day, we were encouraged by brand new visitors who assured us they would return. So, the Lord gives us the tokens of His blessings along the way to remind us exactly Who is “at large and in charge,” as a friend of mine likes to say.

The newer church planting work in the city of Sandpoint to the south of us here has also been going well. The group is slowly growing, gaining oneness of mind as we go along, and rejoicing in the study of God’s Word together. Though I’ve started churches before, I’ve never started two at once, and so it is fascinating to me to see the different ways in which the Lord takes His people and molds them into a visible communion. It’s exciting to be part of it, to say the least.

For your times of prayer, here are a few items that I hope you’ll remember as you think of us:

• Over the fall and winter, we hope to begin the process of seeking the Lord’s moving among us to raise up officers from the body here in Bonners Ferry, a momentous step forward in the life of the mission.
• Please keep the Sandpoint preaching point in your prayers as it develops and grows. Specifically, we would ask for avenues of testimony to open up in the community where the power of the whole counsel of God would be appropriately applied in the civic and spiritual lives of the populace.
• Karen, my dear wife, is facing foot surgery this winter, and we would ask for the Lord’s provision of what we need to cover the bills, and cover the work here in the office, a great concern to her. She’ll be off her feet for six to eight weeks, so we’ll definitely have some shuffling to do to get everything accomplished. She continues to do a terrific job in the PMU office, balancing those tasks with the duties of wife and mother.
• Our daughter, Chelsea, continues her college studies in California. She’s doing well, though keeping her health strong is proving to be a challenge this year. She was just diagnosed with mono, and so we are praying for her endurance and return to health.  Costs have also gone up, and so we pray for the Lord to provide a job for her there that will enable her to stay in school, and still do school.
• Our son, Eli, is pressing on full steam ahead with his desire to graduate from the charter high school a year early, and he is doing well. He’s learning a little of the cost of being righteous, as those he counted as friends last year have snubbed him this year due to his lack of enthusiasm for their fallen life-styles and choices. Pray for him to stand strong and be discerning. He desires to be a restaurateur and is eagerly pouring himself into preparing for that profession.
• As for me, your prayers for my physical and spiritual stamina would be greatly appreciated; for growth “from grace to grace” so that I would be a fit vessel to serve the Lord in the three ministries (four, counting my family) that the Lord has entrusted to me; and for an abiding joy and love for the Lord’s people.

Once again, thank you for your love and support of our family as we labor here in Idaho. May God bless and keep you in the safety of His everlasting arms.

Yours for Christ’s service,

Len Pine

Our visibility is already increasing as people in town stop by to admire the transformation of this former eyesore. Some get out and chat with us about memories they had as children in the building when it was a church in years past. We’re thankful for God’s provision for us, and look forward to beginning earnest efforts at outreach once we have a place that has room to grow. One of our core families has had to move away for the school year to obtain work, but thankfully they are not far away, and we will be able to enjoy their fellowship from time to time. Others are looking to move into the area and become a part of our mission here.

The Sandpoint Bible study is off to a good start, and more will be done in the months to come to get it organized into a proper mission of the Presbytery. Thank you for your prayers! — Rev. Len Pine

]]> http://presbyterianmissions.org/bpc-mission-update-idaho/feed/ 0 http://presbyterianmissions.org/usa-idaho-mission/ http://presbyterianmissions.org/usa-idaho-mission/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 00:21:07 +0000 adminkaren http://presbyterianmissions.org/?p=2376 Nestled in the mountains of North Idaho, a church is being birthed.  Reformed believers have gathered to raise a testimony to Christ in a small community called Bonners Ferry, Idaho.  Many of these believers have been praying for years that a reformed church would be established here; their prayers are being answered.  God has also provided a building for the church to rent which is under current renovation.  Interestingly, this building was originally a Lutheran church, built in the 1940’s, but has been used in the last several years as a stove store, an art gallery and a home.  Now, we are reclaiming it for Christ.  If this church is to survive, it must be God’s work; it must be founded upon the Holy Scriptures and sound doctrine, and expanded by the work of the Holy Spirit.  We ask that you pray with us that God will establish this congregation here for His glory, enabling us to be a light of His glorious grace.

The Kootenai River (pronounced koot’-nee) powers its way through a pristine valley in western Montana towards Idaho before being checked in its progress by a hydro-electric dam close to the Idaho border. Thereafter, it meanders along westward through that ever-broadening valley until it reaches the picturesque town of Bonners Ferry. From there, it really starts to wind a sinewy path as it turns northward, eventually draining into Kootenay Lake in British Columbia. It is filled with fish, and prior to the dam’s construction, annually flooded its banks and deposited enormous amounts of sediment in the valley bottom, creating thousands of acres of rich farmland surrounded by rugged mountain ranges that retain their caps of snow long into the summer months. It is a gloriously beautiful place.

In the midst of this wonder of God’s creation there are souls whom God has gathered to worship His name. It is here that the Lord has led the Northwest Presbytery and PMU to labor together to plant a mission church among those people. And it is here that the banner of Jesus Christ has been raised that is now calling to others in neighboring communities to worship our Lord “in the beauty of holiness.”

With services beginning in September of 2010, the ensuing months have seen the initial core group solidify in its common vision, purpose, and identity. In a small community like Bonners Ferry, not much can be done that isn’t noticed by somebody, and the mission’s testimony is growing. Visitors have come and stayed; Pastor Pine, along with many in the group, has taken part in several community activities in sports, music, and education; fellowship opportunities that go beyond the limits of the group abound; and the word is out that there is a Reformed work in Boundary County.

The Lord has blessed us by providing a place to meet that is welcoming, comfortable, and accessible. We are grateful to Him, as well as to the City Council here, for allowing us the use of the Bonners Ferry Visitors’ Center right on the highway downtown free of charge. But it has become apparent that the space (only one large room) cannot accommodate us for much longer. With a top capacity of only forty-nine, we often come close to filling it. So, some time ago we began searching for a new place to meet on a permanent basis. A property that has been vacant for some time, a former church turned into a residence, was recently put up for auction, and we began the process of seeing if that property might be the place for us. One of our families expressed a desire to purchase the building for the mission to rent at present, and, Lord willing, eventually purchase at a future date.  A Special Use Permit has been obtained, and an offer was made and accepted.  The closing date is set for May 23rd.  There are a few renovations that are needed, so hopefully, the mission will be able to meet there sometime in June.  It’s a great gift. The property is on the main road through town, with a lovely sanctuary and lots of room for ministry activities. Please pray with us for the Lord’s will to be done in the closing and all the upcoming details.

The first weekend in April, our charter membership role was officially opened, and twelve members and four covenant children were added to the role. More will follow in the weeks to come. By-laws were adopted as well, all under the supervision of elders appointed by the Presbytery to assist in the work until our own elders can be set apart to that wonderful service. It was a precious and memorable weekend, to say the least.

At the same time, Pastor Pine has been meeting with folks in other communities in the region, and plans are underway to begin new preaching points in the city of Sandpoint, Idaho, and possibly Newport, Washington, as well. Folks in Newport have expressed a desire to come over to Sandpoint initially for Bible studies as they seek what the Lord would have them to do in their area. It is truly an exciting time. The Sandpoint Bible studies began on April 17, finishing up the Lord’s Day with an evening of fellowship and study. Please pray that the Lord will guide the group’s development, grant travel safety to Pastor Pine as he drives the 40 miles or so each way on Sunday evenings, and further establish and disseminate the testimony of the Reformed faith throughout North Idaho, Northeast Washington, and Northwest Montana.

— Rev. Len Pine

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