With a population of 71.8 million, the West faces the challenge of lostness at staggering proportions. Almost nine out of 10 residents in the West have no relationship with Christ. That’s 62 million people—87 percent of the population—who are lost. Rich Ratts, church planting missionary with the
Montana Southern Baptist Convention, has been in Montana for three years attempting to reduce that staggering percentage. “I feel as though there are many relationships
where I am just now earning the person’s trust in order for the relationship to have some traction,” says Ratts. “If you are going to do ministry—especially church planting—in Montana, you better be thinking and living like a missionary. “My advice for someone who felt called to
Montana? It would be very important for them to have a great network of prayer support and also some folks they could regularly connect with for support
and encouragement. Montana can be a very isolated, lonely place. This is particularly true if one is planting in a more rural or secluded area of the state. Loneliness often breeds discouragement. Before too long the planter and his family are ready to head back home,” says Ratts.
Those harsh realities put a premium on using resources wisely. They also call for making the most of effective strategies like partnerships. An excellent example of deploying partnership strategy in the West is Valley Life Church. The North Phoenix congregation will launch in October. The pastor, Brian Bowman, has moved from Oklahoma as part of a church planting network representing Oklahoma’s Mullins Baptist Association.
West population to sbc congregation ratio
Top 5 Least Churched
1. GUAM - 36,173
2. UTAH - 35,248
3. OREGON - 27,722
4. WASHINGTON - 23,886
5. CALIFORNIA - 17,345
Top 5 Most Churched
1. WYOMING - 5,669
2. NEW MEXICO - 6,146
3. ALASKA - 6,916
4. MONTANA - 7,677
5. AMERICAN SAMOA - 8,304
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, LifeWay Christian Resources (e.g. One SBC church exists for every 36,173 people in Guam)
ON MISSION • Summer 2011 29
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