Get Involved

Pray!

Join our partner in prayer team and receive regular updates on how you can be praying for our projects around the world.

Go!

Join with us in ministering to others by physically going on a project. We can promise you that it will be a life changing experience. Each project is a little different and has different needs, however our belief is that everyone has a talent and gift that they can contribute to a missions experience. Over 100 individuals have gone with us on trips and participated in blessing others (and being blessed) by through children’s ministries, health care, construction projects, business development, education, and building friendships. We can’t think of an instance where “going” hasn’t been a blessing to both those to whom we go and to the one going. For more information on how you can get involved in missions, contact us today!

Give!

Our work runs on donor-power! Your financial support enables physical and spiritual transformation to happen in communities around the world. Direct your gifts to a a particular country, project or wherever the need is greatest.

As a donor, you need to know that your money is being used wisely and efficiently.

How is that possible?

Montana On a Mission is a development, not a relief organization. While relief has its place during disasters our desire is to create economic opportunity for individuals and families who are trapped in poverty. We come alongside others in physical, tangible ways and at the same time emphasize the why of what we do. The why has to do with Jesus Christ! It is because of God’s great love in the person of Christ that we go.

Through Mission, we transform communities and lives through education, training, and the life-transforming message of Jesus Christ.

Our Story

Montana on a Mission Inc. is the outcome of an initiative conceived in 1996 when Dennis and Ellen Freed built a house in the tiny barrio of Calunasan Sur on the island of Bohol, Philippines. The intense poverty and profound need of the residents of the barrio quickly became evident to them. When a young mother died of an infected mosquito bite in 1998 they were motivated to get involved in providing poverty relief to the residents of the village. They shared this sense of urgency with their church in Big Timber, MT.
 
Calunasan Sur is typical of many rural villages in the Central Visayas. It is composed of 67 homes which are inhabited by 367 people (2000 census). The approved minimum daily wage rate for Bohol, as of October 1, 2000 was P155.00 ($3.50) for non-agricultural and P130.00 ($2.90) for agricultural. Based on a 1997 survey, Bohol’s average annual family income, pegged at P56,940.00 ($1265.00), was among the lowest in the region. The average annual expenditure in 1997 for a Boholano family amounted to P50,754.00 ($1130.00), the highest in the region. In 1997, Bohol’s poverty incidence rate of 48.4% was the highest in Region 7, higher than the national average rate of 40%.
 
In 2005, the Big Timber Church responded to a need to resolve dangerous drinking water issues in the barrio by sending funds and a team of short-term volunteer workers to assist the local inhabitants in constructing a water system throughout the village.   This project required the drilling of two wells, the construction of several cisterns and the installation of thousands of feet of pipe. As a result of this effort the residents of the entire barrio have safe drinking water piped to their door and many have indoor plumbing.
 
Since then more than ten teams and one hundred individuals from a variety of churches have travelled to the barrio to assist on a number of projects. To date Montana on a Mission has funded and partnered in the construction of five new homes in the barrio of Calunasan Sur. In addition, we have funded the remodeling of eighteen other homes in the village. These projects were completed at no cost to the homeowner.
 
Our mission statement states that we exist: “To inform, invite, and initiate concerned Christians toward action… To join God by working with Him on His mission to the world. We do this by coming alongside those in need, by giving them a "hand up" in life that they might praise God and grow in their relationship with Christ”.
 

This implies that we realize that there are situations that exist in which we need to rescue people from perilous situations by intervening to mitigate occurrences of contaminated drinking water, inadequate housing and other dangerous circumstances that are inherent in the extreme poverty in developing countries. However, we understand that another aspect of our purpose is that solutions to generational poverty require commitments to long-term partnerships, thus the “come alongside” reference.

In 2007, Montana on a Mission constructed the Calunasan Sur Production Center. It is a 30’x75’ structure that houses a fully equipped woodshop. This workspace contains the tools and machines necessary to produce carvings and furniture products. The building also encloses a sewing area which is equipped with industrial sewing machines that are used to produce clothing and other articles such as handbags and backpacks. It is here that the  local villagers are able to produce handmade wares for sale to tourists in nearby Loboc. To facilitate the sale of these products, Montana on a Mission partnered with the people of Calunasan Sur to construct a sales outlet, The River Hut, in the municipality of Loboc. Loboc is situated on the river that bears its name. It is here that tourists are attracted by river boat tours, the Loboc Children’s Choir and a live tarsier monkey display. This retail enterprise advances our tax-exempt status in that all of the profits from this enterprise benefit the community of Calunasan Sur.
 
 
Education

 

We believe that there is a direct link between generational poverty and educational achievement. One of the root effects of those trapped in poverty is that their children have limited opportunities to learn. The poor do not get a chance to move out of poverty because they are denied access to the means of acquiring skills and knowledge; consequently poverty perpetuates poverty. We believe that by increasing the opportunities of the poor to enroll at all levels of education we will make use of one of the most sustainable instruments available to end this cycle in underprivileged communities.
  
The elementary school is attended by students from Calunasan Sur as well as elementary age students from the neighboring villages of Canlisid and Ugpong. Presently, there is no library or access to computer technology. Montana on a Mission is currently negotiating a partnership with the local school district, the provincial government and another humanitarian organization to build a learning center that will consist of a library, a technology center and a pre-school classroom. We have acquired the donation of computers and are soliciting library books for shipment to the Philippines.   The construction of this facility has been completed an in January, 2010 a team from the U.S. will travel to the village to assist in equipping the building.
 
One hundred percent of the funding for the activity of Montana on a Mission has come from the donations of generous individuals and churches. We do not presently employ anyone nor do we have any immediate plans to hire staffing. We rely on the volunteerism of those people who donate their time and resources. Montana on a Mission insists that funds for the travel of work teams to Bohol be paid by those who travel. Fundraising occurs through the web of relationships that are developed by those who are involved in the mission of the organization.

 

 

Contact

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Our Board

Dennis Freed:

Twelve years ago Dennis and Ellen Freed became actively involved both financially and with volunteered time with IDEA (International Deaf Education Association) in Bohol, Philippines.   They immediately built a home and retreat center (to be used when they were in the country and by other groups throughout the year).  It became increasingly apparent that the barrio where they lived needed a great deal of help.  

They became convicted and challenged that they had an opportunity to improve on the safety, health, education and spiritual life of their impoverished neighbors.  Their first assistance was provided to the school in the form of an outdoor performance stage and in the provision of post-high school scholarships to promising and needy students.  Dennis and Ellen shared their calling and challenge with their church, Big Timber Evangelical.  The church responded immediately and generously. 

Several mission trips have followed that came alongside the men and women of the barrio to install wells, cisterns and water systems to each home.  More churches are now involved and today it is no longer an outreach by the Freeds, but a growing vibrant response by several churches to the needs of the barrios through Montana on a Mission.

Dennis has a B.A. in psychology and a Masters in Education and Certification in Secondary Administration.  His career in education started in Bothell, Washington and eventually lead to Egypt where he served  initially as the high school counselor and later as the high school principal.  After several years in education he went into international trading and bidding largely financed by the U.S. AID Program.  Eventually he was contracted by U.S. AID as Chief of Party to provide Afghanistan commodities required to survive within Afghanistan during their war with the Soviet Union.  After several years in Pakistan, he returned to the U.S. and continued on short term assignments for U.S. AID to Egypt, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zambia and also provided commodities to countries around the world sourced in the U.S.  Much of the work he did was humanitarian relief.  Eventually he became a member of a medical startup producing catheters and stents for cardiac lesion intervention.  Since retiring in 1996,  his wife and he have been working in support of IDEA  – Ellen, a registered nurse, designed and equipped medical care facilities for the deaf and set up medical support programs for the barrios – Dennis works on housing  projects for the deaf, participated as a board member of IDEA, and in all areas of income generation, housing, fundraising etc. for the barrio of Calunasan Sur, Loboc, Bohol, Philippines.  Dennis also served as a board member in Pakistan for the International School of Islamabad.

Bryan Baker:

Bryan has a B.A. in English and a Masters in Christian Theology. Bryan is the lead pastor of the Big Timber Evangelical Church in Big Timber, MT. He has been serving there for approximately nine years and has participated in four mission trips with Montana on a Mission. In addition, he is part of the core team that organizes these mission trips, establishes vision and works toward achieving Montana on a Mission’s goals.

Bryan helps call meetings, trains individuals for mission trips, facilitates travel arrangements, raises money and awareness about our mission work, and works with other leaders who do the same. He has several hundred hours invested in the above, not including actual time on mission trips which average two week-stints at a time.

Qualifications:

  1. The lead pastor of the church which organizes and facilitates missions work.
  2. Has  training in missions, community-building, and organizational development.
  3. Has training in board management, leadership development, and fund raising.
  4. Has worked in non-profit ministries and or organizations on a paid professional level for 17 years.
  5. Has passion for this work.

Jay Pravecek:

Jay Pravecek received his master’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Management from Montana State University in 1995.  He currently manages the Yellowstone River Trout Hatchery for the State of Montana in Big Timber, MT.  He and his wife have been married eleven years and have four children.  They have been living in Big Timber for five years and have participated in four mission trips with Montana on a Mission (MOM).  Additionally, he is part of the core team that organizes mission trips, establishes vision and works toward the achieving of our goals for Montana on a Mission as well as the Big Timber Evangelical Church. He has been serving as treasurer for MOM since 2008.

Jay has primarily been involved with the financial aspect of MOM. However, he also facilitates travel arrangements, raises money and awareness about our mission work, and works with other leaders who do the same. He has many hours invested in MOM, not including actual time on mission trips which average two weeks per year.

Qualifications:

  1. Fisheries and educational background aid in development of fisheries projects.
  2. Managerial skills help with budgeting and goal development.
  3. Has participated in MOM mission trips since 2006.
  4. Has passion for this work.

Marv Bethea:

Marv and his wife, Debbie live in St. Marie, Montana. They have six children and five "perfect" grandchildren (so far). They are active members of the Glasgow Evangelical Church.

Marv has been involved in Project Management, Real Estate Development, Economic Development and Community Development in Montana for over thirty years. He is currently involved in an effort to develop the community of St. Marie, the previous Glasgow Air Force Base.

Marv first visited Calunasun Sur in January of 2010 with his daughter Randell and returned in January of 2011. He is very impressed with the people of Bohol and how MOM has assisted this community in so many ways. He looks forward to what God will do through MOM and the sponsoring churches and individuals.

 

Thomas Lutke:

Tom is an owner of a landscaping company in Billings, MT since 2001.  He has travelled to Bohol on three different occasions.  The last, in October, 2007 was for an extended 3 month stay. 

Tom is fascinated with missions, especially as they relate to other cultures and is excited about the future prospects of Montana on a Mission. 

 

About Us

OUR MISSION:

 Montana on a Mission (MOM) is a Christian charitable organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We exist to encourage people to live out the love of Jesus Christ by coming alongside impoverished or marginalized people to improve their physical condition and ultimately impact their spiritual lives.

OUR VALUES:

 Our Need for God
·God loves us and the proof of his love is Jesus Christ. We believe that each person ultimately finds their needs met in a relationship with Jesus Christ and we follow his model in caring for people by meeting physical needs and pointing out our need for a relationship with God through Jesus.

The Priority of Prayer
·We recognize that God’s leading is important and therefore we sustain this ministry with prayer.

The Importance of Fiscal Responsibility & Accountability

·We are stewards and trustees of God’s resources and people’s trust so we will have the highest ethical standards in finances and relationships.

The Need to Invest in Sustainable Impact

·We recognize the importance of taking on projects that are sustainable over a long period of time. Therefore we will invest time, energy and resources into projects that are of the highest quality, reproducible and economically sound. We will also seek to implement ways of expanding and lengthening impact in the people and communities we invest in.

The Importance of Healthy Partnerships
·We believe in coming alongside people to help them help themselves so we enter into partnerships which make this possible.

The Need for Cultural Sensitivity & Respect
·Humility is one of our most important values. We are fellow learners, friends, and co-workers.

The Creation of Reproducible Models
·We believe that the road to success means creating a model which can be used in other places. While no two situations are exactly alike, there are things that we believe are transferable and models which can help us help more people.

As we plan and prepare for future mission trips it is important for us to keep these values in mind, particularly the first two because they lay the foundation for God’s work in us and through us.

Our Current Board: Denny Freed, Tom Lutke, Jay Pravecek, John Campbell and Marv Bethea and Pastor Bryan Baker