Rocky Mountain District
Christian & Missionary Alliance
News  2010

From: Tim Owen
March 3, 2010

DEXCOM met Monday afternoon and Tuesday. There are several things to thank the Lord for. A plan was approved to redevelop the Whitefish Alliance Church. I have appointed Kent Morrison to be the pastor of that church. He served in Whitefish as pastor of a Baptist church for over 20 years that was very successful. He has been out of church ministry for three years and was doing supply preaching at the Whitefish church and began a conversation with the District exploring leading the Whitefish church in a restart.

Subsequently, Kent was accredited, candidated at that church and I appointed him as pastor. The people in the church have embraced the restart plan. They will close their doors to the public for six weeks during which time Kent will train the group into being a new kind of church. They will rename the church and reopen in May. Kent is recruiting other families to join with that church to launch a new movement of God in that place. They will retain the same facility. Please be praying for this church as they boldly head in this faith direction. May God bless them with his success!

We also approved the church planting plans Gary Burdick is leading us in Nampa and the Hispanic possibility. We are encouraged with both projects, even though it has not gone as expected. Please be praying for those projects as well.

The Riverton church is scheduled to meet a candidate on site the weekend of March 19-21. Be praying God will give them all wisdom to know his will and faith to act on it.

Cheyenne is preparing for pastor search and should be ready to begin looking seriously soon. The Rock Church in Nampa has put their search on hold while they recover from Cliff's passing. It is my prayer that all of these churches will have pastors by this summer.

Meanwhile I have not received any other resignations. Could it be that this June we will only be looking for a pastor for two or three churches whereas last year we were looking for a pastor for ten churches?! I'd like that! Thank you for praying.

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Cliff Williams passed into the presence of Jesus a week ago last Thursday. He is now at rest and experiencing the joy of being in the Savior’s presence. The memorial service for Cliff was held this past Saturday in Nampa.

Several hundred people gathered at 10:00 a.m. to celebrate the life and message of Cliff Williams and to honor God in that celebration. God was glorified in that service. There were many speakers, including Cliff’s three sons and his wife Wendy, and quite a bit of music. The gospel was repeatedly presented and an invitation to turn to Jesus as Savior and Lord of given. Included in those who came to the altar was Cliff’s older brother Roy, for whom Cliff had prayed for decades.

In addition to conversions, there were Christians who had wandered from God who surrendered to the Lordship of Christ in broken repentance. There were tears of repentance and commitment at that altar. The service was concluded outside with a dove ceremony wherein 21 doves were released in a "21 Dove Salute" and Wendy releasing one dove, symbolic of Cliff’s spirit going to the presence of God. In and through it all there was obvious abundant love for the family and one another.

Again, Christ was honored, glorified, and exalted. Thank you for your prayers and support of those close to Cliff.

Anyone who wishes to do so, may contribute to Cliff’s Memorial Fund. He turned the initials of the disease ALS, to make a title for the foundation established to support those going on short term missions: "A Legacy of Service." Contributions may be sent to The Rock of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Nampa, Idaho 77 S. Happy Valley Road, Nampa, ID 83687

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Lawrence Berge, retired pastor in Casper, Wyoming went to be with the Lord on Sunday the 14th. He retired from ministry and the Casper Alliance Church about seven years ago. His wife Alice went to be with the Lord about eight years ago

Arrangements for the service for Lawrence Berge are finalized. The funeral will be March 13th at 10 am at the First Church of the Nazarene in Casper, Wyoming  (information about the church  - www.caspernazarene.org 2020 South Jefferson Street Casper, WY 82601-4742 (307) 234-9601).  All are invited to attend. A memorial fund in Lawrence’s name has been established for CAMA Services.

Donations may be sent to CAMA Services in the name of Lawrence Berge Memorial fund. The family will be notified.

Let us continue in prayer for Lawrence’s family  as they go through this loss.

Grace and peace,

Tim O

From: Gary Burdick
March 2, 20101
RE: Burdick's Prayer Update

Dear Prayer Team,

As we come to you this month it is with the realization that in life there are usually steps forward and steps back. Thank you for standing in the gap for our District through both. Let us share with you the current happenings.

Things have not gone as initially desired with Nampa church plant effort and Omar and Griselda Flores.  Right after arriving they were questioning if they should have come. Omar has reached the decision that he is not called of God to do a church plant there. The two of them are currently applying for secular work to support themselves so that they can stay in Nampa and plug into the Rock. They do hope to begin a home group and continue to explore the possibility of a Hispanic plant in Nampa / CaldwellWe will keep you posted on what happens.

While in Nampa meetings were held and discussions took place that helped to clarify for Dusty and Chandra Benner their church planting direction. Plans are coming together for Gary to make a trip out there to meet with the Board at the Rock to discuss where and how this "daughter" can most effectively multiply from the Rock.

At Zootown Brew the sales area continues to improve slowly. Please continue to pray.

This past weekend Kim and Gary had the opportunity to visit with two previous Alliance families who now live in Douglas. They expressed the need for a church that would be service oriented and interested in dealing with addiction issues. Please pray seeking to see if God will put things together for a plant in that community.

As far as the family, Shannon is currently being trained to be a math tutor with Huntington Learning Center. He is also awaiting word on whether or not he will be hired for a summer trail crew for the Forest Service. That is his desire so please pray for an opening to be made available for him.

Danae is now 6 months along in her pregnancy. She continues to experience nausea as well as periods of dizziness. She has another doctor's appointment in about a week so we await news of any recommendations. The baby is doing well and growing on schedule.

Please pray for us as we relate to Mio our International Student who is attending MSUB. Pray for spiritual interest and that we will effectively live out Christ before her and enter into spiritual discussions with sensitivity.

March 15-17 is another Licensing and Ordination School here in Billings that Gary is responsible to organize and run. It is encouraging to have so many of our pastors complete this step in ministry.

March is certainly showing signs of Spring. All of us are ready for that! May our District experience new areas of growth during this season also.

In Him,
Gary and Kim Burdick




From: Tim Owen
Dateline: Friday, February 5, 2010

El Salvador

Thank you for praying for Edie and I as we ministered to the Central America Field of the C&MA last week. Our travel was routine, thankfully. The San Salvador airport is not like our USA airports, but quite nice. The weather was hot-about 90 degrees during the day, with not much wind. We spent four days in San Salvador and two days down on the coast.

The highlight was to meet the team. There was one couple from Guatemala, the Soderlings, a couple from Costa Rica, the Fanbergs, a single also from CR, Maritza Cumba and the Mullinax family in El Salvador. It was great to get to know these people we had not known before and especially wonderful to reconnect with the Mullinax's.

Richard and Jen have completed their first year of language training and did well. In this, their second year, they will be meeting with a tutor a couple of times a week. Richard will be focused on learning to write sermons in Spanish. As we traveled around the city we could see they were very good at speaking Spanish and would run into few language blanks. They live in a nice home in a square of homes enclosed by walls and secured with a gate and guards on 24 hour duty. The main concern the mission had for them in selecting a home was their safety and security. They are apologetic about how nice their home is, but the mission wants them safe and so rented that home for them. They are very encouraged that their children have a safe place to play and plenty of playmates that live in the square. They have a loaner car to drive while they wait for their permanent vehicle. They should have it in about a month. So, they are getting settled in. Their children are real sweethearts and a delight to be around. I was the devotional speaker and did some training. Edie taught a card making class and ministered to the children during the times we were in meetings. I also preached Lord's Day through a translator. That went well, thank the Lord.



The Central America Field is a new one being formed in the Alliance. It is being formed primarily to support churches that are being planted in significant part due to connections nationals have with the Alliance in the USA and Canada. They have lived in the U.S. or Canada, moved back to El Salvador or another Central American country and start an Alliance Church. So our mission there is to get some model churches established that can multiply. The idea is that the mission staff will depart in ten to twenty years leaving behind an indigenous church. Richard and Jen are serving the Alliance Church in El Salvador, alongside the pastor.

A major ministry that Richard and Jen will lead is in the area of Short Term Mission trips. As I type, the Missoula Alliance Church is preparing to serve there later this month. They plan to do some construction and medical/dental work. They hope to host many short term teams from our District and others as well. Short term trips to Central America will cost more than one to our projects in North Central Mexico, but not as much as trips to places like Mongolia, Russia, Jordan or Guinea.

Edie and I thank you for your prayers and for the District to give me the time to devote to this ministry. In this day of budget cuts I want you to know that we were able to pay most of our own expenses on this trip. The Lord has provided us with the money, so we paid for it gladly.

Let us continue in prayer for the Central America mission team, especially Richard and Jen.

Cliff and Wendy Williams

I just spoke to Jake, their son about their situation. He said his dad is about the same and slowly getting weaker. He can't be understood any more except by Wendy. He is sleeping more and has lost much of his body weight and almost all of his strength. This is very hard especially on Wendy and Chelsea, the primary care givers. They do have hospice help and the sons come to the house frequently to assist in many ways. They are confused as to why the Lord doesn't take Cliff home. Pray for them with great love and faith. Pray for the church also as they continue to grieve for Cliff and at the same time look for a pastor. These are hard times for these dear people.

Pastor Search Report

Please continue to pray for Cheyenne, Whitefish, Riverton, and Nampa as they search for their next pastor. Riverton is about to interview candidates on the phone using Skype. The Whitefish church interim pastor is applying to be their permenant solo pastor. He is shaping a "Move Forward" plan with the leaders of that small flock. The Nampa church is looking at another resume packet. I am scheduled to meet with the Cheyenne Board of Elders tomorrow evening to launch them into the search process.