Kalispell, Montana is a fast growing city located in northwest Montana near the Glacier National Park. Pastors Michael and Teri Hance along with their children came to Kalispell May 2011 from Bismarck, South Dakota. Pastor Hance said that he wasn’t looking to move, but God definitely had it in mind.
The Valley Community Church (sits one block off of Highway 2 East) has been in existence for 20 years. The church began in the basement of a home across the street from the present facility. The record attendance of 101 was reached this month on Easter Sunday morning.
Glen and Susie Anniskette were recently in Kalispell for a few nights of revival and saw firsthand the hunger and anticipation of the church.
The community is sitting up and taking note of the fast growing church. Pastor Hance believes that the best way to win souls is to build relationships with the community. He’s been busy doing that along with the leaders of his church and the results are plain to see. The church’s vision statement says that Valley Community Church of God exists to fulfill the “Great Commission” with the message of love, hope, healing, and forgiveness. With a servants heart they will reach the Flathead Valley through worship, discipleship, and family focused ministries that build strong lasting relationships.
One of Bishop Hance’s friends in the community, J.D. Caradin, has set up a coffee/skateboard venue for local teens called Serious Juju Java and Skatepark/shop. He sells the best coffee in town and reaches hundreds of young people with the gospel through the offer to use his skatepark.
During our time in Kalispell, we shared a meal at a local restaurant with the Hance family. The conversation with the waitress made its way around to the church. Before long, the waitress was reaching for a business card and saying how boring her church was and that she was very interested in coming to visit. This type of interaction with the community is common for Pastor Hance.
Another friend of Pastor Hance’s, Philip Klevmoen, has made it his business to make Ten Commandment signs and encouraging people to display them all over town. There’s even a youtube video about it. For more information or to contact Klevmoen, visit www.gods-ten-commandments.com
Pastor Hance’s vision is to see the Valley Community Church of God grow large enough to begin to plant other churches in the area so the gospel will reach further than the Kalispell congregation can reach.
Please pray with the Pastors and their members that God will continue to give them wisdom as they try to figure out a way to make room for the people in their present church building until God opens up a bigger location. What a great problem to have!
–Susan Anniskette