Starting something new in Williston, ND

The City of Williston–the Western Star of North Dakota–is located near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers near the site where Lewis and Clark reunited on their way back to St. Louis. Williston is the hub of a trade area which extends west 18 miles into Montana and north 60 miles into Canada.

Williston most recently has been known as being the center of a major oil boom going on in North Dakota. It was this “boom” that brought many people here looking for jobs. As workers and their families started coming in so did members of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. The members who have come are energetic and love their Lord. In an attempt to find a church home many of them traveled 93 miles to the west to join the members of Good Shepherd Ev. Lutheran Church in Wolf Point, MT.

As more and more members moved into Williston permanently the need for a church in Williston became more apparent. The Pastor in Terry, MT, being the closest WELS’ pastor (150 miles), was asked to come and serve the members in Williston two times per month. Since the minister in Terry serves three congregations in Montana, the group has been worshiping and meeting for Bible Class on Mondays in the evening.

Not to let those visits be the only contact with God’s Word these members also meet for Sunday worship in a conference room at the Microtel Hotel. Services are streamed online from Redeemer Lutheran in Mandan, ND. Right now, there are about 21 WELS’ members (8 family groups) being served by Pastor Hanneman in Williston.

Therefore, it is the need of a more regular pastoral presence: to care for our members, to offer a more regular worship schedule, and more consistent opportunities for outreach, this group sees the great need for calling a pastor and building a church in Williston by God’s grace.

Our group in Williston, Lamb of God Lutheran Church, has been trying to get help in calling a full-time pastor to serve and lead them in their mission to spread God’s Word. First, the mission board wants to develop the field by calling a semi-retired pastor to serve the area for six months, equipping the members, and collecting contacts.

As with all mission work, the work never goes as fast as one would like. We all would love another “Pentecost” experience where 3,000 members are added after one sermon. Instead, mission work is one soul at a time and often times progress is made after many failed attempts.

But, what a joy it is to be serving the Lord in this great work by making disciples of all nations. We have the great pleasure in being Christ’s ambassadors in everything we do in life for we are in a constant state of worship as everything we do, we do for the glory of God.

The Lord will bless this work for he is the one working through the word and sacraments to change hearts from hearts of stone to believing hearts of flesh. May it always be our joy to share God’s word in our individual mission fields. Thank you for your prayers and continued support.

By: Rev. Jacob Hanneman
Lamb of God, Williston, ND
Trinity, Salem and Good Shepherd, Wolf Point, MT 

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