THE EVANGEL -April 2026
First Baptist Church
218 N. 34th Street, Billings MT 59101; Phone: 406-259-6546
Email: fbcblgs@gmail.com Website: http://www.fbcblgsmt.com Facebook: First Baptist Church Billings, MT
Leading people to be transformed and renewed by the Holy Spirit to become Christ-centered servants.
A HISTORY OF SERVICE AND A NEW ERA
A bit of history to start:
First Baptist Church of Billings was chartered with the State of Montana in 1898. Members first
met in the original courthouse. Then, from 1903-1923, the church had its own facility at 2nd Ave. N and N 29th Street. In
1923, the church moved to its present location. The sanctuary was built in 1950. Quite a history.
The church kept growing. First Baptist has provided Christian teaching to the Billings area for over 125 years. In the past
decades, there were many in attendance. The sanctuary and balcony can seat over 300 people and sometimes did.
I started attending First Baptist in 1970, and my late wife Bonnie and I were married here that year. The congregation
was large, and there were lots of activities for all age groups, many volunteers for teachers, youth group leaders, adult
and senior adult programs, outreach, etc. At one time, we sponsored a Boy Scout troop. One long-ago pastor had regular
“Pastor’s Pals” get-togethers to engage with children and youth. There were men’s and women’s groups. A lot was going
on! Our volunteers made it happen.
Where we are now: Over the years, I’ve seen a decline in membership due to people moving, not attending any church
for one reason or another, changing church homes, aging into nursing/retirement homes, and those who have passed
away.
As a result, there aren’t as many to volunteer in the church. This includes all sorts of functions: Diaconate and other
leadership, kids Sunday School, youth, fellowship events, outreach in the community, sanctuary care, and FBC core
activities. This also includes our church building and grounds, beyond what a custodian does, and there are always
maintenance projects in our old building. Whoever “they” were who took care of things (and maybe you were one of
them) is now a call for all of us.
You can help:
At this time, the church is in a transition without a pastor, and I call it a new generation. But to continue in this new
generation as a viable church, we need folks to step forward to help with the many functions that have been provided in
the past. One or two new volunteers are not enough. We need people to get involved to keep our church alive. Some
needs are:
• Sunday morning van drivers for our folks who can’t drive themselves to church
• A rotation of Sunday School teachers for the kids
• Nursery volunteers
• Sanctuary carers to tidy, sharpen pencils, change the decorations, and refill the offering envelopes and
welcome cards
• Help maintain the church building and grounds
• Volunteers for special projects as they arise
• Consistent outreach to our shut-ins
• Local missions outreach
• Diaconate support
And the list goes on. Our Diaconate, already reduced by combining four positions into two, can’t do it all. A small
handful of volunteers have been juggling multiple duties and commitments in the church, and not just since our pastor
retired. Please pray about how you can help.
What’s next:
In the near future, there will be a transitional (interim) pastor to help coordinate programs, but it will take a
lot from the congregation too. Maybe you’ve volunteered in the past. If you’re able, we still need you! Maybe you
hesitate to make a commitment. Start small. Haven’t volunteered? Ask where you could fit in. Sign up. Participate.
I am positive that First Baptist Church will continue on. It will be up to our attendees to step up and help ensure there is
a future for our church.
In God’s Love,
Jered Scherer
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April Birthdays
Betty Schanaman Karen Ostrum Colleen Jacobson
Beyond the Plate
Each week we take time to honor God through our giving as our ushers “pass the plate.” But maybe that’s not convenient for you.
There are several alternatives:
• Set up weekly or monthly giving electronically through our Givelify app. There’s a link on our website, or see Karen or Rusty if you need help.
• Set up weekly or monthly giving electronically through your bank. (Many of us pay for all sorts of expenses and subscriptions that way already.)
• Use the offering box in the narthex.
• Mail your offerings.
If you don’t already, consider committing to a weekly or monthly amount for First Baptist Church, whether you can attend every week or not. God bless your giving!
Greetings From Jae Stockton
Beloved Friends and Ministry Partners,
Greetings in the precious name of our dear Lord, Jesus Christ! I pray this message finds you well.
As I write this, I am still in Mexico, but I wanted to share a brief update with you. I will be returning to the U.S. very soon to begin my one-year U.S./PR Home Assignment. It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed—five years since my commissioning service!
During this season, while I am back home, I would greatly appreciate the opportunity to visit your churches once again, join you in your gatherings, and share the journey that your support has helped make possible. Truly, if not for your prayers, encouragement, and support, I would not be where I am today. Over the past five years, there have been many moments—both beautiful and difficult—but through it all, God has been faithfully present. I believe these stories will encourage your heart, just as they have strengthened mine.
If I have not yet had the opportunity to visit your church and you would be interested in hearing my testimony and learning more about the ministries I am currently serving, please feel free to contact me by email should you wish to extend an invitation to visit.
I would sincerely appreciate your prayers for this Home Assignment. It is my prayer that wherever our Lord may lead me that He would allow me to walk in His favor, grant me grace and protect me as I travel, grant me rest and renewed strength, enable me to be a blessing, and allow me to bring hope in Christ to all whom I meet. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to Him.
I look forward to reconnecting with you soon. Thank you, as always, for walking alongside me in this calling. May God bless you and keep you.
With gratitude and love in Christ,
Jae
Good Friday Service
Friday, April 3rd, 7:00 pm
At Good Friday Service, we mark the significance of this holy day,
remember our need for a savior,
and contemplate Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins.
You, your family, and friends are invited and encouraged to join us as we celebrate this blessed season!
Easter Sunday Service
Sunday Morning
April 5th 2026
10 AM
Special Choir Music
Dear Faithful Friends at First Baptist Church of Billings,
The big medical clinic that NightLight hosted was a great success! Praise the Lord!
Although we are all tired from working until after midnight every night, our hearts are full. Each person who came in was cared for with dignity and in love.
One Thai woman accepted our job offer and started the next day. Two women found out they were pregnant and received prayer and counsel. Out of 218, one tested positive for HIV, and we will follow up with that person for support. Many needed medical treatment for STDs, and many needed the time to share their story, cry, and receive prayer. One of these chose to accept Christ. We gave out 146 pairs of reading glasses donated by the medical team. The trafficked women were given information for help, and now we pray they will have the courage to accept. Including the visiting team of 10 medical professionals, we had a total of 40 people serving to pull it all together.
We had client visits from 218 unique individuals coming from 9 countries, including:
THAI = 114
Kenyan = 15
Tanzania = 19
Uganda = 6
Myanmar = 5
Laos = 5
Vietnam = 13
Bangladesh = 2
Pakistan = 1
On the street, we also interacted with women in prostitution from Iran, Azerbaijan, Algeria, and Uzbekistan. The world literally comes to our doorstep.
Thank you for your prayers! We know there was great fruit, and we know that there will continue to be fruit from this clinic. We are so grateful to all the medical staff, volunteers, translators, and NightLight staff who served with compassion, with the Holy Spirit working in and through us.
We so appreciate your generous and ongoing support and your standing in the gap for us in prayer. Thank you so much!
Blessings,
Annie and Jeff
