Kalispell, Montana – 2023

New Start: Kalispell, Montana, is considered the fastest growing micropolitan city (10,000-50,000 population) in the United States and is 100 miles away from the nearest WELS church. The dedicated core group has been gathering for worship on a regular basis for years, first in private homes and currently in a motel conference room. The pastor at Living Savior in Missoula, the closest WELS church over 100 miles away, leads onsite worship twice a month while lay leaders organize other weekly Bible studies and outreach events.

Fast Facts:

• Rev. Josh Schroeder was assigned from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., in May 2024 to serve this new mission start. He was installed on August 21, 2024, at Living Savior in Missoula. Mont.
• Kalispell is the county seat of Flathead County, which includes the communities of Kalispell, Whitefish, and Columbia Falls.
• Flathead County, the real target area of the mission, has a population of 104,357.
• The core group has been worshipping for over 10 years and participating in regular Bible studies for over eight years.
• The group has started calling themselves “North Valley Lutheran Church”.
• The core group hosted a Backpacks and Burgers event in July 2022 to help get their name out into the Kalispell community. Read more in this Missions Blog from August 2022: wels.net/backpacks-and-burgers-in-kalispell-montana.

Contact:
Mr. Lloyd Fager, Core Group member
[email protected]