Valley Church

1914 - after 1921?

The Gospel Messenger April 18, 1914 page 251 Vol. 63 No. 16

Glasgow- March 19 we organized a new congregation. We formerly held our membership with the Medicine Lake congregation.  Our elder, Bro. J. E. Keller, presided.  Eld. C. H. Petry, of Berthold, N. Dak., was with us also. Our new organization will be known as the Valley congregation.  The following offices were chosen by ballot: Bro. J. E. Keller, elder in charge; Sister Bessie Strong, clerk; Brethren O. M. Foust, Norman Strong, and Glen Mahugh, trustees; Bro. J. B. Wingard, treasurer and Messenger agent; the writer, correspondent.  We also organized a Sunday-school, with Bro. J. C. Cripe as superintendent. - Mille Gilbert. Glasgow, Mont., April 2.

The Missionary Visitor April 1919 Page 111

Valley Church

R. G. Mahugh

   In November, 1909, the writer and others moved to this place and settle on government land. Up to this time this country was known as the ranchers’ pasture, no farming being done at all; nothing but cattle and sheep roaming over the broad prairies; no schools, no churches, and no one to give thanks to God for the privileges enjoyed.

   But a change was dawning, for the people began to come and build schools and churches and hold religious services.

  In the summer of 1911 Bro. W. W. Keltner, of Williston, N. Dak., held a series of meetings and added ten to our number. We were then a part of the Medicine Lake church, late called the Grand View church.

   In March, 1914, Eld. J. E. Keller (deceased) and C. H. Petry came to organize us into a church body. We met at the home of C. Gilbert, ten miles south of Glasgow, and perfected an organization with twenty-six members and three deacons.

  Our boundary lines then were something like one hundred and fifty miles east and west, with the Canadian border the north line, extending south about one hander and fifty miles or more. Since then our territory has been somewhat reduce.

  When we organized expected some minister would become interested and move into our little band, but up to the present time we have not resident minister.  Eld. A. M. Swihart of Poplar Valley church is our present elder.  

  Our membership has been greatly reduced during the past year by deaths and emigration, until at present we have one deacon and twenty members living within a radius of twenty-five miles from here.

  In September, 1918, Bro. D. M. Shorb, of Surrey, N. Dak., held a few meetings, which resulted in five baptisms, and at the same time we drove a distance of fifty miles to hold a love feast for an aged couple. There were five cars, all loaded to capacity.

  We have been working at a disadvantage all these years y having no resident minister, but we are thankful for the faithful ones.  We are trying to keep the Gospel Messenger on the reading table of all members and as many non-members

as possible.

  At the Galpin Union chapel we have wide-awake union Sunday-school, with an organized young people’s class; also Christian Workers’ meeting. The writer has been Sunday-school superintendent for almost three years.

  Through cooperation with our efficient District Mission Board we have had some preaching, although it has been irregular. We are thankful for what has been done. We are still praying and living in hopes for the work here.    Nashua,  Mont.