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STATE MEETINGS: Montana, Dakotas • Biblical Recorder

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STATE MEETINGS: Montana, Dakotas • Biblical Recorder


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Montana celebrates baptisms, notes college closure

MONTANA CITY, Mont. — Baptisms in Montana are up 50% over the last four years, Executive Director Barrett Duke announced during the state convention’s recent annual meeting.

In other major news, Montana Christian College has closed, Duke said.

“It’s not one church; 70% of our churches are seeing people saved and baptized,” Duke told Baptist Press. “It’s exciting. We just have all our churches working hard to reach people.

“On a sad note,” Duke added, the college, established as Yellowstone Baptist College in 1974 as a separate entity from the Montana Southern Baptist Convention, has announced that it has closed. Connected through the Cooperative Program, the college “never had a large donor base,” the executive director said.

“The decision to close was made in late summer,” he continued. “The trustees came to the point of accepting that the donors would not be forthcoming this fall with the funds to operate, and they couldn’t find a way to move forward.”

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The move of state convention offices from rented space at Fellowship Baptist Church in Billings to Helena, first announced last year, is on hold while suitable property at a reasonable price is located, Duke said.

The MTSBC’s 64th annual meeting took place Oct. 3-4 at South Hills Baptist Fellowship in an unincorporated town near Helena with 177 in attendance, including 63 messengers from 35 of Montana’s 124 churches.

Guest speakers included Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee, and Philip Robertson, chairman of the SBC Executive Committee. Robertson, a friend of first-term MTSBC President Randall Jackson, had already been invited to speak when Iorg, known to many in Montana, was installed in his new role. “We thought it would be good to hear from him,” Duke said, explaining the presence of both Executive Committee leaders.

Duke led in a panel discussion with Iorg and Robertson about the work of the SBC Executive Committee, including sexual abuse and financial issues, plus moving forward.

In addition there was worship, fellowship, reports from Duke, Darren Hales and the church strengthening team, Dave Howeth and the church planting team, and SBC entities, plus business.

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Last year’s officers were re-elected: President Randall Jackson, pastor of Choteau (Montana) Baptist Church and Vice President Curtis Crow, pastor of The Bridge in Belgrade.

Messengers approved a $910,000 budget for 2025, down from $975,000 last year. The total includes up to $160,000 from the North American Mission Board (NAMB) for evangelism. The Cooperative Program’s 75/25 percentage split means an anticipated $156,250 is allocated for SBC global mission needs.

“We had a good crowd in the room and a great spirit,” Duke said. “Our folks are happy to get together. You could hear it in the worship and the fellowship. There’s just a great spirit in the state.”

Montana, with 14 church planters in the state, recorded 1,328 total baptisms during three COVID-clouded years, and 620 last year.

“You have to go back to 2016 before you find a year when our churches baptized more people than they did last year: 633,” Duke told messengers. “I’m glad to say we have shaken off the effects of COVID on our outreach efforts to our communities.”

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Finances, however, have worsened over the last few years, fueled by COVID, dissatisfaction with national SBC entities and inflation.

“The MTSBC is struggling financially,” Duke said. “You’ll see in the board’s proposed 2025 budget that we’re looking at a deficit spending budget. The deficit is slight, and I believe very manageable. I’m confident that our churches can meet this need. However, we must get ourselves on a better trajectory.

“The Cooperative Program serves in helping us reach the lost and make disciples around the world,” the executive director continued. “Missions is a crucial part of a church’s ministry. Somehow, we must each do all we can to work together to get the word out about our great gospel partnership funded by the Cooperative Program.”

MTSBC’s 65th annual meeting is set for Oct. 2-3, 2025, at the Bridge church in Belgrade.

Dakota gives, prays

WILLISTON, N.D. — The largest line item in the Dakota Baptist Convention’s 2025 budget is for the Cooperative Program.

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Unchanged from last year, Dakota Baptists allocate 25% of their budget for the cooperative work of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).

“Over the 41 years of the Dakota Convention’s lifespan, we have directly benefited and been greatly blessed in many ways by the partnership with our brothers and sisters around the SBC,” Executive Director Fred MacDonald told Baptist Press. “The greatest benefit, however, is knowing that the name of Jesus is being carried around the world and that the churches of the Dakotas are a part of that effort.”

The 2024 Annual Meeting and Dakota Gathering took place Oct. 3-4 at Cornerstone First Baptist Church in Williston, N.D., Oct. 3-4 with a theme of “We Always Pray,” based on 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.

Worship was led by Scott Ristau, associate pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Aberdeen, S.D. James Proctor, lead pastor of South Canyon Baptist Church in Rapid City, S.D., Josh Brown, pastor of Redeeming Grace Church in Rapid City, S.D., and MacDonald were keynote speakers.

Worship and fellowship were paramount, the executive director said. Business consisted of the 51 messengers from 29 of the two-state convention’s 82 churches approving the 2025 budget, 2025 calendar and resolutions, plus electing officers and new Executive Board members.

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The $539,170 budget for 2025 is 1.7% larger than last year’s budget, with $115,000 allocated for national CP giving.

New officers for one-year terms include President Chip Holmes, pastor of First Baptist Church in Wolsey, S.D.; Vice-President Jeff Musgrave, pastor of WayPoint Baptist Church in Minot, N.D.; Recording Secretary Karen Holmes, member of First Baptist Church in Wolsey, S.D.; and Assistant Recording Secretary Debra Page, member of First Baptist Church in Miller, S.D.

In addition to a resolution expressing “sincere gratitude and appreciation” to the host church, Cornerstone Williston, messengers affirmed “the Cooperative Program as our primary method of funding our Great Commission cooperation at home and abroad.”

“The best thing that is happening this year in the Dakotas flows from our theme, ‘We Always Pray,’” MacDonald said. “There has been a renewed commitment to come before the Father’s throne on behalf of His work in the Dakotas.

“For example, during our state mission offering emphasis in September, we replaced the normal ‘week of prayer’ with a ‘month of prayer for the Dakotas,’” the executive director continued. “We put together a 30-day devotional book, in both English and Spanish, and made them available to the members of our churches. It was encouraging, knowing that so many across North and South Dakota were reading God’s Word and praying together throughout the month.”

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For Baker State Missions, Living Hope Baptist Church in Fargo, N.D., led in giving with $6,010.58 for the state missions offering. Tanner Olson is pastor. Sovereign Grace Church in Aberdeen, S.D., followed with $5,000.00. Sam Ellyson is pastor.

“All of us who live and serve here know that our two states are great places to live but they are also two states with great spiritual needs,” Church Planting Strategist Stephen Carson said in his report. “Pray that God raise up families to come to the Dakotas to plant and pastor, along with raising up families in our Dakota churches with the vision to do the same.”

The next annual gathering of the Dakota Baptist Convention is set for Oct. 9-10, 2025.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press.)

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‘Hannah Montana’ fans question Starbucks drink. ‘She hates raspberry’.

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‘Hannah Montana’ fans question Starbucks drink. ‘She hates raspberry’.


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Hannah Montana once sang that “Nobody’s Perfect,” a sentiment fans are echoing regarding Starbucks’ new drink honoring the fictional pop star ahead of her iconic Disney TV show’s 20th anniversary special.

Thought to be a drink that Hannah Montana would order at Starbucks, the coffee chain launched the Secret Popstar Refresher on March 23 as a celebration ahead of the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special”, set to be released on Disney+ on March 24. The drink consists of a grande Strawberry Acai Refresher with raspberry cold foam, two pumps of raspberry syrup and no strawberry inclusions – the dried strawberries typically in the refresher, according to the Starbucks app.

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However, fans were quick to point out that the beloved TV show’s main character, Miley Stewart (Miley Cyrus), who lives a double life as teen pop star Hannah Montana, notoriously hates raspberries. Her disdain for raspberries was established in Season 1 of the show.

Stewart’s disgust is rooted in a childhood experience, during which she got sick after eating too much raspberry pie. Her hate for the fruit is exacerbated when Hannah Montana has to advertise a raspberry-scented perfume.

Now, fans of the show have taken to social media to speculate on Starbucks’ inclusion of raspberry.

Fans react to the raspberry Hannah Montana drink

Fans on social media quickly caught the raspberry reference after the drink’s launch on March 23, which many felt was an oversight by Starbucks, as they seemingly did not take Hannah Montana’s past into account.

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Multiple comments on Starbucks’ Instagram post announcing the drink question the product’s flavor, including messages like “Why raspberry tho…didn’t Miley/Hannah hate raspberry,” “but she hates raspberry,” and “brooo there’s an episode in Hannah Montana (the perfume ad) where she doesn’t like raspberry!!!!”

The post’s caption appears to poke fun at the episode, reading: “For the fans who remember the raspberry saga, this one’s for you.”

Other comments under the post from Disney accounts also seem to acknowledge the raspberry inclusion as intentional, with the official Disney+ account commenting, “This completes the circle,” and the official Disney Channel account commenting, “the raspberry lore lives on!”

How to order a Hannah Montana drink at Starbucks

The Secret Popstar Refresher will be available for order through the Starbucks mobile app until April 5, according to a Starbucks statement obtained by USA TODAY.

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The drink is a “secret menu exclusive,” meaning it is not on the official Starbucks menu in stores or drive-thru. Customers who know the recipe or use the Starbucks mobile app can order the refresher variation.

However, like any drink variation at the coffee chain, the refresher can be ordered at any time, as long as Starbucks has the required ingredients.

How to watch ‘Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special’?

The “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special” became available to stream on Disney+ on March 24.

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Reflecting on the past two decades, the special is an intimate sit-down interview with Miley Cyrus and “Call Her Daddy” podcast host Alex Cooper. The interview was filmed in front of a live audience in a recreation of the iconic Stewart ranch-style home.

Contributing: Greta Cross, USA TODAY





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Now a true pop star, Miley Cyrus returns to her ‘Hannah Montana’ roots to fete anniversary special

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Now a true pop star, Miley Cyrus returns to her ‘Hannah Montana’ roots to fete anniversary special


LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sporting that “Hannah Montana” blonde hair and bangs, Miley Cyrus went back to her roots — celebrating 20 years of the TV show that launched the career of a real-life pop star.

Cyrus reunited with cast members of “Hannah Montana” in Los Angeles Monday evening for the premiere of the “Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special.”

Cyrus told The Associated Press that the milestone has given her a chance to see the character and series from “a new perspective.” Cyrus, who began the Disney Channel show at age 13, played Miley Stewart, a tween and middle-schooler hiding her secret life as a famous pop singer.

“Getting to be on the outside now, getting to be grown and be a part of it in a way that I couldn’t when I was in the middle of it before, and all the chaos and the schedule and the performing of it all,” Cyrus said, “now it just gets to be a celebration. So it is a new perspective. I love that.”

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The anniversary special, which started streaming Tuesday on Disney+ and Hulu, celebrates 20 years since the show’s premiere. Filmed in front of a live audience, it features music, archival footage and an interview with Cyrus — now 33 and a genuine pop star — conducted by podcast host Alex Cooper.

Addressing the audience at the premiere, Cyrus paid tribute both to fellow cast members and fans. “Without you all, this show would have never been what it is, and I love saying what it is, not what it was,” she said.

“Tonight isn’t about looking back into the past, but it’s about what it means to us still tonight,” she said.

Jason Earles, who played Miley’s brother Jackson, told the AP that watching the show now highlights how much time has passed.

“I think if you go back and you watch the episodes, there’s enough dated references like old flip phones and stuff that you go, ‘Oh no, no, this show was a little while ago,’” he said.

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Cody Linley, who played Miley’s on-and-off boyfriend Jake Ryan, reflected on the impact of portraying a teen heartthrob.

“It’s hard to believe that there were girls that had pictures of me with my shirt off in their locker and they would have me sign it,” Linley said. “And it’s hard not to let it go to your head, because you have to remember that it’s an image that they are seeing. It’s not you.”

Also attending the premiere was country singer Lainey Wilson, who recalled working as a “Hannah Montana” impersonator early in her career.

“From 8th grade to 12th grade, five years of my life, I would open up the show as Lainey Wilson, I would run behind a tree and put on my ‘Hannah Montana’ get-up,” the singer said. “I did birthday parties, fairs, festivals … I was hitting the roads.”

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New report shows Montana sees small drop in nonfatal workplace injuries

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New report shows Montana sees small drop in nonfatal workplace injuries


New numbers from the Department of Labor and Industry show a slight improvement in workplace safety across Montana.

The data indicates 13,200 nonfatal injuries and illnesses were reported in 2024. This is down slightly from the year before where it was 13,600.

The overall injury rate held steady with retail, manufacturing, and transportation seeing the highest rates.

State leaders say the data helps identify risks and improve safety efforts statewide.

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The department says it’s also expanding training programs and keeping workers safe.

The data will continue to guide safety improvements in the years ahead.

The followng press release was sent out by the The Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI):

DLI Releases Latest Statistics on Workplace Injuries and Illness in Montana

HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Department of Labor & Industry (DLI) released today the 2024 Montana Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Report, providing an overview of workplace injury and illness trends across the state’s private industry sector.

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“This report provides valuable insight into where workplace injuries and illnesses are occurring in Montana and helps guide efforts to improve safety across industries,” said Sarah Swanson, Commissioner of Labor and Industry. “By understanding these trends, employers and workers can take steps to reduce risks and build safer workplaces. This helps fulfill our mission to ensure every worker goes home safe after every shift.”

Key Findings from the 2024 Report

In 2024, employees of Montana businesses reported 13,200 OSHA-recordable nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses, resulting in an overall incidence rate of 3.4 cases per 100 full-time workers.

The 2024 injury count decreased slightly from 13,600 cases in 2023, while the overall incidence rate remained unchanged.

Industries with higher 2024 incidence rates included retail trade (4.6), manufacturing (4.6), and transportation and warehousing (4.5).

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Industries with lower incidence rates included mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (1.6), utilities (1.2), and finance and insurance (0.5).

The report reflects data collected during the 2024 calendar year* through the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), a nationwide program conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics in partnership with state agencies. Each year, a sample of Montana employers submits workplace injury and illness data through the survey.

Focus on Prevention and Training

In addition to tracking workplace injuries and illnesses, DLI promotes safety through training and education. The department offers workplace safety training, including OSHA 10-hour courses that help workers recognize hazards and improve jobsite safety. DLI also provides Labor Law Training and Education on topics such as wage and hour laws, prevailing wage requirements, and collective bargaining in the public sector.

Programs such as SafetyFestMT provide free safety training opportunities for workers and employers statewide. The department also supports professional development through the Workers’ Compensation Claims Examiner Certification program, which strengthens expertise in managing workplace injury claims.

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Supporting Long-Term Safety Improvements

Montana has participated in the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses for more than 30 years. The data helps track long-term workplace safety trends and support efforts to reduce job-related injuries and illnesses.

The next survey cycle will collect data for the 2025 reference year, with results expected to be released in 2026.

The full 2024 Montana Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Report is available here.

*Because the survey relies on detailed employer reporting and data analysis, results are released after the survey year to allow time for collection, verification, and analysis.

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