The economy in Montana is continuing to expand, including wage growth increasing and outpacing inflation, according to a state report.

Montana economy is going strong

A 2024 report from the Montana Department of Labor & Industry said, “Montana ranks 2nd in the nation for fastest wage growth since 2020.”

“Wage growth in Montana fell behind in the 90s and through the early 2000s, but we’ve really been catching up,” explained James Lautenschlager, an associate professor of business at the University of Providence.

According to the Montana Department of Labor & Industry, in some ways Montana is staying ahead of the national average economically, noting:

• The average wage earned by Montana workers hit $57,230 in 2023, growing by 5% in one year.
• The unemployment rate in Montana is 3.1%, with total employment growing by 5.9% since 2020.

“By and large, though, unemployment is fine in Montana, and we’re seeing wage growth and a lot of that is offsetting some of the inflation that’s taking place,” said Lautenschlager.
Additionally, the report noted:

• While Montana is seeing positive wage growth and low unemployment rates, the cost of housing is still high.
• Housing prices remain a primary driver of inflation for Montanans earning median wages.
• Montana saw a 70% increase in home values from the last 5 years. 

“With demand for houses on the rise and just a finite supply, we’ve seen an outsized growth in the value of homes, which also hurts the median home buyer because with modest wage growth and outsized gains in housing value, it makes affordability become an issue for the average Montanan,” Lautenschalger explained.
However, despite national inflation challenges, Montana is staying ahead for the time being.

Lautenschalger added, “I think we’ve seen really strong economic growth in Montana and it’s outperformed the national average for a period of time now, which has been, as a Montanan myself, has been encouraging to see.”

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.”

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 64^th 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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.”

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.)

Two Arroyo Grande residents staying in Yaak, Montana caught a glimpse of the aurora borealis, commonly known as the northern lights, on Thursday.

The pair sent their stunning photos taken Thursday evening to KSBY.

The appearance of the Northern lights is due to a geomagnetic storm that was set to hit the North American region this week, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Several states in the north of the U.S. were likely to see the phenomenon, including Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Wisconsin.

KSBY Chief Meteorologist Dave Hovde has more information and additional pictures taken by viewers on his X and Facebook page.