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Pastor Richard Evans, second to the right, next to his daughter

Revival Services in Sidney Montana

Revival Services in Sidney Montana

What a joy it was to have been in Sidney, Montana with one of our alums from July 27 through August 1 in revival services. As you well know, our alumni serve in all fifty states and US territories, as well as several foreign countries.  I was so pleased to learn first-hand, how well-known Pastor Richard Evans is in Sidney, a town of 5000 in Eastern Montana.  I learned how well-thought-of he is when I walked into the town’s welcoming center. I was greeted by Kali, who I later learned was on the city council. After giving me brochures and information on the historical museum, she asked the reason for visiting Sidney. I mentioned revival services at Sidney First Nazarene, she said, “O yes, Pastor Richard Evans; he is very well respected in Sidney.” I was reminded that there is a big difference between pastoring in a city and pastoring a city. I believe Richard is doing the latter.  Besides his responsibilities as lead pastor at Sidney First Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Richard has been the chaplain at the main health clinic since his arrival in Sidney eight years ago.

I was privileged to stay in the parsonage with the Evans family for those six days; we had a blast. Richard and Juliana were part of the congregation I pastor in Colorado Springs. My fondest memories of the Evans family were having held their only child Hannah the day she was born, dedicating her as a baby, and baptizing her at age nine. Hannah will be a sophomore at NNU this Fall; she is preparing for full time Christian ministry.  Hannah led the service on Saturday since pastor Richard had to officiate a wedding on Saturday evening in a neighboring town. 

I found the church to be warm and very receptive to the preaching of holiness. There were responses at the altar at each service, praying for victory. One particular gentleman sought me ought to talk about the circumcision of the heart, cited from Deuteronomy chapter 30 verse 6.  He was one of those around the altar seeking to be sanctified.  It was worth the heart throbbing plane ride experience from Billings to Sidney in a seven-seater Cessna airplane. Big planes do not go to Sidney. (Smile)

Let me close by reminding our NBC family that our alumni are making a difference in large, medium, and small towns as they go about the business of making Christlike disciples.

Dr. Joseph Warrington, NBC faculty and Ministry Preparation Program Director