From 2011 to 2019, women from multiple denominations in the Denver, Colo., area flocked to retreats organized by Diane Andrews. During the 20 years that she and her husband, Mike, pastored at Mosaic Church in Littleton, Colo., Andrews followed her call to connect women to Christ. She founded a nonprofit, R and R Retreats, drawing together a team of donors to support the ministry, which grew to serve 800 women annually through eight spiritual growth weekend getaways at retreat centers in Denver. When the couple felt a call to pastor Gospel Fellowship MB Church in the rural community of Wolf Point, Mont., Andrews’ ministry changed abruptly.
What was the move to Montana like for you?
It was a big transition. Wolf Point has 2,400 people, two stoplights and 23 streets. In Denver, we were reaching a city. You have to adjust your ministry to match your community.
How did you get started in Wolf Point?
The first year I didn’t do anything—just got to know the town. I had to ask, “What is our reach in this community that is located on a reservation and made up of two distinct groups—Native American peoples and ranchers?” It took time to earn the right to be heard and learn to move in a whole different rhythm.
What new opportunities did you find in Wolf Point?
In the Native communities, meth and alcohol are taking the lives of parents, leaving a lot of grandmas, aunties and uncles raising kids. During COVID, Native Americans also died at a higher rate than other groups. We’re reaching the children through vacation Bible adventure, which has grown from 20 kids to 100. I bring a team of 17 from Denver to help. We are also beginning a GriefShare group.
What is your ministry to women?
I’m always looking for women who are abused and hurting and try to get them help—just doing life in this little town with the women. We do Bible studies and classes in fall and spring. R and R pays for the publicity and provides scholarships for women who can’t afford registration. We sometimes have as many as 50 in our classes.
Do you still do retreats?
Yes, but where we are located has completely changed the operation. We can’t do an overnight here in town, so it’s a Saturday event. We meet in our sanctuary and enjoy lunch in our beautiful foyer. God is spreading it out to lots of little towns all over Montana. We’ve had 80-97 women here, including 20-30% Native. We finish our program by 3 o’clock sharp because half the women are driving an hour or more to come, and we want them to arrive home on time. What hasn’t changed is the quality and having Christ as the center.
Kathy Heinrichs Wiest is a freelance writer who loves the smell of whole wheat bread in the oven, the feel of an orange being plucked from the tree and the view from her front porch in Kingsburg, California. On Sunday mornings you’ll find her in the fourth pew from the front on the left at Kingsburg MB Church, moved by the hymns and praise songs and inspired by the stories of God at work locally and around the world. She and her husband, Steve, own Dovetail Remodeling. They have two grown daughters, one son-in-law and a precious granddaughter.
