Since 1880, we have been a community of vibrant faith and authentic mission in the heart of Central Montana.
Who We Are.
Distinctly Methodist.
Back in 1872 when preachers, like frontier judges, rode circuit, the Rev. William Van Orsdel began an evangelistic mission in Montana that would span nearly 50 years. Brother Van, as he came to be called, came to Montana via steamboat in 1872. He told the captain he was going to Montana “to sing, to preach, and to encourage people to be good.” He loved everyone he met, including settlers, Native Americans, freighters, cowboys, soldiers, gamblers, and miners. There were so few preachers to cover the vast state that he became a circuit rider that he continued to do under various job titles for the next 45 years. He knew that the best way to reach people was to go into their homes and communities. Brother Van’s legacy lives on with Rocky Mountain College, Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, and the Lewistown United Methodist Church.
The Body of Christ.
Since the building of our first church in 1886 at the corner of Broadway and 5th Ave North, the Methodists of Lewistown have loved, cherished, and celebrated the sacred worth of each person in our community. We gather as a diverse community to worship God, fellowship with one another, and spread the gospel of peace to all our neighbors in Central Montana. We each have a song to sing in God’s great chorus of praise.
A People of Hope.
Since its establishment, the people of Lewistown UMC have striven to be a beacon of light and refuge in the face of adversity. Throughout our decades of ministry, we have witnessed firsthand the incredible resilience and strength of our congregation. Together, we overcame the devastating effects of the Great Depression. Together, we overcame the 1976 fire that burned the old stone church. We celebrate, weep, and rejoice together in the best and worst of times. We are a people of hope for whom God's light shines brightly through us as a community of love and a people of faith.