*The following is Part 1 of 2 journal reflections written while on sabbatical as my family and I traveled overseas this past June. I feel frustrated, vocationally speaking. For a number of months, I have lacked a sense of passion in what I do. I am finding that I am not nearly as excited about…(Read More)
My Community
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This last paper on community (see the previous two months blogs for the others in this series) comes from Claire Papp, our Hannah House intern. December 2018 In the four months that I’ve lived in the South Side of Billings, I’ve observed how much of a close-knit community it is. Even though…(Read More)
My Community
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This month’s reflection on community comes from our intern Traci Romero. See last month’s blog for the previous in this three-part series. December 2018 I have lived in a place where even the idea of community was non-existent, a fairytale perhaps. I would walk into my room and ask how the…(Read More)
My Community
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Each year our interns write several papers throughout their time here in response to things they’re learning from their reading assignments and from their involvement with CLDI and the neighborhood. Over the next few months I would like to share some of those reflections on the topic of community. This first one is from…(Read More)
By Amanda Balter I was downtown running some work errands when two women, evidently living on the streets, came up to me asking if I had any money I could give them for food. I explained I didn’t have any cash on me but would happily take them somewhere to eat. Earlier that day…(Read More)
Why Go?
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On the day this blog is posted, I will be on a very long plane ride to visit some good friends who live and work in Central Asia. For security reasons, I am not able to share the specific location we will be visiting. Given the predicament of where they live, travel to and from…(Read More)
By Muriah Stahl In the book of Genesis we read of the story of a woman named Hagar who finds herself in a desperate situation. She has been used, rejected, and mistreated – so much so that she flees into the wilderness with her child. She has run out of hope and a desire…(Read More)
I love the freshness that comes with the beginning of a New Year. As a creature of habit, much to the dismay of my wife and kids at times, I function best when I align myself with healthy rhythms in my life. One such rhythm is that of seeing the New Year as a season…(Read More)
Over the past number of weeks, I have had the privilege of more thoroughly studying the book of Zechariah, a minor prophet in the Old Testament, written half a millennium before the birth of Christ. One commentator notes that Zechariah was arguably one of the most influential of the Minor Prophets in the New Testament…(Read More)
By Kaylee Thompson *A reflection written by a CLDI youth worker who desperately desires kids to know the God who will never leave nor forsake them. Even as one who has seen God use the little day-to-day interactions to make a difference, she still wrestles with doubt and so many questions. What…(Read More)
Why CLDI?
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By Alyssa Swanson September, 2018 *The following was written by Alyssa, through the eyes of her father. Watching your child grow up and prepare to leave home makes you think about all the precious memories made over the years. The years that feel like they just flew by in the blink of an eye…(Read More)
*The following blog was written 8 years ago in the fall of 2010. Today I was confronted with one of the most basic, yet comprehensive teachings of Jesus – love God and love your neighbor as yourself. One would think that after years of studying His Word and trying to live as a disciple of…(Read More)
*This past July, Ashley Hatmaker, a CLDI Youth Works staff, took one of our South Side youth, Sabrina, on a 3 week mission trip to Uganda. We have been blessed to work with Sabrina the past six years and watch her grow into a young woman passionately in love with Jesus. As a junior at…(Read More)
Wow!
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In early July we had the good fortune of moving into our new office space, a project we have referred to as Katapheugó, a Greek word meaning “to flee to a place of refuge.” Since the inception of this project, it has been a desire of ours to rebuild, renovate, and make the community livable…(Read More)
*The following was written by Erika Musser, a Class of 2018 CLDI Intern. We are blessed to host such amazing, passionate, and sincere disciples of Jesus such as Erika through our internship program. For her job placement, she worked at Family Promise and will become a full-time employee of Family Promise starting in August…(Read More)
Over the past 12 months it has been apparent to me that CLDI has been undergoing a season of transformation. Needless to say, a lot has happened since June of 2017. For one, we started the renovation of the old Labor Building (otherwise known as Katapheugó) in August of 2017, which will be complete later…(Read More)
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do…(Read More)
*The following is a reflection from our Youth Works staff to give testimony of the ways the Lord was at work in the lives of our students last summer. As we lean into a fast-approaching summer, perhaps this will lead you in how to pray for our Youth Works staff and young friends we…(Read More)
Did you hear? The Basye clan is moving overseas… or so we thought. Going back as far as our dating relationship, almost 17 years ago, Shelly and I have discussed and prayerfully considered our role in taking the gospel to the nations. In fact, we moved to Montana with the vision of planting a church…(Read More)
Moving to the South Side has not been what I expected. To be honest, I’m not quite sure what I expected! It must have been something along the lines of becoming best friends with all our neighbors and having deep conversations with them all the time. So far we’ve only interacted with four…(Read More)
As we welcome another New Year, we do so on the heels of a season commemorating the birth of Jesus. For the past few days I have been contemplating the power of the incarnate – God came to dwell in the flesh as a babe born in a manger. During a Christmas Eve service, my…(Read More)
“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20, ESV) Have you ever attempted to do something that was really challenging? Or perhaps…(Read More)
*The following was written by a dear sister in Christ and fellow CLDI intern and staff. She and her husband now live in Central Asia to give testimony to our great King. As I was moved and touched by this powerful writing, I am confident you will as well. Jesus, our great hope, even amidst…(Read More)
This summer Youth Works has been filled with taking our South Side youth on day hikes, camp trips, and backpacking. As we looked towards the last stretch of summer, Ashley (fellow Youth Works staff) and I were hoping to take some of our friends in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade on a one night camping…(Read More)
*The following article contains some controversial language used by those depicted in the story. It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and a rare one at that as at 7:30am all of my kids were still asleep. Having been up for some time to read, pray, and be with the Lord, I headed out the…(Read More)
So, it’s never been more obvious that I can do nothing apart from Christ. I can’t get out of bed well without His abiding presence. I can’t even do a good job speaking with someone, unless Christ indwells my everything. This time as an intern has simultaneously refined my character and fanned…(Read More)
Jesus said, “You have heard it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes the sun to rise on the evil…(Read More)
*The following blog is written by Kaylee Thompson. Kaylee strives to make the gospel known and disciple young people in the South Side of Billings as part of our youth program we refer to as Youth Works. This winter to spring has absolutely flown by in my world. Drew, a fellow Youth Works staff member…(Read More)
On a regular basis I am confronted with the question: Is Jesus truly worth following? I don’t mean the Jesus that our culture propagates, but rather, the Jesus of the Bible. He Himself calls us to consider the cost, for the way of following Him is one of laying down our lives…loving Him…(Read More)
I’ve lived in Billings my entire life, and I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve grown up with, and maintained, a pretty negative view of the South Side. “Don’t go there.” “Don’t hang out there.” “Don’t hang out with people who hang out there.” “And, by all means, don’t…(Read More)
Family
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During the Christmas holidays, my intern Rachel and I took the residents of the Hannah House to look at lights at the zoo. We ventured out in the party wagon, over snow piled roads, all singing enthusiastically to the Christmas carols playing. At one point, we were stopped with a volunteer outside our window. Our…(Read More)
Mar-toos
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In recent weeks I have been blessed by a study of the book of Acts. Two truths in particular have stood out to me: Jesus’ affirmation that we will be His witnesses, and second, the power that exists with the name of Jesus. Prior to ascending to heaven after His sin-conquering resurrection, Jesus instructed…(Read More)
One of the most read passages during the holiday season is Luke’s account of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. He writes to provide Theophilus, an influential leader of his time, a historical account on the person of Jesus. In the first chapter, Zacharias, a righteous priest, was told by an angel while serving…(Read More)
Redeemed
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*The following is written by a friend and sister-in-Christ, Mandy. A few weeks back I (Eric) had the privilege of sitting with her on the front porch of the Hannah House as she shared her story of transformation with me. Though I had not initially remembered, I had met Mandy several years back…(Read More)
On a regular basis, CLDI evaluates the needs that remain in our community that are within the scope of our mission to make Jesus known as we seek the welfare of our friends and neighbors of the South Side. A few of the needs we have identified are: more housing and relational opportunities for women…(Read More)
For those of us in Christian circles, when you think of the word ministry, what comes to mind? If you had to describe what ministry was, or who was responsible for such activity, what would you say? According to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, ministry is defined as “the office, duties, or work of a religious…(Read More)
Community Leadership & Development, Inc. (CLDI) seeks to foster transformation and redevelopment in the South Side, Billings’ oldest and most marginalized neighborhood. As part of this effort, our CLDI staff have invested in this community as residents of the South Side to love God, love our neighbors, and raise our families. For the past seven…(Read More)
*The following is written by a former intern who spent a significant portion of her time with Hannah House Ministries. I intentionally played Jesus music whenever I picked her up. Once I even started singing under my breath the words to “Amazing Grace/My Chains are Gone” as she told me about her soulmate Death…(Read More)
In seeking to encourage transformation of the South Side and its residents, the works of CLDI are targeted toward community revitalization, outreach, and discipleship. In regard to community revitalization, CLDI is committed to seek the shalom of our city, and in particular, the South Side. Shalom is a Hebrew word meaning wholeness, completeness, wellness, and…(Read More)
This is the ‘home’ of an individual outside of a building we are hoping to buy. As part of this vision, CLDI will provide (10) efficiency apartments and (2) one bedroom apartments to serve the most marginalized of our city; office space for CLDI; expansion of Hannah House Ministries (our ministry to women in crisis…(Read More)
*The following is a letter presented by a friend and sister in Christ to her local school district in response to the school board’s decision to cancel a presentation led by Shelly Donahue, a nationally recognized speaker and follower of Jesus. School leaders cancelled the presentation because her message was about abstinence and some…(Read More)
*The following blog is written by a dear friend, sister in Christ, and former CLDI intern/staff as she and her husband prepare to take the Gospel to Central Asia. The following were her reflections on a recent visit to Billings. What she has so beautifully communicated is as relevant to the South Side as…(Read More)
Fluency can be explained as the ability to express oneself easily and articulately. I have long been envious of my friends who have grown up speaking two languages since childhood. They can move smoothly between conversing with parents in one language and carrying on another conversation in a completely different one. I have had my…(Read More)
Recently I was taking our CLDI interns through a book written by author Bob Lupton. By all accounts, Bob is a well-respected Christian community developer guru that has lived and worked for decades in the poorest communities of Atlanta, GA. In his book, Toxic Charity, he shares a story about a group of young…(Read More)
As part of the Fellowship House, our intern program to recruit and encourage kingdom-minded, eternally focused disciples of Jesus Christ, we lead the interns on an international trip to the 10/40 Windowto expose them to God’s heart for the nations. This past February we partnered with a gospel-oriented organization doing long…(Read More)
If, Then
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Recently I read through the book of Leviticus as Moses was instructed by the Lord as to how the people of God were to pursue holiness and so remain in relationship with Him. Every time I read through the Old Testament I am amazed by the abundant patience, grace, and mercy the Lord extends to…(Read More)
I was talking recently with one of the gals I have worked with for over a year through CLDI’s Hannah House Ministries. As I listened to her share what she was struggling with the thought came to my mind that she had two options for moving forward: she could change her circumstances…(Read More)
As we enter into a season of advent, we celebrate the arrival of the promised Messiah. 700 years prior to the birth of Jesus, Isaiah prophesied the coming of One who would bring justice, hope, and love:“Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will…(Read More)
*The following is written by a current CLDI/Fellowship House intern, Sarah Beth. Having graduated from Covenant College this past spring, Sarah Beth joined us in September to participate in a nine-month internship to: live in the community we serve, work alongside CLDI to assist in development and our women’s ministry, devote time…(Read More)
Recently I gave my new interns the assignment to write an essay about how they ended up in Billings. One intern, though a Montana native, never intended to move to Billings from Lewistown, let alone quit his well-paying job to commit himself to the work of the Lord in the South Side as part…(Read More)
