Although I originally attended the Air Force Academy with a desire to fly, God instead called me to pastoral ministry. I married Alicia after graduating in 1993, and we went to the University of Maryland, where I attended grad school for two years. After three assignments in the Air Force, we moved to St. Louis to attend Covenant Seminary for 3 years. During two summer internships in Bozeman, God gave us a heart for the people of GVPC. He also blessed us with four children. GVPC called me as pastor in May, 2003.

As a pastor, I avoid trying to "fix" people; instead, I try to walk beside people as God works inside people. I want to help people truly know God. In my experience, people are transformed not by formulas, pat answers, or seven step programs, but by the mystery and intimacy of a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ. To this end, I hope to be a "limping leader," one who leads not out of strength, but out of a sense of my own weakness and brokenness; I am just a beggar telling other beggars where to get bread.

Jeff Hamling -- Pastor

I was raised in small-town Montana: Shelby, Lewiston, Lincoln, and Big Timber.

I have been involved in full-time ministry since 1997. I began my work as pastor at Gallatin Valley in 2007. I am blessed to be the husband of my wife Annmarie and the father to my three children: Lucas, Rex, and Tessah.

I love the outdoors (I am a fly-fisherman wannabe!). I daily look at the Bridger Mountains and thank God that he has called me to serve in this beautiful place. I pray that I will be able to grow old here. There is no place I’d rather be!

My favorite parable of Jesus’ is the Prodigal Son because I’m reminded that my Father seeks me out, forgives me, and invites me into feast with his family. I’ll never get over it!

 

Nick Schutter -- Elder
Hi, I am one of the elders here at GVPC. My wife Susan and I and our four children--Nicole, Philip, Melanie, Olivia--have come to love and cherish this community of believers. As we have poured more of our lives into the people of this church, God has revealed more of Himself to us. We have grown in our understanding of the incarnation of Christ: just as God himself entered our world, so also we are called to enter the lives of others: to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, and listen to their stories, laugh and cry with them, and pray both with them and for them. We have grown in our understanding of the body of Christ; becoming more like Christ is a group project. There are no holy hermits. We hope God will form this community into a haven for those who seek to grow in their understanding and desire to serve Jesus, and a safe place for those who are searching, doubting, or hurting.

 

 

Bob Baker -- Elder

My election as an elder of GVPC brings me back into leadership in a local church. My wife, Marlene, and I have been in the ministry for over 50 years. I have pastored churches in Massachusetts, California, and Montana.

I understand the Bible to teach that the church is God's Plan A-and there is no plan B. All Christians need to be involved in a local church, up to their ears. For years I have preached and taught about Body Life; I am excited to see it lived out in the GVPC covenant community.

As the eldest of the elders, I would urge you to intimate involvement in the life of a local church. A church family like GVPC provides an atmosphere conducive to long-term spiritual growth. Drink in the ministry of the Word preached and taught. Realize the strength and grace available in the sacraments. Be assured that real Christianity is found not in life as a lone ranger but in the hurly-burly of covenant community.

Gregg Valeriano -- Elder
I moved to Bozeman, Montana a number of years ago. I am an adjunct instructor in the Philosophy Dept. at Montana State University. I also teach high school students at Petra Academy, a local Classical Christian school. I love to fly-fish, snowboard and most other outdoor activities. One of the biggest joys for me here in Bozeman is Gallatin Valley Presbyterian Church.

Many people see the church as a kind of voluntary society that one chooses to attend. Yet a close reading of Philippians 1:27, 3:20, as well as other parts of Scripture, shows that God ordained the church to be that site where a person becomes the Christian they are meant to be. The church is not optional for the Christian; it is absolutely essential to a Christian's life. Without it, a person will never be the Christian they are called to be.

What is amazing is that God calls Christians, sinners saved by God's grace, to be the Church. Because the Church is full of sinners this means, among other things, that the Church is full of sin! Yet God calls us sinners together so that He might show his love and grace to us and in turn teach us how to love him and each other in new and better ways.

Given that the Church is a place of saved sinners, this means that the Church should be a place of humility and love. At GVPC, we do not have all the answers and we do not always live out our theology. We are not a perfect people. But we strive to be a Church that manifests God's love and grace for ourselves and all who are seeking. For it is in the midst of his people that God promises to grow us, in Word and Sacrament, repentance and community, Spirit and truth.

John Ward -- Elder

I'm John Ward. I was born and raised on a farm in the Gallatin Valley and I have lived here all my life. I married Beth Ward, another valley native, in 1982 and we make our home in Belgrade. We have four children, Becky, Rusty, Ben, and Tyler. I am an independent tile contractor owning my own business since 1996. God graciously saved me in 1983.

Since we have been attending GVPC, God has revealed the preciousness of Christ to us and the value of the covenant community. I have been so blessed to be part of this community and am committed to pursue the peace and unity of the body of Christ through the means of grace He has given us.

I am also thankful for the opportunity to serve as an elder and look forward with much anticipation to what God will continue to do in our congregation.

Mike Kelly -- Elder
I have lived in Bozeman since 1989 and have come to love this vibrant community and all that the surrounding area has to offer. My wife Julie and my four children Elaine, Eric, Sean and Ryan enjoy skiing, camping, and just being out in God's creation.

With that said, I must unashamedly assert that GVPC has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. It's as though the very arms of God are wrapped around me and my family through the love, care, and discipline of this wonderful, albeit imperfect, family.

I count it an honor to serve as an elder and hope by God's grace that I will be an instrument in God's hands to bring some of the grace and truth that I have experienced to some of you!

I presently work as a national director for Nations, which is Campus Crusade for Christ's ministry for Native American students and First Nations people of the world. Our mission is to honor Natives by trusting God to restore life and culture with Christ.

Andy Rowe -- Elder
Hello, my name is Andy Rowe. My wife Liz and I have been living in Bozeman and attending GVPC since 2002 and have come to love the people and the place.

 

I own a commercial/residential construction company; it keeps me on my toes and allows me to meet many people in the Gallatin Valley. Elizabeth and I enjoy many of the outdoor activities Bozemanites love. We’re blessed with a beautiful place to live.

 

God has given us the desire for relationship because He desires relationship. I love the GVPC family because it provides fertile soil to grow in Christ through being in relationship with others and communion with Him.

 

Dave Klem -- Deacon
Ever since my family and I moved to the Gallatin Valley, we have been blessed by God's grace to us to us through the covenant community at GVPC. My wife, Shannon, and my sons, Winston and Carson, are all thankful to be a part of this family.

God has blessed us in many ways through GVPC. We have developed some deep friendships and have been challenged in our walk with Christ. The church family has ministered to us both physically and spiritually. We appreciate the vision of the church and the solid biblical preaching of the Word. We are striving to be a blessing to others as so many have been to us.

Specifically, I desire to focus on hospitality within the church. We have been to many churches where we have felt awkward and uncomfortable, sometimes even unwelcome. I want GVPC to be a friendly church, where people feel welcome and cared about. I would also like to promote development of relationships throughout the church, so we have more of a sense of community and knowledge of the people we worship with.

God has seen fit to place me in the office of a Deacon in the church, and I look forward his continuing work in my life, in the life of my family, and in the community of believers at GVPC.

Joshua Flohr -- Deacon
I am a blessed man-I am married to my best friend, my beautiful bride Tricia (a Minnesota native). We have two girls, Auna and Ava. I am a Chiropractor in Belgrade, at Spine and Sports Chiropractic.

Growing up in Billings, MT and some in South Dakota, it is truly a privilege to live in Bozeman. Like a few others who live in the Gallatin Valley, we love the outdoors. Our family and recreation time is spent hiking, camping, snowshoeing, hunting, and golfing.

I am excited and humbled to serve GVPC as a deacon. Since attending GVPC, my family and I have grown a significant amount in our personal relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. We have come to understand what the church body should and can do in the life of a Christian. At GVPC I have learned that church is not just something that happens on Sunday. By entering this covenant community you receive just that-a covenant: a relationship bound by commitment to be surrounded by other believers who are walking through the joys and trials of life, at the foot of the cross desperately wanting to know and serve Him more. My family desires that our lives be a "living sacrifice" to God. While the stresses and trials of life try to steal that focus, it is the church body that helps to bring us back to what truly matters in this life- lives saved, set apart, and dedicated to our Lord and Savior.