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www.nationsmovement.com
www.everynative.com
Mike and Julie Kelly have been married since May 1990 and have four children: Elaine, Eric, Sean, and Ryan. Mike, a graduate of the University of Utah, and Julie, a graduate of Idaho State University, served with Campus Crusade for Christ at Montana State University for fifteen years. Mike now serves as national director for Nations, which is Campus Crusade for Christ's ministry for Native American students and First Nations people of the world.
“Gallatin Valley Presbyterian Church has been like the hand of Christ in our lives and on our ministry. Jesus has used the warm relationships to touch us and hold us with His love. He has opened His Word to us to teach us more clearly His truth, causing us to examine the purity of our hearts, rebuking us where needed, and then guiding us in His grace. He has cared for us and met our needs by His hand, through His people.”
The Nations movement seeks to honor Native American students recognizing that Jesus Christ desires to restore their broken lives and culture. American Indian students are so often overlooked and yet are such crucial members of Christ's body. They play a key role in an effort to influence their own communities and have the unique ability to take the gospel to any unreached country and are key players is reaching other First Nations people of the world.
Shana Brennan
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Growing up in a western small town I came to college at Montana State with little church background. I came to ski, have fun, and fit in a degree as I went. Not being a follower of Christ, I tried to fill my life with all the things I thought would make me happy. I skied 5 days a week and partied 7 nights a week. My identity changed from high school sweetheart to hippy chick on to femi-nazi. I made decisions I would take back in an instant! But in the emptiness of all my pursuits I started to explore religion. Starting with Eastern religions I thought it best to see first hand and went overseas. That is when, in a group of fellow travelers, I saw authentic Christianity; people following Christ with their whole life and relating to God like he cared about the details of our lives. What a difference.
I came back to school and became involved with a campus ministry. That is where I learned more fully about Jesus and responded to the Gospel in repentance and faith. As I started to grow in my faith and talk about Christ with other students, they too wanted to follow Christ with their lives. Watching God change lives right before my eyes was life-changing for me and caused me in my senior year to set aside my engineering degree and go into full time ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ, an interdenominational Christian organization here at Montana State.
When I came to Gallatin Valley Presbyterian Church I was immediately impressed with the open dialog in the adult education class. We talked about the whole range of our lives and how to live out our faith. Opinions can differ and discussion gets lively but the community among the members is authentic. People are able to express differences on theological issues and still live in close relationship. Sunday has become my favorite day of the week as I look forward to time with my friends of all ages talking about the Lord and worshipping Him together. I am refreshed and challenged by the sermons. I bring students from the ministry on campus and friends who are not followers of Christ with me to our church and the growth groups that meet during the week. This really is a church family.
