Our Past

             In 1959 the Rev. James Bell, as interested in establishing mission churches outside the town of Browning, began to hold meetings at Heart Butte. The first group met in private homes and later in a church they established on Tribal land on Birch Creek.

 Rev. Bell experimented with different forms of liturgy and worship which employed classical elements of the Blackfeet Culture. He reported a membership of 46 at one time, 44 of them being Native American. On July 28,1962, Rev. H.W. Anderson of Chilocco, Oklahoma , arrived in Browning to conduct the first camp meeting on Big Badger Creek. Rev. Anderson, a Kiowa preacher, was sponsored by the Board Of Missions Of the Methodist Church for Field Cultivation. 

The meeting began on July 29,1962 with about 35 in attendance. A Vacation Church School was also conducted with 24 students. The crowds grew each evening until there were about 70 attending evening services. Rev. Anderson was an exceptional preacher and the people responded. Nine adults and three children were baptized that week and a new church was chartered. 

The name for the new Mission was discussed. Na-toOoh (Holy Spirit) was considered until it was pointed out that this was the name which the Old Family Catholic Mission was known. It was then decided on the name Apistatoke meaning "God the Father", or more commonly "Creator" . A rough sketch for an outdoor tabernacle was drawn up and planned to be constructed by the summer of 1963. A timber permit was secured from the Blackfeet Tribe and the process of cutting poles and tree's began. In August 1962 a Youth Work Team from the First Methodist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, arrived and helped cut and peel much of the timber. The church being the successful bidder on the Old Swims Under School on Big Badger, repairs began. In October 1962, the Montana Conference Board of Missions granted $1,500.00 for the purchase of a small log building to be moved to Big Badger and placed by the Old Swims Under School. Rev. Bell signed the 5 year permit with the Agency on July 2, 1963. The permit expired on July 2, 1968.

During the years of the existence of the church, it was the center of social activity as well as having a religious impact. However, after the flood of 1964, with widespread tragedy in the loss of life and property, many families were forced to move to other locations. The church itself only sustained water and mud damage, the homes below it were competely washed away, as was the bridge. without the bridge access to the church was impossible. The National Guard rebuilt the bridge several months later. Membership and attendance began to dwindle. Meetings were held to rekindle the original enthusiasm, but to no avail. The remaining members decided to apply to the Browning Church for a merger. This was approved March 3, 1974, by the Browning Board. The new members were bused into Browning for service.

The two buildings were sold, but through the course of time, it became difficult to travel to Browning for services, home meetings were started again. During that time Rev. Ron Barr was the pastor, accompanied by Agnes, Eunice and Jimmy Wells they traveled to Helena to ask the Conference to help them get another church in Heart Butte because it was to far to go to church in Browning, especially during the winter months . Delma Running Crane and Nelson Bull Plume also traveled and spoke on behalf of building a new church in the community of Heart Butte. They also successfully applied to raise funds through the General Board's General Advance  program for both construction of a new building and for programming Meanwhile, the Christmas program was held in the old school building which is now the home of the Margie Kennedy Center. Sunday School for children was held in homes.

Land was purchased from Tom Thompson on a hillside west of the Catholic Church and cemetery in Heart Butte. The building was completed  in Nov 1998 and dedicated by Bishop Roy. I Sano on Nov 17, 1991.

 

 

Information on our past taken from the Blackfeet United Methodist Parish Centennial Booklet. Faye Hoyt, spent hours sorting through old records and materials arranging them in order and typing the contents. Much of the material in the booklet was taken from historical records compiled by Kathryn Schmidt and various other records from past pastors.