When most young adults come to Yellowstone National Park to work as a summer employee, they don’t expect to come face to face with a living God through a ministry with Innovator Summer Missionaries. Dave's roommate was an Innovator who had a strong commitment to share the “truth” message of Christ. Dave had been reading and listening to many "new age" and world thoughts of Zen, Darwinism, Taoism, Buddhism, etc. Dave would soon discover that his endless search for spiritual truth would end this summer. He prayed to  accept Christ as his personal Savior and wants to be baptized! This is but one of the many encounters that occurred with the summer ministry of Yellowstone Christian Innovators.

The Yellowstone Innovator Ministry (not a program) is led by North American Mission Board’s Resort Missionary, Brad    Lartigue who also serves at Big Sky, Montana during the winter as Resort Chaplain. The Yellowstone Christian Innovator ministry began in 1978 as an outreach ministry to Yellowstone employees during the construction of Gardiner Baptist Mission. Additional staff includes retired Mission Service Corps missionary couples and a college student, Semester Missionary. These additional adult volunteers are a crucial aspect of this ministry to be effective.

Innovators are Christian college students appointed through the Student Missions Department of the North American Mission Board who participate in short-term mission service while working at regular jobs to support themselves. Like the apostle Paul, students participate in mission ministries without excessive cost to local mission forces. That local mission force is now FBC, West Yellowstone, Montana at the west entrance of the park.

Ministering in Yellowstone is a challenging assignment. The ministry is focused on the more than 3,600    employees because of the government regulations regarding evangelistic ministry to tourists. "Several mission teams inquire about  ministry in Yellowstone and their really is no freedom to minister to tourists. This is why the Innovator Ministry team is the most important aspect of ministry here. While living, recreating, and working at a regular job in the park, they can minister to fellow employees. We have     ministered through worship at West Yellowstone, picnic and campfire gatherings at major locations in the park, dorm Bible studies, backcountry camping and hiking trips, not to mention the lifestyle and intentional opportunities while living, eating and recreating with employees.

In some “cases” it’s the toughest thing that many of them have ever done in their life!  Use of drugs, alcohol, and promiscuous relationships are found among the employees. "It's amazing to see the strength and commitment that Innovator Missionaries can exhibit during their summer of ministry. I can only thank God for the prayers of many that have been answered in the midst of these situations." As you continue to pray for the Yellowstone Innovators, pray for their health and motivation to continue this same ministry challenge on their college/seminary campuses.
 

 "A Source of God's Truth And Re-Creation Through Recreation"

Website created by Bruce Gourley