Reverend Dennis and Lori Findorff will be honored April 9 at the Chinook Alliance Church
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This 2015 photo of Reverend Dennis Findorff was taken in the pastor's office shortly after The Annex was occupied by the Chinook Alliance Church. The Annex occupies the old L & L pizza building, at the corner of Indiana and 2nd Street, that was remodeled for church offices and additional meeting rooms.
Rev. Dennis and Lori Findorff will be leaving Chinook in early April. Pastor Dennis will become the pastor at the Fortine Community Church in Fortine, Montana, beginning in May. The Findorffs began their ministry with Chinook Alliance Church in October, 2008. Fortine is a small mountain community about one hour northwest of Kalispell just off U.S. 93.
Prior to the couple's coming to Chinook, Dennis was the assistant pastor at an Alliance church in Klamath Falls, Oregon while he completed seminary. A third career minister, he was trained as a civil engineer and worked as a professional land surveyor for several years. He also taught college classes in engineering.
Asked about his nearly ten years at the Chinook Alliance Church, Dennis said, "I feel good about the outreach we accomplished working with other churches in the community. I felt we gained a bigger vision of God's church as we worked with fellow Christians in other denominations."
Pastor Dennis added he was also pleased with the number of personal relationships he made both within the church he pastored and the larger community. Describing this recent move as "bittersweet," he added, "I felt I was helping shepherd a body of believers. We have many great memories as we follow the Lord's call and leave these people we love so much." Pastor Dennis said he wished to maintain those relationship as they begin ministering in a new place.
Asked about the church in Fortine, Pastor Findorff said, "It will be the same work, different verse." He explained, "No matter the church the challenges are always similar, to rally God's people and to make them disciples of Christ." Fortine is a small community (population 169 in 2000) with many people living in the surrounding area. The Fortine Community Church is the only congregation in the community.
Dennis and Lori, both avid campers, have camped in the area around Fortine over the years. Dennis said, "It's an area we've always enjoyed. The church has a parsonage where we will live. That's a new experience for us and will take some getting used to." Long term, he said the couple may look for their own land and eventually consider retiring in the area.
The process for a new pastor at Chinook will take some time
Findorff said, "The process for finding a new pastor for Chinook will likely take a few months." In the Alliance tradition there is a District Superintendent, based in Billings, who oversees a number of churches in the western states. That official will be visiting Chinook within a month to meet with the church board.
The local church compiles information about its ministry, describes the type of leader it would like and selects a pastor search team. The District Superintendent will match interested candidates with the local search team's preferences. Eventually candidates, one at a time, will come to visit and preach at the church. When a candidate and the church feel comfortable that a mutual fit exists, the new pastor will be called to serve.
As to a timeline for that to happen, Pastor Findorff said, ""Before I came to Chinook the church here was without a regular pastor from April to October. At Fortine, the former pastor left in mid-January and we will begin there in May. That gives you a notion of the timing that is likely to occur." Sunday, April 8 will be Reverend Findorff's last official day as pastor in Chinook.
Reception set for evening
of April 9
The public is invited to a reception for Reverend Dennis and Lori Findorff to be held Monday evening, April 9. The reception is at the Chinook Alliance Church and will begin at 7 pm. The church is located at the corner of Indiana and Highway 2. Please come and help wish Godspeed to the Findorffs as they begin their new journey to a new call in Fortine.
