Frontier History Minute
Radio Broadcast with YNOP / Your Network of Praise
Helping to Celebrate America's 250th Birthday
by remembering the pioneer Circuit Riders of the 1860s through 1910s, that with devotion to Christ,
labored to care for the developing nation with the Gospel.
To Encourage The Rural Church, and Their Communities
Frontier History Minute - Index of Episodes with Topics
Episode 1 - W.W. Van Orsdel / His initial call to be a missionary (In Montana)
Episode 2 - W.W. Van Orsdel / Often our first steps feel challenging (In Montana)
Episode 3 - W.W. Van Orsdel / Looking for a good location to meet (In Montana)
Episode 4 - George Logan / Are you feeling spread to thin? (In Montana)
Episode 5 - F.A. Riggin / Sometimes little things help us fit in a little better (In Montana)
Episode 6 - F.A. Riggin & W.W. Van Orsdel / Is all the time & effort worth it? (In Montana & Idaho)
Episode 7 - W.C. Shippen / What does a "step up" in ministry look like? (In Idaho)
Episode 8 - W.C. Shippen / After some time building local relationships, it was time (In Idaho)
Episode 9 - John L. Dyer / Sometimes we don't realize the things that God is doing to bring His will about in our lives (In Colorado)
Episode 10 - John L. Dyer / It was seeing the people, that sealed God's will in his heart (In Colorado)
Episode 11 - In every new settlement or boom town, everyone that arrived had a past, - and most carried hopes for the future
Episode 12 - Perspectives can be gained by realizing the role the local saloon had as a boom town's community center
Episode 13 - "Brother Van" / A Name Given & Used with Affection (In Montana)
Episode 14 - "Father Dyer" / A Name Given & Used with Affection (In Colorado)
Episode 15 - Looking back at a community's history, often can reveal times that God was stirring His will in people's hearts (In Idaho)
Episode 16 - All the locals were born someplace else, and many were praying for a minister to be sent (In Idaho)
Episode 17 - "Brother Van" / An important lesson about being consistent and reliable. He never forgot it (In Montana)
Episode 18 - "Father Dyer" / God is the One who gives me strength, and directs my way (In Colorado)
Episode 19 - A reminder that God sees each one of them, and cares
Episode 20 - A new Territory with many cultures and languages (In Montana)
Episode 21 - Allan & Jenny Roger / Remember their stories, it is HIStory, and gives perspective (In Montana)
Episode 22 -
Episode 23 -
Episode 24 - More Coming!!
FHM - The Focus is on the Heart of Their Stories
While the vast majority of the circuit riders represented the Methodist Episcopal Church, - the Presbyterians, Lutherans, Baptists, … and many others also found that having itinerant ministers on the trail, proved very effective for establishing churches and caring for the people living all across the vast expanse.
Truly, the number of Christian church affiliations that used circuit riders, was far beyond these umbrella categories. This is because immigrants were coming from all over the world who desired to begin new lives on the frontier. So all of the backgrounds listed above are also represented by church affiliations established to minister to the different language and ethnic groups that were present and clustered in new settlements all over the developing territories and states.
For this reason (and because of limited time) the focus of each broadcast will not be about the minister's Christian affiliation, but about the stories shared, especially those that illustrate God's hand at work, and what life was like for all of them.
Our hope is that the historical stories and situations talked about, will also be applicable, and be used to encourage those in ministry now. Some methods and resources have changed, but the heart of ministry remains the same. Exalting Jesus Christ, and caring for people, no matter where you find them!
