A Vision Prayed for - That Later Developed Beyond Expectation

1896    -    2026

What was the Inspiration Behind the Chautauqua Movement?

    It was originally birthed back on Lake Chautauqua, New York, in the 1870s, out of a great need to provide training for solid Bible Teachers to be prepared to serve in the frontier regions of the U.S..  There was a great lack of higher education.  Many cultures were converging together, and many social influences were impacting society.  Solid biblical and cultural arts training was needed, and would greatly strengthen the planting of new churches.

    Early in 1896 a vision took root in a group of young people at Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church in Kalispell, to start a Chautauqua Center in Montana.  At the time, centers were being developed in various locations in the US.  Many frontier preachers from around Montana joined in the effort to get this Biblical Education and Cultural Center established.  It proved hard to find a location to establish the center.  

    Brother Van worked with the Northern Pacific Railroad to trade a parcel of land for 240 acres on Flathead Lake.  J.C. Edwards had his homestead on the Northside of Big Creek (Stoner Crk).  It extended approx. 1 mile North along the shore, and ½ mile wide.  It had some primitive log cabins and a good sized log barn within a 50 acre area of cleared land.

    F.A Riggin had been the Pastor at Epworth Methodist Episcopal Church in Kalispell.  R.M. Craven had followed him.  Brother Van was now the Presiding Elder over Northern Montana.  He asked Riggin, Craven, Logan & Little, to form the initial organization for the Chautauqua Center.  By September of 1897, the first Camp Meeting was held on the new site.  The services took place in the large barn they named “The Tabernacle".  

    At the time, Kalispell was a 5 to 6 hour journey from the new Chautauqua Center.  All the pastors from the Flathead Valley came, along with many from the Eastside of the mountains.  People traveled by buggy, horseback and bicycle.  Others took the stage, or came by steam ship.  

    Due to the remote location, it proved hard to support.  The founders sold off land to finance the facility.  Initially the plotted new community was called “Chautauqua”.  The streets were named for some of Montana’s active preachers.  Later when a post office was established, the name was changed because people could not remember how to spell Chautauqua.  

    In September, 2026, a special gathering was happening at the Youth With A Mission campus in Lakeside, Montana.  A planned leadership transition had just taken place, and all of the missionary staff were gathering to hear and discuss the vision stirring in the heart of the new Base Director, and that of the entire leadership team.  Their theme for this gathering, and for the coming year was, "Walking Into the Future, Backwards".  They know understanding of the past, provides solid perspectives for the future. 

    It is amazing that the very vision that God originally stirred in the hearts of the leaders back in 1896, has also been the cornerstone of the vision of the YWAM Montana ministry since it's founding in 1985.  A focus on training missionaries to serve in frontier regions, by providing Biblical Studies & Cultural Performing Art training.

    Living History Circuit Riders left from the townsite of Demersville, just South of Kalispell, and travelled as they did 130 years ago, when the vision for a center was originally cast.  They rode through Brochen, and then finished at the "Chautauqua Center", the foreshadow of today's fulfillment of that vision (in the same location), Youth With A Mission.