Who are we?
We are a local congregation of a world-wide organization called the Christian and Missionary Alliance.
History: The Helena Alliance Church was formed in the 1950's and was a thriving congregation throughout the 1970's with a strong youth program. A series of leadership disasters throughout the 1980's resulted in the church being closed in 1989. The present church was re-formed in 1990 with Pastor Jim Stumbo coming to rebuild the congregation. We now have a congregation of about 200 people that are actively involved in the Helena community and in mission projects throughout the world.
For more detail about our beliefs and core values visit the national Christian & Missionary Alliance website.
History: The Helena Alliance Church was formed in the 1950's and was a thriving congregation throughout the 1970's with a strong youth program. A series of leadership disasters throughout the 1980's resulted in the church being closed in 1989. The present church was re-formed in 1990 with Pastor Jim Stumbo coming to rebuild the congregation. We now have a congregation of about 200 people that are actively involved in the Helena community and in mission projects throughout the world.
For more detail about our beliefs and core values visit the national Christian & Missionary Alliance website.
Meet our Pastoral Staff:
Jim Stumbo - Senior Pastor
Jim and Ronda Stumbo met at Crown College and were married in 1973. They have 4 married children and 15 grandchildren. They have served in 2 churches, Greybull, WY for 16 years, and here in Helena since 1990. Ronda is retired as a registered nurse and now devotes her time to her family and women's ministries. Jim has a passion to experience God and help others to do so, as well. "Many try very hard to live like Christ and give Him the credit, but that is different from the NT experience of having Christ live in me!" Jim also leads our district in establishing farms in Mexico for our C&MA churches, and is chairman of our Bible Camp, Yellowstone Alliance Adventures. In his spare time, Jim loves to hunt, fish, garden, mow lawns, and collect football cards.
Eric Peterson - Associate Pastor of Congregational Prayer
I was born and raised in Montana. The summer before my junior year at the University of Montana my brother died in a hiking accident in Idaho. It was the best and worst thing that ever happened in my life. The worst, in that it was so painful and I missed him so much the best, because I finally started to respond to God's promptings in my life. I ended up transferring from the University of Montana with a pre-med emphasis to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago with a Bible -Theology emphasis. It was there that I met my wife Mandi (hey, they don't call it Moody Bridal Institute for nothing).
After graduating from college we worked with South America Mission for ten years with seven of those being in Brazil with the indigenous people of the Amazon basin.
For eleven years I had the huge blessing of being a Pastor both in Missoula and now in Helena. My life goal is to know Christ and to make Him known. My wife and I have four kids. In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking the wonderful trails around Helena and shed hunting. Give me a call and lets grab a cup of Joe!
After graduating from college we worked with South America Mission for ten years with seven of those being in Brazil with the indigenous people of the Amazon basin.
For eleven years I had the huge blessing of being a Pastor both in Missoula and now in Helena. My life goal is to know Christ and to make Him known. My wife and I have four kids. In my spare time I enjoy mountain biking the wonderful trails around Helena and shed hunting. Give me a call and lets grab a cup of Joe!
Vince Vannett - Associate Pastor of Children and Youth Ministries
Vince and his wife Misty have been married 20 years and have 8 children. So, they will be involved in children and youth for many years to come.
Vince has worked with youth for over 20 years. He spent 10 years in Nashville, TN working in a group home with inner city and incarcerated children, gangs, and teenage mothers. He volunteered with the youth group, college ministry, and he and Misty taught several Sunday school classes. He has coached football in middle and high school as well as other sports and for the past 4 years has led a Fitness ministry for families. The past 10 years Vince and Misty served in Jellico, TN where they began a coffee shop ministry, helped launch a celebrate recovery, jail ministry, and church plant. Misty also led a weekly Girl Talk group for teenage girls. Vince served as a youth pastor and worship leader in a church in KY before coming to Helena.
Vince has worked with youth for over 20 years. He spent 10 years in Nashville, TN working in a group home with inner city and incarcerated children, gangs, and teenage mothers. He volunteered with the youth group, college ministry, and he and Misty taught several Sunday school classes. He has coached football in middle and high school as well as other sports and for the past 4 years has led a Fitness ministry for families. The past 10 years Vince and Misty served in Jellico, TN where they began a coffee shop ministry, helped launch a celebrate recovery, jail ministry, and church plant. Misty also led a weekly Girl Talk group for teenage girls. Vince served as a youth pastor and worship leader in a church in KY before coming to Helena.