New Pentecostal church opens in Ronan
the Rev. Mark Toler stands in front of The Red Poppy building in Ronan where the Waters of Shiloh Pentecostal church will open on Sunday. (Photo provided)
The Red Poppy building in Ronan will open its doors this Sunday as the home of the new Waters of Shiloh Pentecostal church.
Led by Rev. Mark Toler, Waters of Shiloh is an affiliate of the Pentecostal Church of North America that aims to provide a church home and a starting point for those in need of a miracle.
Toler said one of his main goals is to begin addressing some of the drug and alcohol problems present in the community through the church by working closely with the Foursquare Church of Polson, which hosts a thriving addiction recovery program.
“We don’t really want this to be your typical church,” Toler said. “People struggle, not realizing that there is a God that loves them. He wants to make life better for them. Without someone to really lean on it’s hard for people to get through, and that’s what the church is supposed to be.”
Toler, his wife, Michelle, and their three sons moved five years ago to Montana from Ohio, where Toler began his involvement in ministry at the age of 18.
He served as a youth pastor in Ronan for three years before feeling a push to become an ordained minister and launch his own church.
According to Toler, his hope for the church is to be a resource for the community, a cornerstone of unity among other churches and a push for its members to reach beyond the church to spread Christ throughout the city.
Though still in need of basic music and sound equipment and volunteers, Toler said his goal is for Waters of Shiloh to eventually offer an adequate worship space as well as a food and clothing pantry.
“I’m just hoping that God moves and touches people’s hearts,” Toler said. “Our mission statement is to win the lost one day at a time.”
Waters of Shiloh will host an open house Saturday, March 17 at 6 p.m. for potential members and visitors.
Their first Sunday service will begin at 11 a.m. March 18 at 1 Eisenhower St SW, Ronan, MT 59864.
For more inforamtion, call or text (406) 261-7179.
Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.