JWC is committed to the authority of God’s Word, the Bible, as the source-book for our lives. We read it, study it and try to learn from it as we seek to find answers for life’s tough questions. It is the foundation for everything we do, both personally and corporately.
As a result of all these things, we believe God has given us the mission of sharing His love with those around us. We are seeking to be the hands and feet of Jesus to the people of Carbon County, and by extension, to the world. It is our greatest desire to help each person come to know Jesus Christ as a personal friend and learn to follow Him.
So when we say “You’ve got a friend here,” we mean that both as it relates to the people at JWC, and as it relates to the greatest friend of all time. We invite you to get to know both better.
OUR HISTORY
Joliet Wesleyan Church began
as a dream in an elk hunting camp where a group of hunters began talking about their desire for a strong evangelical church in their part of Carbon County, Montana. That discussion led to a series of home Bible studies which developed into weekend services.
The congregation met in Boyd
for several years and was served by a series of traveling ministers. Pastors from Billings and surrounding areas often braved blizzards and other challenges to share God’s Word with the fledgling church. Without a place to call home, they began to meet in various buildings around Joliet.
They eventually built
their own meeting place at the current location in Joliet. JWC and its facilities have been an asset to the community in a variety of ways through the years. It has been the church home for scores of people who have sacrificed to bring that original vision farther along its journey.
OUR BELIEFS
At Joliet Wesleyan Church we believe in one God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the Savior of all who put their faith in Him alone for eternal life. We believe that those who receive new life in Christ are called to be holy in character and conduct and can only live this way by being filled with the Lord’s Spirit. We believe in the Bible and seek to establish our faith and actions on its teaching. We believe God wills for people everywhere to know Him and that the purpose of the Church is to tell the world about Christ through its worship, witness and loving deeds.
OUR STAFF
Samuel Smith
Pastor
After pastoring for over 20 years in various parts of this great country, Samuel and Dianne Smith, along with their two children, found their home in Carbon County, MT, in the late 90s. They found Joliet to be a fantastic place for their son and daughter to make friends, enjoy their teenage years and deepen their relationship with Christ. Their kids now have families of their own and are serving churches in other parts of the Northwest District of the Wesleyan Church.
Samuel and Dianne are involved in many aspects of community life and love the wonderful spirit of cooperation found here. They enjoy gardening, yard work, hunting, fishing, almost anything involving a four-wheeler or snowmobile, and all things ranching.
Above all, they are deeply committed to the belief that God loves people more than anything else, and that He desperately wants a personal relationship with each one of us.
Tisha Harry
Counseling Pastor
Tisha’s journey in the helping professions began in 2002 when she went to work for a mental health center in Alaska. There she facilitated Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP); taught individual and group skills development; conducted case management; and worked on a research project involving mental health and criminal recidivism. In June of 2005 she gave her life to God, who began showing her the healing power of His Word. At the end of 2005, with His guidance, she pursued a degree in psychology and sociology to further her knowledge of mental health.
After achieving this goal in 2011, she worked for the State of Texas, investigating allegations of abuse and neglect in psychiatric facilities and with other vulnerable populations. In early 2016, she moved back to her beloved Montana and worked on another research project, this time involving youth with disabilities and employment. Once this project came to completion, she returned to school to obtain a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with the goal of becoming a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).
Currently she is completing the practicum and internship portions of her professional degree at Yellowstone Counseling Center. In her studies she has developed great admiration for Attachment Theory and the therapies related to it, as these provide avenues of healing through relationships. As such she has completed a level 1 externship for Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) ahead of her completed degree and has received certifications both as a SYMBIS couples’ facilitator and as a PREPARE/ENRICH couples’ facilitator.
She is delighted to be a part of the team at Joliet Wesleyan and looks forward to serving the community and helping people along their faith-journey.
