Outposts of Hope

Decades ago, Wyoming Ministry Network founding superintendent Joseph Neely envisioned each church as an “outpost of hope in hard ground.”

When Nicole Heidt was elected superintendent of the network, becoming the first female district superintendent in Assemblies of God history, she was determined to step into the role with sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading.

One of her first days in office, Heidt came across a box near her new desk that was labeled “archives.” Inside was a document written by Neely. As she read through its contents, one phrase stood out.

“On that piece of paper, Superintendent Neely referred to the churches in Wyoming as ‘outposts of hope in hard ground,’” she recalls.

The words immediately began to resonate with her.

Wyoming remains one of the most rural states in the nation, with most towns having small populations and vast distances separating many communities. Heidt states nearly 90% of the network’s churches are considered rural. Because of these realities, some residents struggle with feelings of isolation.

As she reflected on Neely’s description, Heidt became convinced that the Lord was impressing on her that the vision remained just as true today as it was when the state’s earliest Assemblies of God churches were planted.

“If that was the original intention of how the Holy Spirit was leading Joseph Neely, then I think that vision is still relevant,” she says.

Determined to share the discovery and reignite the vision with pastors and church leaders, Heidt incorporated the theme into the Wyoming Ministry Network Conference.

Rather than simply sharing the story of the original vision, she created a memorable visual illustration.

“People forget what they hear but remember what they see,” she explains.

For each church in the network, she prepared a post with the city’s name and hung a lantern from the post, representing the AG church in its community.

As she spoke about the churches serving as outposts of hope throughout the state, she slowly turned off each of the lanterns. Then, she asked a question: “What would happen if the lights of our AG churches went out?”

The image impacted the entire room as the darkness vividly demonstrated the role local churches play in their communities.

“In our towns, Assemblies of God churches serve as visible reminders that God has not forgotten the people who live there,” Heidt says. “It’s important because many of our communities can easily feel forgotten. But being an ‘outpost of hope’ means reminding people that they matter to God and that they are not abandoned or forgotten.” 

For many pastors, the message reinforced the importance of remaining actively engaged in their communities.

One congregation putting that vision into action is Green River Assembly, pastored by Shawn Johnston.

As the church prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary, members will intentionally move beyond the church walls, hosting a block party for the neighborhood with the theme of “Legacy: Remaining an Outpost of Hope.”

“We are taking hold of this vision and making it a priority as we celebrate our anniversary,” Johnson says. “We want to remind people that we’re here,” he says. “We want to get out where they are and invite people to church and let them know they’re welcome.”

The church’s outreach efforts will culminate in a special anniversary celebration service, extending beyond just the commemoration of a milestone.

Johnston says the focus remains on engaging the community in meaningful ways and demonstrating that the church remains a strong beacon of hope for local residents.

“We are excited to celebrate our future while also honoring our legacy by returning to our roots,” he says.

While methods may change from generation to generation, the mission remains the same, says Heidt. And thanks to a rediscovered vision from the network’s earliest days, a new generation of pastors and churches is being reminded why they are there: to be outposts of hope that remind each resident God sees them, loves them, and has not forgotten them.

Ashley B. Grant

Ashley B. Grant has a master's degree in Human Services Marriage and Family Counseling from Liberty University and is a credentialed Christian counselor through the American Association of Christian Counselors. Grant also holds certifications in crisis pregnancy counseling and advanced life coaching. Ashley is a fourth generation Assemblies of God preacher’s kid and has one daughter and three sons.