About Us
Community that believes in the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Our Story
We started Great Plains Gathering in 2011 with a vision to see hope and peace flourish among Native people in Billings, through the gospel. We prayed that God would build this community through friendships and trust. It is astonishing to see the worship community that has developed in the past few years; such an authentic, multicultural congregation that is reflective of both our context and the gospel. Our desire has been to create a sense of family and home. When we started meeting on Sundays for worship service, we gathered in the fellowship hall of Rocky Mountain Community Church. We believed it was important to create a sense of permanence in our growing church and, to our amazement, God provided us with a space of our own in August, 2015. Having our own worship space to meet together as families has strengthened our sense of identity and allowed us to grow in our ability to serve others. We know that community is important to everyone and we hope that many more will discover this among us.
Leadership
Pastor Josh Charette is of Turtle Mountain Chippewa and Norwegian descent. He grew up in Billings and attended school in Lockwood and then at Senior High. He graduated college with a B.A. in Pastoral-Church Ministries from Oral Roberts University. He also holds a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Josh previously pastored churches in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Cody, Wyoming.
Josh was a successful athlete and competed at the national and international level in all the disciplines of Wrestling, Russian Sambo and Judo. He enjoys the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Josh has a pastor’s heart and is gifted at communicating the gospel and formulating strong leadership and authentic community through mentorship.
Josh and Katie met in high school, at a church youth group in Billings, and were married in 1998. Katie holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Oral Roberts University and worked as a computer programmer before stopping to raise kids and help in ministry and church planting. She is now the Director of Operations for GPG and also serves by singing on the Music Team, leading GPG Women, and mentoring through our Kids & Teens Outdoor Enrichment Program.
Josh and Katie have 3 kids: Alex, Aidan and Ella. Alex is currently attending Montana State University Billings and Aidan and Ella both attend Senior High. They are all active members in the church and in various activities in our community. Alex is a black belt and volunteer coach in Judo. He and Ella join their dad in his love for hunting and fishing. Aidan (who has Autism) participates in recreational activities through Eagle Mount and his Special Olympics dance team, Rockers. Ella plays the flute in her school band and trains in ballet and modern at the School of Classical Ballet.
Beliefs
Great Plains Gathering is a church plant of the Presbyterian Church in America. While, as a church, we are firm in our distinctives, we recognize that many people who connect with us are from various backgrounds. Our desire is to be a place that is willing to engage people where they are in this journey.
We believe the Bible is the written word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit and without error in the original manuscripts. The Bible is the revelation of God’s truth and is infallible and authoritative in all matters of faith and practice.
We believe in the Holy Trinity. There is one God, who exists eternally in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that all are sinners and totally unable to save themselves from God’s displeasure, except by His mercy.
We believe that salvation is by God alone as He sovereignly chooses those He will save. We believe His choice is based on His grace, not on any human individual merit, or foreseen faith.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who through His perfect life and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who will trust in Him, alone, for salvation.
We believe that God is gracious and faithful to His people not simply as individuals but as families in successive generations according to His Covenant promises.
We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells God’s people and gives them the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
We believe that Jesus will return, bodily and visibly, to judge all mankind and to receive His people to Himself.
We believe that all aspects of our lives are to be lived to the glory of God under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.