Ron & Kathy Countryman
Ron and Kathy Countryman were married in November of 1968. They both had a great love and burden for Native American people and believed that somewhere in their future God had a plan for their lives to work and minister among this indigenous people group.
In 1975, the Countrymans sold their home and small horse farm in northern Illinois and moved to Montana to follow the Lord's call to minister to the Native Americans. Ron became an Ordained Bishop in 1984 (Church of God, Cleveland, TN affiliated). In the course of 23 years the Countrymans have successfully pastored three churches within the state of Montana and for the last 33 years have lived in the small ranching community of Big Timber. In 2001, with funding from their denomination, Ron and Kathy were able to purchase 24 acres near Big Timber, which is now known as the "Four Winds Ministry Center."
Ron Countryman began his ministry in 1977 while working on a large cattle ranch in northwestern Montana between the Flathead and Blackfeet Reservations. He has served on the Montana/Wyoming Youth board, North Central Regional Council, and as District Overseer. He was awarded the District Overseer of the Year award in 1988, 1989, and again in 1990. Ron served as advisor to the Big Timber Youth Rodeo Assn. and served on the board for Big Brothers, Big Sisters at the time of its inception in Sweet Grass County. Ron is an eleven year veteran of the Sweet Grass County Sheriff's Department serving as a reserve deputy and the Chaplain for that department. Ron is a member of the Church of God Chaplains Commission and the International Conference of Police Chaplains. Ron served 14 months as a Chaplain for the Billings Police Department prior to this. He is director of the Montana Native American Ministries and Four Winds Ministry Center. He has served as a Chaplain for 19 years.
Kathy Countryman has served on the Ladies Ministries board for the North Central Region. She is a teacher/speaker and has been called on to minister at training sessions at Four Winds and at Ladies Retreats and Seminars around the state, predominantly to Native American ladies. She served as a substitute teacher at Sweet Grass County High School and was also in charge of the School to Work and Adult Education programs. Kathy also serves as the Assistant Director of the Four Winds Ministry Center.
In September of 2008, Ron and Kathy received one of the greatest and most infrequent honors bestowed on a non-Native couple. At a special service on the Crow Reservation, the Turnsplenty family adopted Ron and Kathy into their family and into the Crow Indian Nation.
In 1975, the Countrymans sold their home and small horse farm in northern Illinois and moved to Montana to follow the Lord's call to minister to the Native Americans. Ron became an Ordained Bishop in 1984 (Church of God, Cleveland, TN affiliated). In the course of 23 years the Countrymans have successfully pastored three churches within the state of Montana and for the last 33 years have lived in the small ranching community of Big Timber. In 2001, with funding from their denomination, Ron and Kathy were able to purchase 24 acres near Big Timber, which is now known as the "Four Winds Ministry Center."
Ron Countryman began his ministry in 1977 while working on a large cattle ranch in northwestern Montana between the Flathead and Blackfeet Reservations. He has served on the Montana/Wyoming Youth board, North Central Regional Council, and as District Overseer. He was awarded the District Overseer of the Year award in 1988, 1989, and again in 1990. Ron served as advisor to the Big Timber Youth Rodeo Assn. and served on the board for Big Brothers, Big Sisters at the time of its inception in Sweet Grass County. Ron is an eleven year veteran of the Sweet Grass County Sheriff's Department serving as a reserve deputy and the Chaplain for that department. Ron is a member of the Church of God Chaplains Commission and the International Conference of Police Chaplains. Ron served 14 months as a Chaplain for the Billings Police Department prior to this. He is director of the Montana Native American Ministries and Four Winds Ministry Center. He has served as a Chaplain for 19 years.
Kathy Countryman has served on the Ladies Ministries board for the North Central Region. She is a teacher/speaker and has been called on to minister at training sessions at Four Winds and at Ladies Retreats and Seminars around the state, predominantly to Native American ladies. She served as a substitute teacher at Sweet Grass County High School and was also in charge of the School to Work and Adult Education programs. Kathy also serves as the Assistant Director of the Four Winds Ministry Center.
In September of 2008, Ron and Kathy received one of the greatest and most infrequent honors bestowed on a non-Native couple. At a special service on the Crow Reservation, the Turnsplenty family adopted Ron and Kathy into their family and into the Crow Indian Nation.
Justin and Jessica Countryman
Justin Countryman has been on staff at Four Winds since June of 2007 and is now Associate Director of Four Winds Ministry Center and Lead Pastor at the Big Timber Church of God. He holds an Ordained Minister's License with the Church of God, Cleveland, TN. Justin and Jessica now live in Big Timber where they are foster parents to Native American Children. Justin graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lee University with a Bachelor's Degree in Church Leadership with a Pastoral Ministry Emphasis. Justin and Jessica have two wonderful sons named Logan and Connor. Logan loves the Lord, has a servant's heart, and helps out in any way possible however he can. Justin was saved during a night service held by a youth group working at Four Winds. His salvation experience completely changed his life, and God delivered him from drugs, relationships, alcohol and tobacco. He was radically saved, and has served at Four Winds since. His life verse is Ezekiel 16:6, which says, "And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' Yes, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!'" (NKJV). Like many of today's youth, Justin struggled to save himself in his own blood. It was only through the blood of Jesus Christ that he was saved and only through the blood of Jesus Christ does this world have any hope. He has a passion to see the people of today encounter God in an undeniable way, making them witnesses to their homes, schools, and communities. In 2007, Justin left his construction job to work full time at Four Winds, do some light maintenance and ground work, and serve in any way that he could. He felt the Lord pulling him from Four Winds to Lame Deer, and when the opportunity to serve as a foster parent presented itself, he jumped at the chance. Justin spent 2 years and 2 months on the Reservation. This time was an extensive time of growth for him, holding many ups and downs, blessings and sorrows. Justin is excited to see all that God has in store for the ministry, his family and himself.
Jessica has been part of the Four Winds staff since April 2012 and is the Events Coordinator for Four Winds Ministry Center. Jessica was born and raised in Northern Virginia, about 20 miles from Washington DC. She has always loved children and growing up in a home where her parents did foster care, she knew that one day she wanted to be a foster parent as well. She grew up in church and gave her heart to the Lord when she was 7 years old. For many years she was very complacent and played the part of a "good Christian" but neglected to seek a real and personal relationship with God. In 2008 she joined her youth group on a mission's trip to Montana that changed her life. She immediately felt drawn to Four Winds and the Native American people and knew when she went back to Virginia that God was calling her to one day answer His call to move to Montana and become a missionary. For the next four years God prepared her in many ways to answer this call. She flew to Montana every year to help with youth camps and in September of 2011 she was able to spend a week in the Lame Deer foster home and knew it was exactly where God wanted her. With much prayer she took a leap of faith, quit her job and in April of 2012 packed her car to move out to Montana and work on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation as a foster mom. She looks forward to what the future has to hold and the many children she will be able to share the love of Jesus with.
Jessica has been part of the Four Winds staff since April 2012 and is the Events Coordinator for Four Winds Ministry Center. Jessica was born and raised in Northern Virginia, about 20 miles from Washington DC. She has always loved children and growing up in a home where her parents did foster care, she knew that one day she wanted to be a foster parent as well. She grew up in church and gave her heart to the Lord when she was 7 years old. For many years she was very complacent and played the part of a "good Christian" but neglected to seek a real and personal relationship with God. In 2008 she joined her youth group on a mission's trip to Montana that changed her life. She immediately felt drawn to Four Winds and the Native American people and knew when she went back to Virginia that God was calling her to one day answer His call to move to Montana and become a missionary. For the next four years God prepared her in many ways to answer this call. She flew to Montana every year to help with youth camps and in September of 2011 she was able to spend a week in the Lame Deer foster home and knew it was exactly where God wanted her. With much prayer she took a leap of faith, quit her job and in April of 2012 packed her car to move out to Montana and work on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation as a foster mom. She looks forward to what the future has to hold and the many children she will be able to share the love of Jesus with.
Laurie Parrent
Laurie has been a family friend for decades and is now the Bookkeeper at Four Winds. She has a heart for Native American children and is a licensed foster parent herself. She also works for the Sweetgrass Mental Health Office and does other accounting jobs to help others in Big Timber. She is currently taking care of two beautiful Native American toddlers, so she has plenty on her plate!!!