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.
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 children, so she has plenty on her plate!!!