Frontier, School of the Bible, LaGrange, WY

Since our last project at Pend Orielle Bible Camp, we had a chance to spend a couple of weeks with our daughter and grandkids in Los Angeles acting like typical tourist visiting the local sights and attractions such as Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, Huntington Beach etc. 

Our well made plans again changed when instead of going up through Oregon we had to make a beeline towards Cheyenne through Lake Tahoe and Salt Lake City Utah due to a family emergency. All is well though with how God orchestrates our travels - we got to Cheyenne in good time as the emergency was handled by our daughter which also gave us the opportunity to participate in another project that is close by Cheyenne.

 

About an hour's drive north is the sleepy town of LaGrange, Wyoming. Home of Frontier School of the Bible. So here we start our next adventure:  

 

US Post Office on 5th Ave LaGrange, WY

So you ask (as we did) where and what is in LaGrange, WY population 451? Here is LaGrange ,if you zoom out a bit you will see the proximity to nothing. Yes it is about an hour to Cheyenne, Scottsbluff, NE and Torrington, WY. but all around is isolation and vast prairies. For a small town as it is, they have a very well laid out  website that describes its history and other tidbits.

Look closer at the map and you will see a prominent feature labeled Frontier School of the Bible 

 

 

Visit the link to their website and you will learn that this school is not like your traditional “seminary or Bible university”. It offers a 3 year non-accredited program and its curriculum is TOTALLY focused on the Bible - Charlie (one of the Professors) describes it as “a fast track technical institute “ to learn about scripture and how to share it. They “train for service - equipping for life”.      



Entrance to Frontier School of the Bible on 5th Ave.



Administration Building



There are 4 RV spots that  have 50/30 amp power, water and sewer hookups. Quite, clean and safe sites.

 

 

We arrived at about 2 PM and proceeded to the administration building to meet up with Mike Huseby (Dean of Students) since Rob (Head of Maintenance) was in Cheyenne getting building supplies. Mike quickly introduced us to Nelson Miles (President) and handed us over to Jeff Robinson (Maintenance) who volunteered to give us a tour of the campus, discuss work plans and show us our camp site.

Let us see where the trail leads to. Bill and Linda on their 1000cc ATV

We parked our RV, hooked up utilities and settled in for a restful evening. In the morning we introduced ourselves to our next door neighbors who were volunteers from Warsaw, IL. Bill and Linda Robinson were there helping out Bill (VP of the school) renovate and move into his new/old house that was used as a church in its early life. This couple are bonafide ATV adventurers who ride the trails less traveled and are not afraid to pioneer new ones!



Student Center Building with a shady gazebo in front with strong wi-fi



Our assigned project was at the Student Center to repair peeling joints on the ceiling as a result of a leaking roof. This turned out to be a really cool (literally) project since Jeff was kind enough to turn on the AC in the whole building while the other work crews had work under the sweltering heat of the sun.  

 

 

 

Here are a few pics of the work that we were entrusted to complete. Such high ceilings that necessitated a lot of ladder work, and to think that we are both afraid of heights :-) !

 



High on the ladder and clinging on for dear life

 

Gotta get that spot out and repaired





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After all the mudding and taping was done, Jeff Robinson, maintenance personnel for Frontier, we fondly call him Doctor Jeff,  took charge and showed me the fine art of spraying texture. A true artist at work!   



Dr. Jeff  spraying away to his hearts content



Sorry Doc, I thought I had the consistency of the mud right





When the masterpiece was done, I had to cover it all up with a new coat of paint - yes that is me

 in disguise.  

 

How did that guy get in the building?





First Class Dining Hall



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In between all this work, we were treated to outstanding meals at the dining hall for lunch. A dining facility such as this is evident of the care and concern the school has for it's student body’s physical and nutritional needs.    



A group of about 20 men composed of local residents and school staff have weekly Bible study and breakfast that is usually held at one of the churches, however, last Tuesday's event was hosted by the school in the dining hall.

This being a Bible school, the spiritual needs are addressed as well with this outstanding facility they call “The Chapel”. Services are held every Sunday while school is in session and Wednesday evening for prayer time. The students will take turns practicing what they have learned in their Homiletics Classes (art of preaching) as they preach to small and large gatherings.



Entrance to the Chapel



Foyer



Main Room of the Chapel

Here are a few pictures of the different amenities and buildings found on campus.

     



Bookstore and Gift Shop



Ladies Dorm



Men's Dorm



School Library



Nelson and Cheryl Miles 

 



The Summer Camping Counselors (left to right) Camron, the business  shark,  Ben the witty one, Rebecca who just loved to giggle, Erika the gymnast, and Joanna the serious one. All so full of youth yet abounding in Wisdom! 

 



Since school was out for the summer, meals were prepared for the work crew by Mike (Dean of students) and his wife Lois Huseby (Dean of Ladies) at the dining hall for lunch. Sumptuous dinners were hosted by staff in their homes.

Our first dinner was hosted by Nelson (President) and Cheryl Miles.(Dean of Women's Ministry) 

 

Also Invited to the dinner was a group of students from the school who were back on campus for a weekend of rest as they traveled to different states to participate in various youth camping events as counselors. It was interesting to learn how the president of the school interacted and knew of each of the students background and unique personalities. Young adults will act like kids sometimes and these youths were no exception as they shared their experiences in their travels that summer. However, as they spoke of the spiritual ramifications of their exposure to the kids at summer camp and how they were able to share the Gospel with them, the maturity and wisdom was well beyond their physical age which was a true testimony of the kind of graduates the school produces. 



Shanna, Will, Priscila, Frank and Carol enjoying dinner at the garden

 

Dinner at the Meyenbergs. with the Camping Team and their daughter (extreme right)

 

 

 

 



Dinner in their lush garden with Will (Dean of Missions) and Shanna (Business Manager) Fellows together with Priscila who is their “adopted” daughter will be taking over the position of Dean of Ladies and currently is the School Nurse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinner with Mike (Teacher of Doctrine and Bible) and Leslie Meyenberg at their lovely home. What a jolly couple Mike and Leslie are as they shared their mission travels and experiences.

 



Mike and Lois hosted the work crew for sumptuous dinners and nervous "air jello" the last week we were there. Did not know if our bellies ached from over eating or the laughing too much!! The fellowship was simply outstanding. Thank you both for the hospitality. 

 





Rey the magician at his best making the joints disappear.



After stripping the trusses and siding from the building  the excavator did its thing.



No walls would stand up against the mighty demo crew and excavator!



 

 

 

Mike and Lois hosted us and the work crew from Wausau Bible Church, Wausau, WI for several nights and prepared delicious meals and always amazing desserts which I found to be irresistible, specially the “air gello”. They are (left to right) Mike and Judy Haman, Judy (standing) and Mike Huseby, Bill (Huhhh?) Udalutch (hope I got the spelling right) and Rey Appleton, who I had the pleasure of working side by side as he taught me the finer points of appling and finishing joints on drywall. This work crew have been coming to Frontier for the last 15 years doing various projects. This year they were tasked to demolish part of building that had a failing foundation and then rebuild it back again. This project was not for the faint of heart since it involved heavy machinery, demolition, a lot of dust, crawling around in the dirt underneath the building and HEAT! With Jeff’s supervision, these guys and gal were certainly up to the task and performed flawlessly.       

 

 

 

It was not all work though as seen here where Jeff tries out the newly installed turf. All is good as it passed the “nap” test. 



Now if only my bed was this soft





Nathan and Jeff on the student Center Roof. Can you see Cheyenne from here?



Since we had done all the repairs in the interior of the Student Center Bldg. Jeff had Nathan (student) and I replace booties on the vent pipes. This was one of the reasons the roof leaked.

 

 

 

While doing a tour of the facilities, we chanced upon this plaque that hung on the hallway of the Administration Building. We wanted to share the inscription with hopes of putting things in perspective. (It may be a bit blurred or unreadable in this format, but this is what is written)  

Job or Ministry

Some have a Job while others have a Ministry

  What is the difference?

If you are doing it because no one else will, it is a

JOB

If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it is a 

MINISTRY

If you are doing it just well enough to get by, it is a

JOB

If you are doing it to the best of your ability, it is a

MINISTRY

If you quit because someone criticized you, it was a

JOB

If you kept serving, it was a

MINISTRY

If you do it only as long as it does not interfere with your activities, it is a

JOB

If you are committed to staying with it even if it means letting go of other things,

it is a MINISTRY

If you quit because no one ever praised or thanked you, it is a

JOB

If you stay with it even though no one notices your efforts, it is a

MINISTRY

It is hard to get excited about a

JOB

It is almost impossible not to get excited about  a

MINISTRY

If your concern is success, it is a

JOB

If your concern is faithfulness, it is a

MINISTRY

People may say "good job" when you do your

JOB

The LORD will say, "Well done, good and loyal servant,"  when you complete your

MINISTRY

 

 

 

In our short two weeks spent working and building up relationships with staff at Frontier, we were constantly surprised at how “human” and unpretentious they all were. Despite the titles that they currently held, the academic accolades they garnered in the past and the size of churches that they once pastored, when there was work to be done, they were the first ones to muster up a crew if needed and roll up their sleeves EVEN without being asked to help! What an inspiration!

 

The staff and teachers take scripture very seriously as they not only teach rock solid doctrine and fiscal responsibility, but live their own lives as living examples of how to apply Christ’s teaching to our everyday life! What an amazing group of folks who choose to follow Christ’s leading as they impart knowledge and actually “practice what they preach”! This was truly a refreshing revelation and humbling experience to see and witness firsthand the hand of God working in and around the teachers, staff, students, and community.

 

If the thought of getting an education in Biblical Studies ever entered your mind; of maybe to serve as Teacher/Professor, Office Manager, Maintenance Personnel, or to simply share your skills and gifting with a worthwhile organization; I highly and prayerfully recommend that you consider joining the Frontier School of the Bible Team. These men and women are the Real Deal!! 

 

 Continued blessings to all.