A New Chapter for I-61

Looking back, I am so thankful that God had called me to  minister at Vineyard Boise. Saying “yes” when I was asked in 2006 to help lead the first Bible school, I didn’t know what would ensue! God spoke to Michael & I the sane verse separately: Isaiah 40:8 & 1 Peter 1:24-25: 

“The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever”.

This confirmed our direction with leading the intense Church/YWAM hybrid school of Biblical Studies   (SBS), but more than that, it became a life-verse for me. I knew I was called to live my life in a way that helped plant the Word of God in people’s hearts because it was the only thing that lasted. 

For 17 years, I have been honored to  lead so many different ministries: directing discipleship schools (SBS, SOBA),  directing VCOM (Vineyard College of Mission), helping to form our I-61 training center in Nicaragua, directing relief teams to Puerto Rico & Houston, and in these last five years, helping to lead and train over a hundred church planters in Myanmar. I am humbled that God would allow me to partner with Him in this endeavor. 

Many people have to battle the daily grind with a job they hate so they can provide for their family. This is so honorable AND I’m grateful that God allowed me to work at something I loved and had passion for - equipping the Church to spread the gospel.

“That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.”- ‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬-‭14‬.

 I am thankful that everything God has done will last & outlive me. 

I’m not saying it was always easy! Don’t get me wrong! There have been major hurdles, failures, & successes. Last August when I was sending a change, I took a few days away by myself to pray & seek the Lord. He clearly told me to quit all my jobs & focus on my family. So last fall, I began the process of handing things over & letting go. 

As of December 2022, I stepped off the USA Vineyard Missions team (I was a point person for justice/compassion ministry). I handed the Vineyard USA Missions Myanmar partnership over to my husband Michael. I got the I-61 ministry website functional to work without me, serving as a resource for networking & virtual coaching for ministries around the world.  I went with the team to Thailand/ Myanmar in February 2023 & helped plan/ teach for the first church-planting seminar with our new batch of pastors & teachers.  I’ve spent precious moments with our core group in I-61 ministries, praying together, working towards future goals, & moving out of the offices where so much has happened. 

Although my job is not being replaced (we are over-staffed as a church), I know the next missions leader very well … my husband!  Michael will take over the church-planting effort in Myanmar as he personally has felt God’s calling to plant 100 kingdom churches out of the Boise Vineyard. He will oversee I-61, the Vineyard USA-Myanmar partnership of churches, & missions for Vineyard Boise. He has heartfelt passion for it AND he has a full plate of what he already does for the church as Executive Pastor. So he will definitely need the teamwork of our I-61 core leaders to make it all happen. I’m confidant that God will lead him & he will do a great job! 

As of May 28 (my 45th birthday), I will officially be done serving Vineyard Boise as a paid part-time employee/ Missions pastor. I will always be a pastor, as that license & ordination doesn’t expire, but I will no longer be in staff. 

So what’s next? Thanks to the generosity of the church leadership, Michael also gets a break this summer! He has earned a 3-month sabbatical after working for 17 years, and it is much needed. He has been working since he was twelve years old and anyone who knows him, knows he is an extremely hard worker. Well there’s a time to work and a time to rest. We are grateful we will get to rest this summer as a family. He resumes his job in September 2023.

Thank you for all the ways you have been a part of our family.  Thank you for caring enough to read this letter! We would love your prayers for this next season of life. 

Prayer Requests: 

  • Deep encounters with God as we rest in Him and reflect on this past season of life. 

  • Financial provision as God has not told me to get another job. 

  • New family joy and bonds to be strengthened. Jude will be 15! Lucy will be 12! We are in the teenage phase for sure. 

  • Provision for our treehouse/cabin we have been building in Donnelly, ID. It has been the opposite of fun most days & creates a lot of stress for Michael. Our framer stole over 12 k of our money and we are still in process of getting it back. We need the income the cabin will generate as a vacation-rental so we are trying to get it done soon but without the headaches. 

  • Overall… healing, joy, peace, fun, provision, & rest. 

Thank you friends!! Please reach out to me personally at terramontford@gmail.com

May God bless each of you to hear His still small whisper for your lives. We can truly change the world with simple listening and obedience. Much love and peace for you today,

Terra Montford

Terra Montford