Missoula Alliance Church (MAC) has always been a very outreach-focused church. The congregation supports a low-income housing complex downtown, provides clothing and bedding to families in need through its foster/adopt ministry, and offers English tutoring and other services to more than 100 local African refugees.

MAC does all this and more, despite operating out of a church building located in the South Hills, about 15 minutes from downtown Missoula. In 2021, the church began prayerfully seeking a property in the downtown area to make it easier for local residents to access the services they need.

But MAC had less than 24 hours to make an offer. Thanks to its partnership with Orchard Alliance, the church submitted an offer almost immediately and purchased the property, which is now called The Welcome House.

When a small, furnished house was listed for sale, it seemed ideal; the home was located near three bus lines, was walking distance to many MAC families, and as Outreach Director Lara Wildeboer said, was “cute and welcoming.” But MAC had less than 24 hours to make an offer. Thanks to its partnership with Orchard Alliance, the church submitted an offer almost immediately and purchased the property, which is now called The Welcome House. Lara said, “It totally was God’s plan, not ours.”

Because The Welcome House had previously been used as a short-term vacation rental, it was furnished with everything the church needed to begin using it for ministry on day one. Prayer groups, youth Bible studies, tutoring sessions, and more began meeting in The Welcome House almost immediately.

Lara said, “It has been amazing to see how God is working” through The Welcome House already. Thanks to MAC’s partnership with Orchard Alliance, “We have something we can use for His work and His glory.”