Calvary Hot Springs

Exalting Christ Through the Ministry of the Word

Church Family

Meet Kellie Lim

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putting names to faces…

Kellie Lim moved to Hot Springs 27 years ago to come along side her husband as he took the pastorate of his first church. Her love for the Black Hills and for the brothers and sisters of Calvary was almost instantaneous. She has and continues to serve in the church in a myriad of ways and is a pleasure to be with (no bias… just truth).

Here she reared their two children, both of whom are now married and have given them seven grandchildren.

Kellie is in her element when teaching her first graders at Hot Springs Elementary where she has worked for 14 years.

From a very young age Kellie recalls having questions that stirred her heart regarding God and regarding eternity. But it wasn’t until she heard the gospel in high school that those questions were answered. God’s grace captured her heart when hearing the good news and she remembers thinking, “This is what I’ve been looking for.” As she grew in the Lord and learned of His ways, she discovered that by God’s providence, it was not she who was looking for Him, but He looking for her.

Kellie’s confidence and her hope for eternal life rests in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Meet Pete Burleigh

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putting names to faces

Pete Burleigh is a Navy veteran, having served for twenty years and four days. In 1997 he moved to the Black Hills area to be closer to the kids and in 2000 he remarried and he and his wife moved to Hot Springs specifically for employment. Pete has four grown children and six grandkids. You may run into Pete if you fill up at Dakota Mart Gas. He seems always to be working… especially on Sunday mornings. 

Pete started attending Calvary in 2006 and enjoys the fellowship and support from her people. 

Pete grew up on the Iron Range of Minnesota. It was there that through the life and ministry of American Missionary Fellowship missionary Les Wille (and his four daughters who first caught his attention), Pete came to know and to trust Jesus as his Savior. In his teen years, Les poured his life into Pete as he discipled him in the Word. Later, before going to his first duty station Les told him about the ministry of Overseas Christian Servicemen’s Center’s (OCSC) now known as Cadence International and their Center in Subic Bay, Philippines. It was there that he was nurtured in the Lord while serving in the military. God used the means of a young missionary and the ministry of a serviceman’s center to ground Pete in the truth and to care for him in his early life as a Christian. For this Pete is extremely grateful.

Pete’s hope for eternity rests in the Lord Jesus Christ; the promises for what is yet to come and the assurance of His presence for today.

Praise the Lord!

Meet Abi Johnson

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putting names to faces

Abi Johnson came to Hot Springs in 2016 to attend Cornerstone Bible Institute and graduated in 2019. Through the years prior, Abi attended Calvary with her family when visiting Hot Springs, and so it became her church home when moving here. Abi wasted no time getting involved in the ministry of Calvary and has served leading Little Lambs, participating on music teams, is learning to run the sound booth and is currently the friendly face you see when joining us on Sunday mornings.

Abi is a para-professional in the elementary school Resource Room, tutoring kids in the things like reading, writing and math. She also works at Wooly’s during the summer months, along with several other part time work. 

On Saturday, September 5, Abi will marry Luke Stanley and they will begin a new life together. Their wedding announcement with the details is on the bulletin board. 

Abi has and will be helping with events sponsored by Freedom’s Journey and A21 and desires to work towards more direct involvement in the anti-human trafficking movement with various organizations.

The lack of assurance regarding her salvation began when Abi was about 6 years old. At that time, after discussing her fears with her mom, she “prayed the prayer.” How much of the gospel she grasped at the time is unclear, but God was faithful to continue to draw her to Himself through the teaching of His Word. “I am confident,” she states, “in Christ’s finished work on the cross and His resurrection. His blood has redeemed me and He keeps me as His own. Praise God!”

Meet Missy Pranke

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putting names to faces…

This is Melissa “Missy” Pranke. She moved to Hot Springs in August of 2015, and this past spring moved to White Clay, NE. Missy serves as a missionary with International Messengers on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and has enjoyed being a part of the body at Calvary since 2018.

Missy was blessed to be raised in a Christian home in MN, and is the oldest of four children. She grew up hearing God’s Word on a regular basis, and “said the prayer” at age seven. It wasn’t until middle school, however, that she began to desire to really know the Lord. After hearing a call to repentance from a stranger sharing the Gospel, she asked God to forgive her of her sins and trusted in the finished work of Christ to save her at age thirteen. 

Throughout high school Missy was involved in short term missions trips and began to feel God calling her into ministry long-term.

In 2012 Missy graduated from the Pranke Home School, then spent the next three years in two vocational ministry internships, working in a manufacturing plant, as well as being a wilderness guide for an adventure ministry program. 

In 2015, Missy joined International Messengers. She attended their four-month training program in Montana, then raised support and moved to South Dakota. 

Her primary ministry focus on the reservation is Bible study with a group of 15-20 young people, boys and girls, with whom she has come to know on a deep level over the past five years. Currently she is also foster parenting Rielly (almost 13), and growing a big vegetable garden.”

Meet John & Nancy Lamb

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putting names to faces

Here’s a new couple that perhaps you haven’t met. This is John and Nancy Lamb. John is a retired master electrician who worked in Purdah Bay Alaska for several years. Nancy is the Athletic Director’s Secretary at the Hot Springs School District. John and Nancy have three sons and six grandsons. Their son’s names are John, Scott and Michael the youngest,  was adopted from a Russian orphanage. 

Both are accustomed to serving in the church. In their previous church John took care of electrical troubleshooting and repairs as well as served on the security team. Nancy extended hospitality as a greeter, which she does currently here at Calvary. We’re looking for loose wires for John to repair. 🙂 John is originally from central Illinois and Nancy from Sheridan Wyoming.

Nancy has been actively involved in Precept Ministries (precept.org), setting up Precepts Bible training for leaders and served as a substitute leader for seven years in Sheridan.

Both John and Nancy came to faith in Christ later in life. Nancy grew up in the Catholic church with traditions and rituals. John had no prior church background. The Lord brought a friend into Nancy’s life who explained the gospel, taking her through the Bible from the fall of Adam to the cross of Christ where Jesus bore her sins, was buried and is alive. Coming to understand who Jesus is, she accepted Him as Savior and was forgiven of her sin by His mercy and healing grace. John came to Christ listening to a Pastor preach on creation and science and how science validates the Bible. One of their favorite bible verses is Romans 5:8, But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

John and Nancy visited a few churches, taking their time to decide on a church home. When they  came to Calvary last November they decided Calvary was to be their home church where Jesus Christ is exalted and worshiped, truth is proclaimed and the Word of God is taught and preached. Of the church, John MaCarthur states, “We are spiritually connected and designed for shared life, shared love, shared purpose, shared ministry, shared truth, shared power and we share His life.”

Meet Andrew Johnson

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putting names with faces

So we’re killing two birds with one stone this week. We are putting a name to a face of one of our church family, PLUS we are doing an update on one of the missionaries we support.

This is Andrew Johnson (as if you didn’t know). Andrew came to Hot Springs as a student at Cornerstone Bible Institute back in 2009. Andrew was privileged to be reared in a home that loved Jesus. The Lord kindly brought him to faith in Christ when he was 5 or 6 years old. He affirms His faith to rest in Jesus alone for his standing before God. 

After graduation in 2012, Andrew remained in Hot Springs for about 2 years, faithfully attending and serving at Calvary, primarily with Trek (Youth Group) and the Adult Sunday School class. 

In 2014, Andrew began pursuing aviation training with missions in mind. Attending the School of Missionary Aviation Technologies in Ionia, Michigan, he completed his first step in preparation and shortly after, joined the Association of Baptists for Worldwide Evangelism (ABWE) in 2017. He partnered with missionaries to Ghana, Joseph and Janelle Gelatt.

Having returned back home in April 2020, from a year spent in Ghana, Andrew is preparing to leave again this fall to continue his aviation training at Kingdom Air Corps (KAC) near Wasilla, Alaska. There, he will obtain both his private and commercial pilots license. Flying at KAC will allow him to learn the specifics of being a bush pilot, preparing him for future ministry in Ghana. 

Please pray for Andrew in these specific ways: 

  • His Pre-field ministry (raising support). Pray that God would continue to provide gospel partners to support the work in Ghana. 
  • His Aviation Training. All of the details are still not ironed out. Pray for a profitable time with Kingdom Air Corps. 
  • Pray for safe and peaceful travel as he drives around to multiples states and churches.

Meet Isaac & Angie Stanley

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Well you should know these faces. This is Isaac and Angie Stanley, and if you didn’t already know, Isaac is our Associate Pastor here at Calvary. Isaac’s primary role is to shepherd the flock of God that is among us (1 Peter 5:2), doing so by teaching and with leading in our worship. He currently teaches our adult Sunday Studies class and during the school year directs and teaches the TnT club in our Awana Clubs. Isaac and Angie both attended Cornerstone Bible Institute between 2009 To 2012 They met while they were students at CBI, and after Isaac returned from his studies at Appalachian Bible College they were married. Isaac recently earned a Masters degree in Ministry.

Angie grew up in Brazil as a daughter of missionary parents, who continue to serve today. Isaac’s family have spent their lives in Christian camping ministry. Angie gets to stay at home with their daughter Talitha, while Isaac is the maintenance manager at Pine Hills Retirement. They are excited to welcome child #2, a boy, in July! Angie is involved in our ladies Bible studies and enjoys writing to encourage Christian woman. You can access her latest writings at inthemeantime-livinglife.blogspot.com

Both Isaac and Angie place their hope in what God has provided through the cross of Christ. Isaac professes that God saved him at a very young age, largely through the testimony of his parents. Angie is grateful that God used a friend to confront her, as a teenager, of her need for the Savior.

Meet Zach & Melany Boltjes

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This is Zach and Melany Boltjes and 1 year, 9 month old Iris. The Boltjes moved from Kimball, NE to attend Cornerstone Bible Institute in December 2018. Zach works in the yard at Builders First Choice. Melany, a stay at home mom started Mel Bee Virtual Solutions, helping overwhelmed entrepreneurs with administrative tasks and marketing strategy. The Lord graciously drew both Zach and Melany to His Son early in life and continues in set them apart for His sake. Zach states that he “rests his destiny in the gospel; Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection”. In her continued growth in the Lord, Melany explains, “I now know what a gracious and merciful Savior He is to save me as I was, and sanctify me as I am.” Zach and Melany joined Calvary in May of 2019 and serves joyfully and faithfully in our Trek ministry. Burn their image and their names in your memory, so the next time we’re together, you’ll know just who they are.