There are local Southern Baptist associations, and then there is Oregon Trail Baptist Association in Nebraska, where missionary Doug Lee works to plant new churches. His association takes up the whole western half of Nebraska. Lee is jointly funded by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists.
For the last 12 years, 58-year-old Lee — supported by his wife, Brenda — has served as director of missions for the vast association, based in North Platte. Geographically Oregon Trail Association is huge — spanning 400 miles by 200 miles.
To the east, there are farming communities. Ranching is king in the northwest — the Sandy Hills region — the western panhandle and in the southwest corner of Nebraska.
North Platte, where the Lees are based, is the sixth largest city in Nebraska but only has 24,000 people. The only other “major” cities in Oregon Trail Association are Grand Island and Kearney.
“We range from very desolate places to little tiny towns to North Platte,” said Lee, who typically puts 60,000 ministry miles a year on his red Toyota Camry.
On Thursdays, he and his wife make the 300-mile trek to lead a Bible study in Hastings. Every Sunday night, the couple travel 100 miles round-trip to Ogallala, where Lee is pastor of Ogallala Community Church. During harsh winters, he drives through blowing snow on icy roads with temperatures as low as 25 degrees below zero.
“One of the biggest challenges we face out here in western Nebraska is distance,” Lee said, “not just for me but for the others planting churches out here.”
The Lees are two of more than 5,000 missionaries in the United States, Canada and their territories supported by the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) for North American Missions. They are among the NAMB missionaries featured as part of the annual Week of Prayer, March 6–13. With a theme of “Start Here,” the 2011 AAEO’s goal is $70 million, 100 percent of which benefits missionaries like the Lees.
His overarching strategy is to meet the people where they are — on their terms and turf. For example, he holds Bible studies or worship services on Sunday nights for whom he calls the “shift workers,” those who may work in restaurants or retail and can’t come to church on Sunday mornings.
And instead of force-fitting a new church plant on local folks — regardless of their needs, wants and circumstances — he begins with a Bible study at the home of a “family of peace.” Once that group grows, it will turn into a Sunday School and worship service.
“The people living out here in western Nebraska have a strong work ethic,” Lee said. “A lot of that comes from the early days when the settlers came. There was nothing here — no towns, no schools, no railroads. They built things from scratch, so people here are very independent and self-sufficient.”
But Anglos are not the only ones here with a pioneering spirit and strong work ethic. There are the American Indians in Nebraska who got here first. Nebraska’s first Hispanic immigrants arrived years ago to work in the soybean and potato fields. A second wave came in later to work in the meat-packing plants.
Add an influx of Sudanese, Indians and city-dwellers — moving out of Omaha and Lincoln to rural areas — and Lee’s missions field suddenly becomes very diverse, requiring the planting of diverse new churches — churches meeting the needs of various people groups, cowboy churches and churches in mobile home parks and apartment complexes.
“The diversity opens up an opportunity to minister to people in a number of ways,” Lee said. “For instance, one of the things the Hispanic folks like — especially the kids — is soccer. All we have to say is we’re holding a soccer camp and they show up. This gives us the opportunity to share Christ with not only the Hispanic kids but the Anglo kids as well, who are getting more and more into soccer here.”
Lee is ever mindful that western Nebraska is sparsely populated and time, money and energy are limited. So why should he even bother? Lee, a former police officer, has a quick response.
“Well there are not many people here, and I guess it would be more cost-effective to go to heavier populated areas. I’m all for reaching the urban areas. But we can’t forget the rural areas. Jesus died for the individuals in the rural areas as much as for those in the cities.”
As he drives across Nebraska’s vast plains, pastureland and hill country, Lee knows he may only encounter a person once or twice, so he intentionally and boldly makes it a high priority to witness for Jesus Christ wherever he goes.
Born in Tulsa, Okla., Lee grew up in tiny Valentine, Neb., located almost on the South Dakota border in the far north part of the state. He graduated from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo. He’s served as a church planter/pastor in Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota. Lee and his wife have two sons, Andrew and Adam. (NAMB)
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