The first Mennonite Missionaries arrived on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Busby, Montana on May 11, 1904. They knew the Cheyenne language having learned it in Oklahoma from the Southern Cheyennes. Their coming to live in Busby followed several exploratory visits by Rudolphe Petter in 1899, 1901 and 1903. Throughout the summer they lived in a tent as they built a frame home, barn, and
log chapel. The following year, 1905, a log house was built for a single missionary, Anna Williams, who came to serve. Then in 1914, a rare tornado came through and left all the of the buildings stand except the log chapel. A one room frame chapel was built to replace the log one and that was dedicated in 1915. Early on the church became know at the Bethany Mennonite Mission. During the past 100 years four different missionary/pastoral couples served for lengthy periods of time and several more for shorter periods. In 1975-76, a fellowship hall, kitchen, bathrooms, and Sunday School rooms were added to the chapel. This was mostly done by volunteer labor which was both local and from other Mennonite churches in our area conference. This addition was dedicated int November 1976. This has served well for many and varied church activities as well as a place for community activities to be held. In the early 1950's under the vision of missionary Malcolm Wenger, the church began its slow but very significant move from being a church that was operated under the control of the Missionary and Mission Board to becoming an Indigenous church. At first a church council was formed to help make decisions that affected the church. Then this council began to handle its own funds. The church began calling itself the Bethany Mennonite Church (rather than Mission). In the late 1960's the church began calling its own pastors. they also too on all management of funds, both those generated locally and subsidies sent from the Commission on Home Ministries (formerly Mission Board), this included paying the pastor. It was also during the late 1960's that the Mennonite Indian Leaders Council was formed, bringing together Native Mennonite churches froma ll over the United States for fellowship and decision making. In 1976 at the dedication of the remodeled facilities, the chruch group decided to change its name to the White River Mennonite Church. (The Busby band of Cheyennes have been known as the White River poeple since returning from Oklahoma and South Dakota and this name change seemed more culturally appropriate.) In 2000, subisidy was totally discontinued and the church found ways to move on its own in spite of being small and being located in an economically depressed area. Through the years the church has been involved in many types of ministry for both children and adults. It has carried on a camping ministry for children, youth, and adults together with the other Northern Cheyenne Mennonite Churches. Children and youth ministry included utilizing the Summer Service Program sponsored by Mennonite Central Committee in conjunction with our local church. Each summer two to four college students are employed by the church for a ten week period. Another significant ministry has been Bible translation. In 1975 the Norhtern Cheyenne Mennonite Churches invited Wycliffe Bible Translators to send a couple to help with translation work. In 1982, together with the Oklahoma Cheyennes, a Spiritual Songbook was published including indigenous songs as well as translated songs. Beginning in the late 1970's our church became more intentionally involved in the field of Alcoholism and Chemical Dependency which continues to this day. This involves helping people attend primary treatment, family programs, and training in the addiction field. The church building also serves as a host to weekly Alcoholic Anonymous meetings. The present pastor is Willis Busenitz, who with his wife, Nadine and 3 children moved to Busby from Lame Deer, Montana in 1971. In October of 2012 Scott Shreffler moved to Busby MT from Pa, to take the role of Assistant Pastor, In June of 2013 Scott married Suzette Cain which is a Northern Cheyenne Tribal Member. As a team Willis, Nadine, Scott and Suzette minister to the community of Busby and the reservation at large.
