Comments on: ‘Blue Jean’ Jesus Comes to the Strand
By More Fake Churches on 11-21-07
There goes the down town again. We should thank Hutton Raunch Plaza for killing the theaters uptown.
I would rather see pawn shops and second hand stores up town than more storefront churches. Is the Strand going to be exempt from the property tax everyone else manages to pay? The Strand was once considered of historical value, is it going to be wrecked by this preacher.
It’s hysterical that the preacher boy found a calling to move here through “prayer”. What did the other 20,000 recent newcomers do to discover the area?
Sure, there’s a huge Christian identity community here, but they spend their money building giant temples to themselves, even wrecking farmland to do it out in the countryside.
Not a very charitable group I’ve found.
That’s why the location of Bet Harim is a secret.
By Karen on 11-21-07
I have nothing against churches. But i must admit a lot of sadness that this beautiful movie theater will be lost. I had hoped it would become a movie theater that just showed classic movies or some such thing.
By jennifer on 11-21-07
If Jesus were here today he’d be living like Ghandi did….....not building grand stages to glorify hisself!
By Nick on 11-21-07
While I could care less whether or not a new church is moving in town, although congrats to them… why is everyone so up-in-arms about the strand being bought by this group? Im sure everyone wanted the strand to go back to being a nice theater that showed classic movies, etc, but the fact is that Kalispell is not a community to support that! We are not an “artsy” community that you see in Whitefish or Bigfork. Hell, I lived in Helena for a while and they are an artsy community. The fact is, Kalispell is struggling with the whole “community” idea in general… and no, it’s not because of all the recent growth in the valley. It hasn’t been a community since I’ve been alive. There has been no “true downtown” in so many years, I just can’t believe so many are so upset. Sure we’d like to resurrect that, but until the bypass is built we are stuck with 93 running right through the middle of our town killing any hopes as salvaging a “downtown” community. Sorry folks, but I’d rather see the strand actually put to use, rather than keep it as a tentative theater that will “someday” get used… because we all know what “someday” in this town means… just ask those that have been waiting for that someday to come for the bypass.
By Peter on 11-21-07
Just what this place needs is another church. I just shake my head in disbelief sometimes. Like there aren’t enough places of worship in this valley already? I’ll tell you, flathead county is a magnet for these nuts. If it isn’t religion, it’s the militia. Does anyone have any concern about the historical value of the Strand Theatre? Heck, they almost tore down Central School ten years ago. What little history Kalispell has, they just want to wreck it. Go back to California, mister self-absorbed pastor.
By Oh Nick, tardo on 11-22-07
Gee whiz Nick, when were you born or recognized that others inhabit the earth. We have always enjoyed the rural lifestyle community that we have here in Kalispell. Sorry you feel excluded. It must be your attitude, most people are really friendly.
Kalispell has had a symphony orchestra for 25 years, not artsy enough?
We only have 2 museums in town, not enough for your city tastes?
The bypass is years from completion. Do you imagine sidewalk cafes to suddenly appear downtown if the bypass is built?
Great criticism from Seattle, hope you stay.
By Becca on 11-22-07
The bottom line is everyone can hope for preservation and for things to stay exactly the way they were. And its easy to sit and criticize other people, but really what are you doing for your town? A young pastor having vision and wanting to do something for a communiity, just because his vision doesn’t line up with your “presupposed notion” of how your town should remain, that makes him self absorbed???? Wow, no wonder people think Kalispel is backwards. Its backwards thinking. And yes a revitalized downtown can begin with a church and a prayer.
By Freedom From Religion on 11-22-07
A $75 tip!Where’s the money coming from?
You are right on about this place being a nut magnet for the christian lifestyle.
By The Insider on 11-23-07
I’m just curious but what was so offensive about this article? It sure has some of you up in arms. Let’s run down the facts 1. A vacant movie theatre gets a tenant 2. A few people moved here because they felt called to start a church. 3. This is a kind of Church not available in the area
So… who is still mad? If you don’t agree with the pastor, or the message fine, but don’t jump all over these guys because you don’t understand it. Here is a novel idea, go to a service, ask the pastor questions then and only then pass judgement.
By Been There, Blessed That on 11-23-07
There are so many fake “churches” here already. They are everywhere in homes, trailers, storefronts. They even suddenly appear in residential neighborhoods. Looks like a tax dodge to me.
Some church from Kalispell bought the house 2 doors down and hassled my family for an entire year about selling out to them. They tried renting it to a “family” unit with dogs that barked day & night, etc. trying to get us to move. I would call the rev when this occured, but his wive was not very christian about this technique.
When I asked why did they covet my house, they sold out (can’t take their own medicine) and moved to a grain field on Whitefish stage where they built their self-gratifying temple.
Like the guy above said, for some reason this area really draws the church nuts.
By j davis on 11-27-07
Just what the valley needs, another cult!
By Church Hopper on 11-28-07
ya’ll need to stop bickering and go to church, then maybe you’ll wise up!
By The Truth on 11-30-07
Levi’s vision is to see the glory of God in the Flathead Valley. Watch Fresh Life Church grow in ways more wonderous that we can imagine. I pray that you will see God’s heart in this church.
By Religious Studies Student on 12-01-07
It’d be interesting to see how they would respond if anyone wanted to create a space for a Buddhist or Hindu temple or perhaps a *GASP Muslim Mosque. Imagine the possibities, I’m sure that everyone would be up in arms about that, because after all, that’s the Christian thing to do.
The fact of the matter is that while these churches are doing good for their members they are continually ostracizing many other people in the Flathead Valley and not allowing us the same ability to use these spaces. Yes, I’m well aware of the enormous Christian population of the Flathead Valley, but the face of the valley is changing, so too must our ideological viewpoints. We need to be able to offer something more then yet another place of worship.
By Nick on 12-04-07
Wow… I forgot to check back on this article, and sure enough there was a “stay in seattle” comment for me…
So, you say you’re all “friendly?” Yeah, case in point I guess, huh? Tardo…
First of all, Im not an artsy person. Im an outdoors guy and don’t waste my time with theater and silent-film, and ballets, and whatever other lame stuff they do out here. I actually work a lot and hang out with my friends and get back to MT as much as possible to see my family and friends. That said, no, Kalispell is NOT an artsy community at all! Whitefish and Bigfork offer so much more! I wish all the Kalispell people would realize that it’s just never going to happen in the city! That is why we have Whitefish and Bigfork… they are small communities that can offer this in a TRUE DOWNTOWN. Im not knocking Kalispell for what it has to offer, or what it doesn’t have, but Im being realistic in pointing out that we aren’t EVER goign to have a downtown area like Whitefish, Missoula, or Helena. We just don’t have the setup… not to mention, the major hwy that runs through downtown.
But seriously, congrats on the continual decline of intelligent posts that you (Im guessing one or two people) seem to offer up under aliases because you are a bunch of cowards that won’t post under one name to show you stand behind your comments. It’s fine, I’ll take mine and the others who give credible and constructive comments my time and energy.
By Karen on 12-04-07
I don’t agree that we can’t have an uptown area that is alive with activity and attracts locals as well as tourists. We have a long way to go and I would agree that Kalispell struggles with the concept of ‘community’. It’s almost like we don’t have an identity like Bigfork and Whitefish. But we need businesses that are attractive to the downtown area - there’s a new bistro “Overflowing Cup” - it’s a great addition - will it make it - who knows. If we are to ever create the atmosphere that draws people into uptown, we need to encourage those types of businesses that support that atmosphere. Again, I have no problem with churches but i find it difficult to see how converting a beautiful old building to a store front church in the uptown area will add to the vitality and character of uptown Kalispell IMHO
By He's in Seattle Folks on 12-05-07
So what about the symphony orchestra you seem to know little about. Or the 2 museums in town. Oh i forgot, you’re just an outdoors kinda guy, can’t waste time.
Too bad you missed the article about the “Loft” in tinseltown.
By Jeremy on 12-05-07
I’m thinking of coming to the Flathead Valley to plant a church. Any of you want to join? Ha ha.
Actually, I’m serious. The complaints you have about this church and others in the valley are the exact same complaints I have about churches in general. I am a pastor and I can barely stomach to set foot in most “churches.” I don’t think Jesus is very happy with what has happened to his church.
Take tax exemption as an example. It has been calculated that if every US church put aside only 25% of what they would owe in property taxes if they had to pay them, in only one year, the money could solve the world’s water crisis. But instead, we buy big buildings, plasma screen TVs, and top of the line sound equipment for our concert-services.
The church is sick and some of us need to step up and do something about it. I was born in Kalispell, and pastored in Whitefish for a few years. It’s my home, which is why I want to come back to see if we can put something together that would make Jesus proud.
I didn’t “hear from God” or anything (whatever that means). I just figure I can either complain about the state of the church, or try to do something about it. So who wants to help?
By For your Information on 03-04-08
FYI “More Fake Churches” the reason Bet Harim’s location is a secret is not because the don’t want to ‘build a huge temple to themselves.’ It is because their very public location for years was a target of anti-religious, anti-semetic idiots who destroyed and vandelized their building. Really nice, hometown charity, don’t you think? Let’s all get over ourselves, its a free country, let people practice their religion WHATEVER it is, in peace.
By Amazed on 06-17-08
I find it funny that people are upset that a church is renting the Strand. From my stand point anyone could have rented it for whatever reason. It just so happens someone rented it for Church use.
The complaints here are like complaining that your neighbor is renting their house out to a Christian and not an atheist so you decide to throw a fit about it. If you don’t like the fact that there is a Church in the strand then maybe you should have rented it.
By Tox on 08-14-09
The real tragedy is that the movie theaters have moved “out of town” to the Hutton Plaza in the first place, adding another nail to the downtown coffin and leaving behind another ghost building at the Gate Way West. I reckon, it’s the American Way (screw our inner cities) and our unquestioning worship of the Car Culture (things must be car-convenient), and Kalispell’s complete lack of any real community planning and community spirit.—
Thirty years ago that was different when Kalispell still had a nice downtown, where it was pleasant to stroll and you could run most of your errands within a reasonable distance. There was a real community spirit too. People liked their nice little Western town. The local shop owners took pride in downtown life. You could hang out there.
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But the local community let that slip away, just like so many other places in America have in just the same way. So it has become just another run-of-the-mill business sprawl, like anywhere else. Instead of the community taking its future into their own hands, and doing some serious planning and implementation of business configuration downtown, to make downtown Kalispell an attractive and vibrant destination, it sold out to corporate and outside interests and couldn’t even get it together for a bypass to keep all the thru-traffic from making it a loud, congested, smelly and unpleasant place.
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There were plenty of missed opportunities even in the recent past (like the proposed building a big mall around the railroad tracks, instead of north of town), but individual business interests always seem to trump those of the overall community, and our city leaders generally seem to enjoy prostituting themselves to business interests instead of keeping their eye on the LONGTERM viability and attractiveness of their community.
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Thirty years ago I liked Kalispell and enjoyed going there….to the movies too.
Now I avoid Kalispell like the plague (except for some good ole friends and shops), and think it has become one heck of an ugly place.
It has only itself to blame.
The views expressed in the comments section do not reflect those of the Beacon.