Nearly four decades after Monty Christensen gave up a life of drug addiction and crime to follow Jesus, he’s writing a new chapter in his life.

Christensen and his wife, Holly, who have operated Prison Impact Ministries since 1984, along with John and Janet Klippel of Kalispell, have started The Filling Station, a Christian-based ministry that kicks off its first gathering on Saturday night.

Located at 5420 U.S. 2 E., just north of Nomad Global Communication Solutions, The Filling Station will offer a prayer service every Saturday at 4:44 p.m., with praise and worship at 6 p.m. The unusual 4:44 start time honors the Bible verse Isaiah 44:4 — “They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.”

Christensen, a well-known prison evangelist and author of “70 x 7 and Beyond,” struck up a friendship with John Klippel, a former Creston volunteer firefighter, a few years ago. It was clear from the beginning their paths were meant to cross.

“We connected real quickly,” Christensen said. “And we kept talking about outreach ministry.”

Klippel sings and plays guitar and now accompanies Christensen during visits to regional prisons. They visited the prison in Shelby not long ago and headed to the state prison in Deer Lodge last week for a few days.

The Filling Station will be a loosely structured, low-key ministry with a focus on “contending for the presence and voice of God,” Christensen said. “That’s hard. How do you hear the voice of God? There are places in all of our lives where we feel God calling our name.

“What we’ll focus on is coming out of who we are. We’re people desperate and hungry for the Lord.”

The Christensens will remain active with Prison Impact Ministries, a program that grew out of their own addictions. “70 x 7” is Monty’s personal story of an abuse-filled childhood, a mother who looked the other way when his stepfather beat him. 

From reform school to a life on the run that involved drugs and alcohol and despair, the book details the grimness of his life until finally, during a second stint in prison, he found the strength he needed in God to turn his life around.

The couple has spent 28 years ministering to those with addictions. For the past decade they’ve led a local drug and alcohol support group.

Klippel is a former worship leader at the Little Brown Church in Bigfork and owns and operates American Web Design. He’s excited about the potential for The Filling Station to reach people from all demographics — anyone who’s “desperate” to know God.

“As we contend for the presence of the Lord and as He touches you, you spring to life,” Klippel said. “The cool thing is when you encounter God, that’s all you want. It’s kind of addictive.”

They hope pastors and ministry leaders will tap into their Saturday night sessions as a way to get pumped up for their Sunday morning services.

Neither Christensen nor Klippel will draw a salary from any money raised through The Filling Station. Instead, they’ll use any offerings to keep the ministry running.

“It’s not about programs or building anything here,” Klippel said. “The Filling Station is not a destination. You get filled up with the Lord” to share the message with others.

For more information, go online to www.thefillingstationmt.org, find them on Facebook, call 250-4355 or email john@thefillingstationmt.org.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by email at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.