Annabelle Viehland may be new to Mineral County, but she certainly hasn’t taken long to feel at home.

Originally from Florida, Viehland met her husband, Daniel, at seminary in Washington, D.C. The two married in 2019 and now have a 3-year-old son, Desmond. Earlier this year, the family made their way to western Montana after several moves connected to their ministry assignments.

Today, Annabelle is the new pastor for the Alberton and Superior Methodist Churches, while Daniel serves as pastor of Grace United Methodist Church and the Wesley House near the University of Montana campus in Missoula.

 Daniel had first moved to Missoula for college and worked there and Helena before seminary. After the couple’s last assignment in the Denver area, they were happy that it was time to return to Montana. 

“We get appointed places, so, we bopped around a little bit, kinda like a pinball machine,” she laughed. 

At 34, Viehland brings plenty of energy and enthusiasm to her new appointment. She is clearly grateful for the welcome she has received and is enjoying getting to know her congregations and the communities they serve. One of the things she particularly appreciates about her new churches is their size. 

“When I came in, at least one person said that they (the congregation) are probably smaller than what you’re used to. And I kinda like that. I can do a little bit more of a talk-back with my sermons and leading worship. I feel like it’s more personable,” she said. “Everybody is very friendly, which comes with smaller congregations, and you get to know people a lot better. You learn more about people at a quicker pace as it might take several years to get to know them on a more personal level in larger churches.”

Viehland’s path to becoming a pastor was not necessarily a straight one. Her family background is Catholic, but an unsteady family life eventually led her to separate from the faith. It was during college, however, that she began looking at Christianity in a new way. While taking a World Religions course, she was required to read the Bible for the first time. 

“So, I read the ones with the red letters in the gospels, and I learned what Jesus actually said and I was like, ‘Ya know what? I could get onboard with this!” It wasn’t long before she realized she was a Christian and began attending a Methodist church in her hometown. There, she encountered something she had never seen before, a female pastor.

“I’d never seen anything like that before going to mass, so I was curious and I learned more about the Methodist Church and what they believed and then went to the Wesley Foundation at Florida State, where I went to school. Then I interned at a local church and from there to seminary and as they say, ‘The rest is history,’” she said with a big smile.

Her ministry path eventually brought her and Daniel to Montana. When Daniel was serving an appointment in Townsend, Annabelle worked for a Lutheran church for a time. The experience was a natural fit because of the close relationship between the two denominations. 

“Evangelical Lutherans and Methodists are in what’s called full communion, which means that we agree on the big things and we can share clergy if need be.”

As with any new pastor coming into a new appointment, Viehland knows there is plenty to learn. Rather than arriving with a long list of changes, she plans to first listen, observe and become part of the traditions that are already important to the congregations. 

“When you first start a new appointment, you’re kind of along for the ride. The breakfast was like that (The Annual Methodist Church Breakfast each morning of the Mineral County Fair). You just learn what they usually do and be a part of it on however you can participate. So that’s generally what I plan on doing as I’m still discovering the different traditions and everything,” she said. 

Talking with congregation members about what works, what once worked but has since disappeared, and what new ideas might be worth trying will all be part of the process as the two parishes move forward. For Viehland, however, the first step is simple: get to know the people. And judging by her enthusiasm, her laughter and the appreciation she has already expressed for the welcome she has received, she is more than ready to continue that journey.

One thing Viehland has already noticed about the local churches is the dedication of the volunteers who keep community traditions alive. Discussing the big events the churches hold, and the aging volunteers who continue to make them happen, 

Viehland grinned and said, “The harvest is plenty but the laborers are few.” 

Even when the laborers are few, she has seen people come together to get the job done. 

“They all come together and even though some have limitations, people still show up to help. People will show up to make it happen and I think that the breakfast was a great example of that. Alberton sells nachos for their Railroad Day and people were there for every shift.” 

Viehland admits she sometimes takes for granted that she is still young and energetic, making some tasks easier for her than they might be for someone dealing with age or physical limitations. But she is impressed by those who continue to step forward despite those challenges. 

“There are people that might say, ‘I won’t do anything else but I’m going to cook sausages every year,’ which is absolutely fine!” she howls. 

That willingness to contribute, even in a small way, is something she already appreciates about the local congregations.

Having two pastors in the same family also has its advantages. Annabelle and Daniel can bounce teaching viewpoints off one another as they prepare sermons for their different churches. They often compare notes, share ideas and even edit each other’s sermons. 

“There’s a thing called the lectionary. And that is the calendar of scripture readings every week that most mainland protestant churches follow. We tend to preach from the lectionary because we find it more challenging. I feel like it’s easier to remover yourself and your agenda and make room for the Holy Spirit because you’re not picking the text. You’re not saying, ‘I want to preach on this,’ and then finding a passage that proves your point.” 

Their shared work gives them someone at home with whom they can discuss what they are learning, what is working and how they can better serve their congregations.

Moving from the south to rural Montana has also given Viehland a different perspective on people and community. She has noticed a contrast between the more exuberant churches she experienced in the south and the quieter, more reserved nature of some rural Montana congregations. But beneath that difference, she has found something she values deeply. 

“What I have noticed is that they are real. In the south, someone will be nice and not actually mean it. But here when you earn somebody’s respect here, it’s genuine.” 

Viehland also enjoys the scenic drive from Missoula to Alberton and Superior and has adopted an open-door policy when she is in, or out, of the area. With Daniel completing his master’s degree and the realities of childcare sometimes keeping her in Missoula, she may not always be physically in Mineral County. But she wants members of the congregations to know that she remains accessible.

Alberton Methodist Church is at 802 Railroad Street in Alberton. Superior Methodist Church is at 205 1st Street West in Superior. Sunday Services: 9 a.m. in Alberton; 11 a.m. in Superior. Call 406-282-4571 or email [email protected].