Pastor emeritus unlike the rest of us

Pastor Emeritus like the rest of us

By Matt Naber

Dr. Halden Curtiss is stepping aside as pastor at Crossroads Christian Fellowship to be pastor emeritus after 51 years of ministry work in Bigfork and around the world. Most of Curtiss' work was done in Bigfork after moving here in 1969 and worked at the Little Brown Church until 1976. Curtiss has also worked with presidents and prime ministers, ministered in over 20 nations, worked in Central America during the Contra War, helped supply refugee camps and held men's retreats in Alaska.

 “I had a positive relationship with Nixon, Reagan and Bush,” Curtiss said. “I've been in conferences with them with other Christian leaders and spirituals leaders because the presidents wanted an ear for the spiritual community.”

For Curtiss, it wasn't about who the people were on paper, but who they were in person and the impact they have on those around them. Thinking back on notable moments in his career, Curtiss recalled a relationship that grew while working as a circuit pastor in a mining community in Maryland, which he credits as where he “really learned to be a pastor.”

“There was an old man, about 80, with a white beard and white hair, he swore an oath and looked me in the eye and said 'Be G, be God, and be damned if you're like that other pastor downtown I'll take my axe to you,” Curtiss said. “He scared me, man, I was only 24 at the time. …He became one of my best friends, Alan Oates, he taught me about being down to earth.”

Curtiss later moved to Bigfork with his wife, Pauline, and their children, Halden, Christine and Jonathan. Curtiss quoted The Lord of the Rings while discussing the death of his deceased son, David, who passed away when he was six-years-old.

“A parent should never have to bury one of their own children,” Curtiss said. “You never know what you're going to face in life, there are all kinds of things that can rattle you to the bones.”

Curtiss continued his ministry work and kept company with everyone from prime ministers to members of the infamous and outlawed “motorcycle club,” the Bandidos.

“I've had a road boss from the Bandidos sit with me and learn about God, and they're a syndicated outlaw gang,” Curtiss said. “I've had a wonderful relationship with a lot of them, the church is really us going out there.”

While living in Bigfork, Curtiss founded the East Gate Academy and outdoor wilderness and training facility, Glacier Christian School which later became part of Stillwater Christian School in Kalispell, and helped start Horizons Christian Fellowship (now Crossroads).

Curtiss was chairman of mental health for Flathead County for three years, a councilor with Job Care, served with the Swan-Mission Search and Rescue and was a substitute teacher at Bigfork junior and senior high schools.

“I love our medical community, fire fighters and emergency responders, I served in many communities and many states and haven't found one with as much internal integrity,” Curtiss said.

Although Curtiss is very involved in Bigfork and Flathead County, he also made time to travel the world with his ministry work.

“I went where I felt God wanted me to go,” Curtiss said. “To me, the ministry has never been about me. I would never intentionally do a photo-op with a president, I just wasn't out there looking for that.”

Curtiss lived in Morocco and the Middle East for a few years where he picked up on how culture's viewpoints can differ on the same topic, such as religion.

“We look at scripture through our American culture and don't get it because we put it through our lens,” Curtiss said. “We impose so much on it and dress it up with religious jargon.”

In 1983 Curtiss began taking Kung Fu San Soo lessons with Bear Kirby in Kalispell.

“I got tired of the wimpiness in the church,” Curtiss said. “I would rather you cuss, swear and blow smoke in my face than shine on me. I can't stand that phony stuff, so I thought I would like to get back into martial arts.”

Kirby was not aware that Curtiss was a pastor, and according to Curtiss, he got particularly rough at practice after finding out and then offered to show Curtiss everything he knew about Kung Fu San Soo if Curtis showed him everything he knew about God.

“I had my hand broken, but I loved it because it was solid and hardcore and real,” Curtiss said. “I eventually baptized him, he was a Buddhist who converted. He's a worship leader in Kalispell now.”

Curtiss plans on continuing to travel and teach while finishing his book which is 20 years in the making about all that he's gone through, “the powers of evil and darkness” and what he's learned from it.

“I'm at the stage in life where I think of myself as like a sage, a jedi master,” Curtiss said. “I realize that time, experience and sacrifice will mature us. I don't try to be the answer man.”

This is not a retirement for Curtiss, it's more of a stepping aside to be Pastor Emeritus with a focus on care, support and encouragement.

“I'm not a religious man, I'm a spiritual man,” Curtiss said. “People are not looking for religion, they are looking for spiritual truth and reality; and when they see it, they run to it.”

Curtiss suspects he may be the longest serving pastor in the area, but feels there is still work to be done.

“It's such a good life, I'm not jaded by dealing with all the crap,” Curtiss said. “To know that people made a difference in my life, and pay it forward and pass it on. We got to support and encourage the next generation. People are so afraid of what's going to happen, but need to have faith and do something and give back. Quit being consumers and takers, it's time for payback. Do a simple kindness to someone.”

Curtiss has known the newly appointed pastor, Mel Haug, for 30 years. Haug is from the tri-cities in Washington and begins work at Crossroads next week.

“I've got a great team here,” Curtiss said. “Our new guy is a biker too, so you know he's a good guy.”