Cheyenne pastor ordained as Montana church strengthens its community

Suzette Shreffler is anointed by Central Plains conference minister Susan Janzen on Sept. 22 at White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in Busby, Mont. — Nathan Luitjens/CPMC Suzette Shreffler is anointed by Central Plains conference minister Susan Janzen on Sept. 22 at White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in Busby, Mont. — Nathan Luitjens/CPMC

Suzette Shreffler ­was ordained for ministry Sept. 22 at White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in Busby, Mont., becoming the first Northern Cheyenne woman ordained by Central Plains Mennonite Conference.

She joins Susan Hart, a Southern Cheyenne from Oklahoma, as the only ordained Cheyenne women in Mennonite Church USA. The ordination is part of a series of ministerial transitions in the Cheyenne community in Montana.

Shreffler grew up in Muddy Cluster, a hamlet between Lame Deer and Busby. She left on a Greyhound bus to Seattle in 1987, saying she “would not return home until she could help her people on the Northern Cheyenne reservation.” God has called Suzette back home to her people to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

She was licensed for specific ministry in 2014 for her work as manager of the Everything Beautiful Thrift Store in Lame Deer, a ministry of the Northern Cheyenne Ministerial Association. She held that position until 2018, when she and her husband, Scott, felt God calling them to move on from Busby. They didn’t know where they would land, but knew God had a plan.

Five months later in Pennsylvania, Suzette Shreffler was called to serve as a local missionary with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ministries. When the Shrefflers returned to Busby as co-pastors at White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church in November 2022, she was licensed toward ordination.

The Shrefflers came into a church facing a massive disruption after Willis and Nadine Busenitz retired after pastoring the congregation for 52 years.

The community was still reeling from the COVID pandemic. Ministries like Sunday school and summer camp were put on hold, and some people didn’t return to in-person worship services. People longed for fellowship, but Busby doesn’t have a community center, coffee shop or even a gas station.

Suzette and Scott Shreffler have pastored White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church since November 2022. — Susan Janzen/CPMC
Suzette and Scott Shreffler have pastored White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church since November 2022. — Susan Janzen/CPMC

The Shrefflers gave attention to reconsidering all of the church’s ministries. At an event for Central Plains leaders, Suzette Shreffler noted that these ministries weren’t bad or wrong, they just no longer met the needs they once did.

She talked about “helping the congregation to see that it’s OK to do something a little bit different,” she said. “It’s OK to be uncomfortable, because I believe you need to be uncomfortable in order to grow.”

The couple started men’s and women’s groups, family game nights, scripture study, grief workshops and Kettle Is On, a morning gathering for coffee and conversation. Suzette Shreffler also leads parenting classes for the tribe.

These initiatives have strengthened connections among congregation and community members and helped connect the couple to their community. Relationships among people within the church have begun to strengthen as well. Five people were baptized in August.

Nadine and Willis Busenitz, left, are honored for 50 years of ministry among the Cheyenne people in 2015 at a Central Plains Mennonite Conference event with conference minister Tim Detweiler. — Central Plains Mennonite Conference
Nadine and Willis Busenitz, left, are honored for 50 years of ministry among the Cheyenne people in 2015 at a Central Plains Mennonite Conference event with conference minister Tim Detweiler. — Central Plains Mennonite Conference

Meanwhile, the Busenitzes are continuing their support of the thrift store’s ministry on the reservation in Lame Deer, despite their move to Billings 100 miles to the west.

They make the drive on Sunday mornings to Lame Deer Mennonite Church so they can keep worshiping with the Cheyenne people. It brings things full circle for Willis Busenitz, who began his pastoral ministry at the church as an assistant pastor to Joe Walksalong Sr. The couple now support Joe Walksalong Jr. as he leads the congregation.

After church they often retire to an apartment on the lower level of the thrift store where they stay through Tuesday afternoons. This allows them to continue to serve with and help the thrift store thrive before the return trip to Billings.

When folks talk about retirement to Willis Busenitz, he laughs and says, “You never retire from a people and a place that you love.”

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