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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Meet our team
Chris Armstrong
Chris Armstrong is one of the founding members of Lat45° Adventure Ministries. He was saved by God’s grace in 2005 in Big Sky, Montana. Chris is married to Sara and they have three beautiful girls. Betty, Gloria, and Ruby. They started Lat45° in Ennis, Montana in 2013 and served the Lord through this awesome ministry for three years. In 2016 he and his family accepted a call to serve as missionaries with the International Mission Board and have been living in Mexico ever since!
Jon Scofield
Jon Scofield enjoys backcountry hunting, backpacking, snowshoeing, fly fishing, bird hunting, traveling, dogs & horses, and making fly rods. Jon's favorite thing about the mission of Lat45° is the moment you reach that certain point in the trip, whether it is a destination lake or a summit, the participants thought they never would be able to reach. That moment and the events leading up to it are used to encourage and empower them. That moment and the effort to get there is a great analogy to life and is used to show the participants many different lessons on how to persevere. The smiles on every face in the group makes it all worth it. His favorite Bible verse or book: is Isaiah 40: 27-31, Philippians 4: 4-13. Both of these passages are a reminder how we should live our lives by not complaining, grumbling, doubting, or worrying, but in every thing looking to God. Jon is certified in Wilderness first aid.
Nick Brown
Nick Brown, is a husband of 15 years to his wife, Nyssa and father of three boys. He has worked for over 10 years in construction project management. He has attended and served at The Rock Church in Laurel, MT for just as long. Exploring the outdoors and hiking in the Beartooths is a top favorite activity to do with his boys. Sharing the beauty of God's creation and creating a space for his boys to grow in their relationship with Jesus is of utmost importance to Nick. This ignited a passion to be a part of the mission of Lat45° and to help teens do the same.
Nick joined the board for Lat45° in 2021. He is excited to be a part of the opportunity to minister to youth kids and help foster their love for the outdoors and a relationship with God.
Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 43:2
Greg Payton
Greg Payton, a husband, father, pastor, and avid fly fisherman was born into a pastor’s home in 1972. He was involved in ministry from day one. He graduated from Orange Park High School in Orange Park, Florida, in 1990. At 15 years of age, Greg surrendered his life to full-time Christian service. After three years at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, he transferred to the University of Oklahoma in Norman, to be closer to his college sweetheart (and soon-to-be wife) Patty McGowen.
Pastor Greg is serving his second term as President of the Montana Southern Baptist Convention. He has spent many hours volunteering for organizations such as Trout Unlimited, Casting for Recovery, and the Federation of Fly Fishers.
Greg is the Lead Pastor at The Rock Church in Laurel. He lives with his wife Patty live in Billings, Montana. They have four children. Greg is an avid fly fisherman, fly rod builder, and outdoor enthusiast. He spends the majority of his free time floating blue ribbon trout streams and fishing high mountain lakes. He is also involved in various conservation efforts across Montana to protect and enhance this valuable natural resource for generations to come.
Favorite Bible Verse: Matthew 4:19
Hollie Koenigsberg
Hollie Koenigsberg joined the Lat45° Board in 2021. She currently serves as the Director of Programs at Clydehurst Christian Ranch, a youth and family camp outside Big Timber. She was first connected to Lat45° through her work at Clydehurst and is passionate about facilitating experiences in Creation for young people in particular. Hollie's background includes time spent as a police officer and in the military. Originally from Illinois, she currently resides in Billings with her husband Nate and German Shepherd service dog Zulu.
Keith Downey
Keith and his wife Amy live in Roscoe, Montana on the edge of the Beartooth Wilderness. Originally from the Midwest, they backpacked in the Beartooths for over thirty years before moving full time to Montana. Keith was previously in business and public office, and active in church leadership including planting a church on a university campus. He and Amy have three adult children. Keith's favorite Bible verse is Psalm 24: 1 "The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”
Amanda Hjelvik
Amanda is a mother, a wife, and a strong woman of faith. Amanda was born in Billings, Montana, and has lived in Montana her entire life. Amanda is a mother to many, including her children: Matisen, Remington, Dawson, Alexis, Sara, and Savannah. Amanda has been married 12 years to her amazing husband Mikol. She has connected with Lat45 through her work as an Administrative Assistant for The Rock Church in Laurel, MT. She serves on the Lat45° event committee and enjoys having a part in the growth of the organization.
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 139:14
Bob Brannon
Bob Brannon lives in Sheridan, MT. That’s right, MT not WY as most would think of when thinking of Sheridan. He came to Christ at the age of 34. He spent a 35 year career in wildlife management, most of it working as a management biologist for Montana Fish. Wildlife and Parks. He did so because he loved the outdoors and wanted to give something back for all the joy it brought. When Bob came to Christ, he almost immediately recognized that the reason he loved the outdoors so much is because it was made by our Creator God through his Son Jesus Christ!
When he retired from FWP he went into ministry at his church as an Associate Pastor for almost 4 years. Bob became a part of Lat45° in 2017 leading trips for youth as a guide, then a board member and all along sharing God’s Word with youth while educating them on the outdoors and encouraging them to begin to walk with Christ or in their walk they already have with Christ. Bob is certified in Wilderness First Aid, and is a licensed Pastor and certified Private Pilot.
He is especially drawn to Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.” When we delight in the Lord the desires of our hearts become the desire he would have for us!
Peyton Hathaway
Peyton Hathaway is from Yuba City, California. His hobbies include disc golf, snowboarding, camping, playing the banjo. Peyton says he cannot think of a better way to minister to students than being out in His awesome creation through Lat45°. This ministry is able to develop and push students in ways that God intended.
His favorite Bible verse or book is Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We were made on purpose for a purpose! Not only do we receive the gift of salvation, but we are given access to what God has planned for each of us.
Peyton serves as the Student Pastor at Elevation Church in Billings, MT.
SUPPORT LAT45°ADVENTURE MINISTRIES
Lat45°Adventure Ministries is fully funded by donations from individuals like you. It is because of the financial gifts that young people can be a part of a God driven outdoor adventure experience for free. God has done, is doing, and will continue to do mind blowing works through this ministry.