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Outpost Stories
Corey Forman’s growing up years were shaped in steadfastness, in a simple and happy life on a Powell farm. His God-loving parents raised him to know and trust the Lord, and their constancy and faithfulness held Corey fast through times of trial. For Corey, following God came naturally, if not easily. When life has taken turns that were unexpected, unplanned, or unwanted, the love of God has been Corey’s anchor. The peace he has found in knowing Jesus has propelled Corey to lead a life focused on discipleship, intentional relationship, and sharing the Gospel. Read Corey’s story to find out how steadfast faith has comforted Corey through hard times, and driven him to share the hope of Christ with others.
Corey Forman
Corey accepted Jesus as his Savior when he was a six-year-old boy. The rhythms of church life and following Jesus whole-heartedly at home formed his childhood as much as the simultaneous rhythms of life on the farm: the ups and downs of raising crops on irrigated desert soil.
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Corey: My parents set great examples of walking with Christ. During my childhood, there weren’t any big struggles or hardships. My two sisters and I were close, and most of my friends were from youth group and AWANA. I think that the way I was raised and the way God wired me worked together to keep me out of trouble. I was never really tempted to get into the party scene in high school.
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At age sixteen, Corey and his sister were in a car accident close to their home, and Corey was thrown from the car. The resulting concussion was severe enough to land Corey in the Billings ICU for several days.
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That experience, and the long recovery afterward, didn’t shake my faith. I still trusted God. But it did sober my thoughts about the shortness and the fragility of life. I knew I could have died in that accident, and it changed my perspective.
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Corey finished high school, and began studying at Northwest College. He got involved in Campus Ventures, a ministry that impacted him profoundly. As he experienced intentional Christian discipleship, his heart was stirred for more. And, through Campus Ventures, Corey was also able to experience overseas missions for the first time. Matthew 28:16-20 became a life passage for Corey, as he clearly understood the call to sharing his faith, making disciples, and investing deeply in the lives of others. “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…” (verses 19-20a).
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After college, at the age of 22, I was diagnosed with cancer. After multiple surgeries, 28 chemotherapy treatments in three months, and several hospitalizations for infections, I was cancer-free. Like my earlier brush with death, this experience showed me how fleeting life can be. Though that time included worry and stress, I also experienced comfort in Christ, overwhelming peace, and the surety that God had a plan for my life.
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A couple of years later, Corey was living and working on his family’s farm, and involved with a church that focused on personal spiritual formation. Corey went through discipleship training with his pastor. The embers of Corey’s passion for personal ministry were fanned into flame. The Lord enlarged his heart for others. He found that he had a fervent desire to invest in the lives of other believers, to share his faith with non-believers, and to allow others to know and disciple him.
"It would be easy to dwell on what should have been, according to the timetable in my own head. But I have learned to thank God for the life He has given me, rather than lamenting the life I thought I would have."
For the last twenty-two years, discipleship has been a focus of my life. Relationships come and go through the years, but I have continued to seek and to give accountability. In my life, ongoing discipleship looks like openness and honesty about struggles. It looks like shared celebrations and grief. It looks like making time for each other and truly investing in one another’s daily lives. It looks like reading God’s Word together and growing together. I don’t know what my life would like without those close relationships, and I don’t want to know.
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Life hasn’t always gone as planned. As a young man, I would have envisioned being married with kids, raising a family on the farm the way I was raised. Things haven’t quite gone the way I thought they would. It would be easy to dwell on what should have been, according to the timetable in my own head. But I have learned to thank God for the life He has given me, rather than lamenting the life I thought I would have. Sometimes being single at age 44 can feel like an awkward thing, but I trust that God has a purpose and a plan.
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Corey finds comfort in the continual and unchanging presence of God. Where human relationships may ebb and flow, or even fail, God is faithful. His constant love and friendship have upheld Corey through times of trial and loneliness.
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I know God has me where I am at for a reason. I have strong connections with other men – both older than me and younger than me. I am thankful for the flexibility I have, especially in the winter months, to reach out to others in need, to be involved and available for people.
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At Outpost, Corey serves in the Front Line ministries, where he enjoys connecting with members and newcomers alike. He has been involved in creating opportunities for relational growth through activities like The Big Dance.
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What drew me to Outpost was the emphasis on community and authenticity. I love that we take off our masks and are real with one another.
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Corey’s Christian walk has been a study in steadfastness – both the steadfastness of God in always being with Corey, and his own faithful steadiness in ongoing obedience.
“May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 3:5
