Outpost Stories
Barb Luthy: Grace Changes Disobedience to Obedience
Despite growing up with a strong Christian foundation through her mother Barb Luthy took a round-about path following God’s will for her life. She fell into unhealthy relationship patterns with all the wrong guys for many years before returning back to Christ and to church changing Barb’s family life for the better. Digging for answers through deep study of the Bible, she was able to find her footing back into a healthy Christian life and a relationship with God. Read Barb’s story to find out how she was able to find her way back to Christ despite missteps along the road to healing her broken relationships.
Read the full story
Barb: My mom’s side was Christian. My grandfather was a school teacher, principal and preacher of a very small school so my mom and her two sisters grew up in the church. She was the one who made sure we all- my two brothers, me, my sister and fourteen years later my half-sister-went to church. My dad didn’t always go to church with us. He wasn’t a bad guy. I grew up on the lake with my dad. He loved boating and fishing. I think he became a Christian before he died.
As children Barb and her siblings would go to their church, Trinity Baptist Church, in Kerrville Texas often. They had an active and spiritually strong youth group and choir.
B: Growing up, it was church on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings, Girl’s Auxiliary on Wednesday’s, VBS in the summer. I went to church camps and retreats, learning the books of the Bible, the Gospel and other Scripture. As I got older church became my social outlet. We had an active youth group and choir. Our youth choir would perform musicals for the church and other places. One of the songs we did was called The Power to Choose. That had a big impact on me. I realized I had the power to choose whether to follow Jesus or not. So that was my choice and I chose Jesus. I was baptized my freshman year of high school.
Around the time Barb was baptized her parents divorced. Her mother remarried a man who was not a nice guy but since his passing she has left all of that hurt to God.
After graduating Barb went to college in San Marcos Texas, graduating with a degree in business administration and a minor in accounting.
B: It was after I got away from all of that-my church and my church friends, when I was in college- that I just didn’t go to church. I was a typical college student: dating, dancing, bicycling, spending time on the river or just hanging out with friends. I also worked part time at the university bookstore and occasionally did some studying. However, I didn’t really live a Christian life.
Senior year of college Barb’s stepsister introduced her to a guy named Curt. They began dating after she graduated and moved to Austin together. Unbeknownst to her, Curt was a practicing alcoholic who loved to location move as much as he loved to dance.
B: We moved a lot of places. First, we lived in Austin, then Abilene, then Kansas, back to Austin, then Kerrville, then finally, the last location move was to Gillette, WY (I was 23), all within two years. We were married in Kansas and divorced in Gillette.
Once we got to Gillette it wasn’t long, about a year, before Curt was ready to move again. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay. So he left. I filed for divorce and lived on my own for a while-worked for a CPA for three years then a plumbing/heating outfit for four years and then Peabody Coal Company for twenty years and owning/operating a one rig drilling company with Pete for twelve years.
After divorcing Curt, Barb met a guy and moved in with him. She lived with him for twelve years before admitting to herself and to him that he wasn’t the guy for her and they split up. She dated a few more guys until meeting Pete. She met Pete in January 1992 and married him in August 1993. They had been married 24 years when Pete passed away from throat cancer.
B: My friends introduced me to Pete, who was selling cars at the time. I ended up buying a car from him and he found a reason to talk to me every day after that. Pete shared with me that he had been sober only a year. Pete and I lived together for a year and finally I said “We either need to get married or split. I’m not going to do this live-in thing any longer.” So Pete and I got married. Pete had children from his first marriage, so I got to be stepmom to two young boys - Justin (8) and Matt (6). Our time was filled with camping, fishing, rafting and vacationing when the boys were with us. Then 4 years later I got pregnant with Tanner. All of the boys have been such a blessing.
During all that time I still wasn’t going to church or hanging out with Christian people. Pete grew up in Cody and was raised Lutheran. We attended the Lutheran church with Pete’s mom for holiday services. It wasn’t until 2007 when Tanner was ten I remember thinking I need to get this kid into church so he’s at least learning about God. I didn’t have anything against God during that time I just wasn’t being obedient and we just didn’t talk about our faith other than occasional blessings before meals.
"I realized I had the power to choose whether to follow Jesus or not. So that was my choice and I chose Jesus."
Around this time Barb started going back to church bringing Tanner with her while Pete was in Sunday AA meetings.
B: I think Pete was Christian at this time. I mean, in AA they depend on God. They have to submit to God’s power to overcome alcoholism. I started going to Westside Baptist. I picked that church because our family doctor said that this church was full of friendly people and I was Baptist anyway. The first time we went to that church an older gentlemen made cinnamon raisin bread and handed it out. Tanner really liked it and said ‘Let’s go back! I want some more bread!”
Barb saw that attending church and being around other Christians changed their home life. They had stopped cussing so much and started watching different movies. It was a good influence on all of them.
B: It was like God was getting me back into being around other Christians and people living a Christian life. There was a gal teaching a Bible study called Precepts Bible Studies. It felt intriguing so I signed up for one of the classes. I got really into studying my Bible and learning more about God and understanding more about what God’s plan is for all of us. I found that He really did love us and wanted a relationship. So I kept doing Bible studies. With studying the Bible so much it really grows your faith and confidence in what you believe and you become more knowledgeable. You can say this is what I believe and this is why.
I had been going to Westside Baptist Church for about five years and hadn’t officially joined. One Sunday I felt God was pushing me to join. My back was just burning and I couldn’t sit in the pew any longer. So I said OK I’ll join the alter call and become an official member. So I joined, got involved, lead a Sunday school class for a while. I also volunteered as treasurer for the church for eight years. During this time Pete was also growing his faith and trust in God through the fellowship of AA, although sometimes I still wondered if he was a Christian. The support from this group and family and friends held us together till the morning we went to the hospital.
Before we went to the hospital Pete turned to me and he said “I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior” and I said “Well, ok then.” He died that Saturday afternoon. He was surrounded by family and a few close friends at the hospital. We all saw his feet moving, as if running, and his arms reaching up…and we knew he was running to Jesus.
In 2022 Barb moved to Cody to follow through on the plans she and Pete had made for retirement.
B: That was our plan. To retire in Cody. We’d always come over to float the river, fish and camp. All those fun things. And we’ve both got family here. When I would come to Cody for visits, I would attend CMA church with my mom. I heard Greg preach a few times and really liked his preaching style. I began attending Outpost in 2019 as Tanner and most of my family was also attending. I liked their idea of community and the expectation of being active and involved in a church. Actively participating instead of just checking attendance on Sunday. There was accountability and getting to know people in the church. Now in Cody, I bought my mom’s house and moved in with her, officially joined Outpost and volunteer one Sunday a month with the kids and help with the bookkeeping for the church.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:1-5
Outpost Stories
Barb Luthy: Grace Changes Disobedience to Obedience
Despite growing up with a strong Christian foundation through her mother Barb Luthy took a round-about path following God’s will for her life. She fell into unhealthy relationship patterns with all the wrong guys for many years before returning back to Christ and to church changing Barb’s family life for the better. Digging for answers through deep study of the Bible, she was able to find her footing back into a healthy Christian life and a relationship with God. Read Barb’s story to find out how she was able to find her way back to Christ despite missteps along the road to healing her broken relationships.
Read the full story
Barb: My mom’s side was Christian. My grandfather was a school teacher, principal and preacher of a very small school so my mom and her two sisters grew up in the church. She was the one who made sure we all- my two brothers, me, my sister and fourteen years later my half-sister-went to church. My dad didn’t always go to church with us. He wasn’t a bad guy. I grew up on the lake with my dad. He loved boating and fishing. I think he became a Christian before he died.
As children Barb and her siblings would go to their church, Trinity Baptist Church, in Kerrville Texas often. They had an active and spiritually strong youth group and choir.
B: Growing up, it was church on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings, Girl’s Auxiliary on Wednesday’s, VBS in the summer. I went to church camps and retreats, learning the books of the Bible, the Gospel and other Scripture. As I got older church became my social outlet. We had an active youth group and choir. Our youth choir would perform musicals for the church and other places. One of the songs we did was called The Power to Choose. That had a big impact on me. I realized I had the power to choose whether to follow Jesus or not. So that was my choice and I chose Jesus. I was baptized my freshman year of high school.
Around the time Barb was baptized her parents divorced. Her mother remarried a man who was not a nice guy but since his passing she has left all of that hurt to God.
After graduating Barb went to college in San Marcos Texas, graduating with a degree in business administration and a minor in accounting.
B: It was after I got away from all of that-my church and my church friends, when I was in college- that I just didn’t go to church. I was a typical college student: dating, dancing, bicycling, spending time on the river or just hanging out with friends. I also worked part time at the university bookstore and occasionally did some studying. However, I didn’t really live a Christian life.
Senior year of college Barb’s stepsister introduced her to a guy named Curt. They began dating after she graduated and moved to Austin together. Unbeknownst to her, Curt was a practicing alcoholic who loved to location move as much as he loved to dance.
B: We moved a lot of places. First, we lived in Austin, then Abilene, then Kansas, back to Austin, then Kerrville, then finally, the last location move was to Gillette, WY (I was 23), all within two years. We were married in Kansas and divorced in Gillette.
Once we got to Gillette it wasn’t long, about a year, before Curt was ready to move again. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay. So he left. I filed for divorce and lived on my own for a while-worked for a CPA for three years then a plumbing/heating outfit for four years and then Peabody Coal Company for twenty years and owning/operating a one rig drilling company with Pete for twelve years.
After divorcing Curt, Barb met a guy and moved in with him. She lived with him for twelve years before admitting to herself and to him that he wasn’t the guy for her and they split up. She dated a few more guys until meeting Pete. She met Pete in January 1992 and married him in August 1993. They had been married 24 years when Pete passed away from throat cancer.
B: My friends introduced me to Pete, who was selling cars at the time. I ended up buying a car from him and he found a reason to talk to me every day after that. Pete shared with me that he had been sober only a year. Pete and I lived together for a year and finally I said “We either need to get married or split. I’m not going to do this live-in thing any longer.” So Pete and I got married. Pete had children from his first marriage, so I got to be stepmom to two young boys - Justin (8) and Matt (6). Our time was filled with camping, fishing, rafting and vacationing when the boys were with us. Then 4 years later I got pregnant with Tanner. All of the boys have been such a blessing.
During all that time I still wasn’t going to church or hanging out with Christian people. Pete grew up in Cody and was raised Lutheran. We attended the Lutheran church with Pete’s mom for holiday services. It wasn’t until 2007 when Tanner was ten I remember thinking I need to get this kid into church so he’s at least learning about God. I didn’t have anything against God during that time I just wasn’t being obedient and we just didn’t talk about our faith other than occasional blessings before meals.
"I realized I had the power to choose whether to follow Jesus or not. So that was my choice and I chose Jesus."
Around this time Barb started going back to church bringing Tanner with her while Pete was in Sunday AA meetings.
B: I think Pete was Christian at this time. I mean, in AA they depend on God. They have to submit to God’s power to overcome alcoholism. I started going to Westside Baptist. I picked that church because our family doctor said that this church was full of friendly people and I was Baptist anyway. The first time we went to that church an older gentlemen made cinnamon raisin bread and handed it out. Tanner really liked it and said ‘Let’s go back! I want some more bread!”
Barb saw that attending church and being around other Christians changed their home life. They had stopped cussing so much and started watching different movies. It was a good influence on all of them.
B: It was like God was getting me back into being around other Christians and people living a Christian life. There was a gal teaching a Bible study called Precepts Bible Studies. It felt intriguing so I signed up for one of the classes. I got really into studying my Bible and learning more about God and understanding more about what God’s plan is for all of us. I found that He really did love us and wanted a relationship. So I kept doing Bible studies. With studying the Bible so much it really grows your faith and confidence in what you believe and you become more knowledgeable. You can say this is what I believe and this is why.
I had been going to Westside Baptist Church for about five years and hadn’t officially joined. One Sunday I felt God was pushing me to join. My back was just burning and I couldn’t sit in the pew any longer. So I said OK I’ll join the alter call and become an official member. So I joined, got involved, lead a Sunday school class for a while. I also volunteered as treasurer for the church for eight years. During this time Pete was also growing his faith and trust in God through the fellowship of AA, although sometimes I still wondered if he was a Christian. The support from this group and family and friends held us together till the morning we went to the hospital.
Before we went to the hospital Pete turned to me and he said “I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior” and I said “Well, ok then.” He died that Saturday afternoon. He was surrounded by family and a few close friends at the hospital. We all saw his feet moving, as if running, and his arms reaching up…and we knew he was running to Jesus.
In 2022 Barb moved to Cody to follow through on the plans she and Pete had made for retirement.
B: That was our plan. To retire in Cody. We’d always come over to float the river, fish and camp. All those fun things. And we’ve both got family here. When I would come to Cody for visits, I would attend CMA church with my mom. I heard Greg preach a few times and really liked his preaching style. I began attending Outpost in 2019 as Tanner and most of my family was also attending. I liked their idea of community and the expectation of being active and involved in a church. Actively participating instead of just checking attendance on Sunday. There was accountability and getting to know people in the church. Now in Cody, I bought my mom’s house and moved in with her, officially joined Outpost and volunteer one Sunday a month with the kids and help with the bookkeeping for the church.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:1-5
Outpost Stories
Barb Luthy: Grace Changes Disobedience to Obedience
Despite growing up with a strong Christian foundation through her mother Barb Luthy took a round-about path following God’s will for her life. She fell into unhealthy relationship patterns with all the wrong guys for many years before returning back to Christ and to church changing Barb’s family life for the better. Digging for answers through deep study of the Bible, she was able to find her footing back into a healthy Christian life and a relationship with God. Read Barb’s story to find out how she was able to find her way back to Christ despite missteps along the road to healing her broken relationships.
Read the full story
Barb: My mom’s side was Christian. My grandfather was a school teacher, principal and preacher of a very small school so my mom and her two sisters grew up in the church. She was the one who made sure we all- my two brothers, me, my sister and fourteen years later my half-sister-went to church. My dad didn’t always go to church with us. He wasn’t a bad guy. I grew up on the lake with my dad. He loved boating and fishing. I think he became a Christian before he died.
As children Barb and her siblings would go to their church, Trinity Baptist Church, in Kerrville Texas often. They had an active and spiritually strong youth group and choir.
B: Growing up, it was church on Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings, Girl’s Auxiliary on Wednesday’s, VBS in the summer. I went to church camps and retreats, learning the books of the Bible, the Gospel and other Scripture. As I got older church became my social outlet. We had an active youth group and choir. Our youth choir would perform musicals for the church and other places. One of the songs we did was called The Power to Choose. That had a big impact on me. I realized I had the power to choose whether to follow Jesus or not. So that was my choice and I chose Jesus. I was baptized my freshman year of high school.
Around the time Barb was baptized her parents divorced. Her mother remarried a man who was not a nice guy but since his passing she has left all of that hurt to God.
After graduating Barb went to college in San Marcos Texas, graduating with a degree in business administration and a minor in accounting.
B: It was after I got away from all of that-my church and my church friends, when I was in college- that I just didn’t go to church. I was a typical college student: dating, dancing, bicycling, spending time on the river or just hanging out with friends. I also worked part time at the university bookstore and occasionally did some studying. However, I didn’t really live a Christian life.
Senior year of college Barb’s stepsister introduced her to a guy named Curt. They began dating after she graduated and moved to Austin together. Unbeknownst to her, Curt was a practicing alcoholic who loved to location move as much as he loved to dance.
B: We moved a lot of places. First, we lived in Austin, then Abilene, then Kansas, back to Austin, then Kerrville, then finally, the last location move was to Gillette, WY (I was 23), all within two years. We were married in Kansas and divorced in Gillette.
Once we got to Gillette it wasn’t long, about a year, before Curt was ready to move again. I didn’t want to go. I wanted to stay. So he left. I filed for divorce and lived on my own for a while-worked for a CPA for three years then a plumbing/heating outfit for four years and then Peabody Coal Company for twenty years and owning/operating a one rig drilling company with Pete for twelve years.
After divorcing Curt, Barb met a guy and moved in with him. She lived with him for twelve years before admitting to herself and to him that he wasn’t the guy for her and they split up. She dated a few more guys until meeting Pete. She met Pete in January 1992 and married him in August 1993. They had been married 24 years when Pete passed away from throat cancer.
B: My friends introduced me to Pete, who was selling cars at the time. I ended up buying a car from him and he found a reason to talk to me every day after that. Pete shared with me that he had been sober only a year. Pete and I lived together for a year and finally I said “We either need to get married or split. I’m not going to do this live-in thing any longer.” So Pete and I got married. Pete had children from his first marriage, so I got to be stepmom to two young boys - Justin (8) and Matt (6). Our time was filled with camping, fishing, rafting and vacationing when the boys were with us. Then 4 years later I got pregnant with Tanner. All of the boys have been such a blessing.
During all that time I still wasn’t going to church or hanging out with Christian people. Pete grew up in Cody and was raised Lutheran. We attended the Lutheran church with Pete’s mom for holiday services. It wasn’t until 2007 when Tanner was ten I remember thinking I need to get this kid into church so he’s at least learning about God. I didn’t have anything against God during that time I just wasn’t being obedient and we just didn’t talk about our faith other than occasional blessings before meals.
"I realized I had the power to choose whether to follow Jesus or not. So that was my choice and I chose Jesus."
Around this time Barb started going back to church bringing Tanner with her while Pete was in Sunday AA meetings.
B: I think Pete was Christian at this time. I mean, in AA they depend on God. They have to submit to God’s power to overcome alcoholism. I started going to Westside Baptist. I picked that church because our family doctor said that this church was full of friendly people and I was Baptist anyway. The first time we went to that church an older gentlemen made cinnamon raisin bread and handed it out. Tanner really liked it and said ‘Let’s go back! I want some more bread!”
Barb saw that attending church and being around other Christians changed their home life. They had stopped cussing so much and started watching different movies. It was a good influence on all of them.
B: It was like God was getting me back into being around other Christians and people living a Christian life. There was a gal teaching a Bible study called Precepts Bible Studies. It felt intriguing so I signed up for one of the classes. I got really into studying my Bible and learning more about God and understanding more about what God’s plan is for all of us. I found that He really did love us and wanted a relationship. So I kept doing Bible studies. With studying the Bible so much it really grows your faith and confidence in what you believe and you become more knowledgeable. You can say this is what I believe and this is why.
I had been going to Westside Baptist Church for about five years and hadn’t officially joined. One Sunday I felt God was pushing me to join. My back was just burning and I couldn’t sit in the pew any longer. So I said OK I’ll join the alter call and become an official member. So I joined, got involved, lead a Sunday school class for a while. I also volunteered as treasurer for the church for eight years. During this time Pete was also growing his faith and trust in God through the fellowship of AA, although sometimes I still wondered if he was a Christian. The support from this group and family and friends held us together till the morning we went to the hospital.
Before we went to the hospital Pete turned to me and he said “I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior” and I said “Well, ok then.” He died that Saturday afternoon. He was surrounded by family and a few close friends at the hospital. We all saw his feet moving, as if running, and his arms reaching up…and we knew he was running to Jesus.
In 2022 Barb moved to Cody to follow through on the plans she and Pete had made for retirement.
B: That was our plan. To retire in Cody. We’d always come over to float the river, fish and camp. All those fun things. And we’ve both got family here. When I would come to Cody for visits, I would attend CMA church with my mom. I heard Greg preach a few times and really liked his preaching style. I began attending Outpost in 2019 as Tanner and most of my family was also attending. I liked their idea of community and the expectation of being active and involved in a church. Actively participating instead of just checking attendance on Sunday. There was accountability and getting to know people in the church. Now in Cody, I bought my mom’s house and moved in with her, officially joined Outpost and volunteer one Sunday a month with the kids and help with the bookkeeping for the church.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:1-5