Presbyterian missionaries first visited the Nez Perce Native Americans in the mid-1830s and established a variety of missions to convert the Native Americans to Christianity. These missions taught primarily English and Christian doctrine. Notable missionaries included Henry Spalding, Rev, Cowley, Miss Sue L. McBeth, Miss Kate C. McBeth, and Rev, and George L. Deffenbaugh. The McBeth sisters ordained multiple Nez Perce Ministers including Rev. Archie B. Lawyer, Rev. Robert Williams, Rev. Mark Williams, Rev. James Hines.

The Joint Session of the Nez Perce Presbyterian Churches was established in the 1950s as a way to unite the Presbyterian Churches on the reservation. Both Henry L. Sugden and Rev. Hunter were pastors of the Joint Session in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.