Photo: Nathan Bader, youth Pierre UMC, collects pledge cards and envelopes with cash donations in a work pail decorated with work gloves for the 10,000 Hour Miracle Offering at Friday morning worship at the 2016 Dakotas Annual Conference in Sioux Falls, SD.

“Projects like the Elisha Internship are what we need to be about,” Rev. Mark Holland, Huron First UMC, told members of the 23rd session of the Dakotas Annual Conference. Holland preached a message of hope, “it is time to turn water into wine.”

At morning worship on Friday, Dakotas United Methodists celebrated what God is doing in and through them. They sang with Rev. Taylor Johnson and the Sioux Falls First UMC praise band.

They also committed over 18,000 hours of service to Dakotas Conference ministry project.  The 10,000 Hour Miracle Offering, called for churches to have at least 10 people commit to at 10 hours of service to one of these conference missions: Bakken Oil Rush Ministry—Watford City, Out in Faith Oil Rush Ministry—Williston, Dakotas Camp and Retreat Ministry, Solar Oven Partners, Tree of Life and Spirit Lake Ministry.

A cash offering of over $56,000 was also collected.  The money will be used to help fund the Elisha Project. The Elisha Project is an internship designed to assist young people as they sense God’s call in their life.  Interns spend one semester of their college or summer working with a local church under the leadership of a clergy mentor. Students receive a stipend of $3,000. 

This year’s teaching session speaker, Rev. Jim Harnish, described the Miracle Offering as a true example of living generously. “The Miracle Offering is inspiring,” Harnish told conference attendees. “I have not seen another conference like this,” he said. “You are generous, joyous givers.”

The vision for the Dakotas Conference’s Elisha Project is to have 30 interns each year.  Internships are available fall, spring and summer.

At Friday worship, Bishop Bruce Ough reminded attendees that over 60% of the clergy throughout the Dakotas Conference are eligible to retire in the next five years.

“Many in this room will soon move to retirement,” he said. “The 10,000 Hour Miracle Offering is about having people ready to serve in ministry and mission for the sake of the Kingdom.”

Donations and pledges are still coming in and will continue to be collected over the next several weeks.