The Dakotas Conference has received a challenge gift in the amount of $25,000 for the 2014 Miracle Offering.

The CORA Foundation, a private family foundation with ties to the Williston, North Dakota area, recently announced it will match the first $25,000 contributed to the 2014 Miracle Offering on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

The CORA Foundation's mission is "to support Christian-based ministries that serve the spiritual, educational, and physical needs of people, helping them come to know the love of Christ and live a dedicated Christian life."

A spokesperson for the foundation indicated that the Dakotas Conference's response to the spiritual and human needs created by the rapid energy development in the Williston Basin is to be commended and is in harmony with the foundation's mission. Typically, the CORA Foundation awards small grants to help launch new ministries.

The 2014 Miracle Offering has two parts: $100,000 in cash to launch the new church in Kenmare, and 5,000 clothing and household items to stock our Watford City Mobile Thrift Store.

Cash Offering

The $100,000 cash offering will assist with the start-up costs of the new regional church in Kenmare, including land purchase, staff support and building design. In the past several years, the oil field workers and new families moving into the area to find housing are transforming the small communities of Donnybrook and Kemare.  The region has witnessed a building boom as the population has grown by 12.3 % in the last three years.

Mobie Thrift Store Items

Jim and Kathie Konsor, Dakotas Conference lay missionaries in Watford City, launched a very successful Mobile Thrift Store to minster to those who desperately need assistance in transitioning into an extremely expensive and often inhospitable environment. This ministry is also enabling them to build trust and position the United Methodist Church for the launch of a new worshipping congregation. Since the opening of the Mobile Thrift Store in November 2013, they have distributed 1,700 clothing and household items valued at over $16,000.

Five items they need to re-supply the Mobile Thrift Store are:

• coats, including winter coats of all sizes
• hooded sweatshirts
• blankets (no comforters)
• bath towels, and
• heavy or thermal socks

Please bring clean, new or nearly new items that are packaged or boxed for easy handling.

The Miracle Offering will be received on Friday morning, June 6 during the morning worship service scheduled for 8:00 a.m.

WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW TO LEARN ABOUT LIFE IN THE BAKKEN

Bakken Oil Rush: The Oil Worker's Life from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.