Dakotas Conference 2013 year end review
MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA -- Growth, movement and change are words that characterize the news of the Dakotas Conference in 2013. The Conference saw growth in attendance at worship for the third straight year. Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota was named one of the fastest growing churches in the United States. A new ministry in the Bakken Oil region was started. Several staff changes and transitions occurred.
Growth in attendance
2013 marked the third straight year of growth in attendance at weekly worship for the Dakotas Conference. Average attendance increased by 4.3% in 2012, based on 2011 statistics reported by churches to the United Methodist General Conference on Finance and Administration (GCFA). In 2012 the Dakotas Conference reported a growth of 369. The 2013 statistics are still being gathered by all indicators show growth in worship attendance.
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Embrace Chruch named fastest growing in U.S.
Embrace Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota was named one of the fastest growing churches in the United States in September of 2013. Embrace has an average worship attendance of 1200. Over 400 attended Vacation Bible School in the summer of 2013. Social media and technology have help the church reach out to many.
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Launch of Bakken Oil Rush Ministry
The Bakken Oil Rush Ministry was launched with the help of over $260,000 collected in a Miracle Offering at the 2013 Annual Conference Session. Jim and Kathie Konsor have established a Mobile Thrift Center in Watford City, North Dakota.
See related stories: Mircale Offering; Bakken Oil Ministry moves forward; Making disciples in the Bakken; Bakken Oil Rush MInistry featured
Changes and transitions
The Dakotas Conference has seen several staff changes through 2013. Dianne Axlund, Administrative Assistant for the Director of Ministries and the Cabinet, left in March of 2013 and was replaced by Karina Willoughby.
Ginny Sekol, Assistant to the Director of Camping and Youth Ministries retired December 1, 2013 and has been replaced by Susan Punt.
Jodi Cataldo, Director of Leadership Development accepted a position as Director of Laity in Leadership at the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) on Dec. 1. Rev. Dough Diehl will serve part-time as the Coordinator of Clergy Services and Rev. Steve Trefz will serve part-time as the Conference Equipper of Lay Servant Ministries.
Mike Flowers was selected to serve as the Dakotas Conference’s Associate Director of Missional Impact, effective January 1, 2014. According to Rev. Greg Kroger, Dakotas Conference Director of Ministries. “He will work with the Extended Cabinet and with the Extending the Local Church Link to lead and resource our strategic efforts in this vision pathway.”
