Volunteers clean up after the Minot flood. Photo by Mike DuBose, UM Communications.

One of the ways we spread the love of Jesus throughout our region, our country, and our world is by giving to those in need, whether it be ongoing or sudden need caused by catastrophic events. We call this “Disaster Response Ministry.” Just like the need to respond quickly, our ministry also needs to adapt when needed.

We give through our time, volunteering, and through our gifts, both financial and in tangible items for immediate use.

Many church organizations stand ready to take financial donations with the promise of delivering them to God’s people in need. Unfortunately, most don’t have the effectiveness of our own United Methodist Committee On Relief (UMCOR), founded in 1940 in response to World War II needs. That’s because we, as United Methodists, already fund UMCOR’s operating expenses at 100%, so all donations are passed through with zero reductions for overhead expenses.

Relief work also needs to be dynamic and flexible, able to respond quickly to changing needs, sudden events, and evolving methods. For years, United Methodists in the Dakotas Conference have been known for our generosity with our time, our monetary gifts, and our tangible donations. Each year Dakotas UMC churches have gathered mission kits (cleaning kits, hygiene kits, and school kits), and forwarded them to UMCOR facilities for distribution.

This worked for many years but has now begun to change. For this reason, UMCOR no longer operates the West Depot in Utah, the place where the Dakotas Conference would transport thousands of relief kits each year. The Dakotas Conference is no longer doing a conference-wide collection of mission kits. The logistics and costs of the collection had become too extensive.

“We were spending a lot of resources, time and money, each fall collecting kits,” said Al Roll, Missional Impact Coach for the Dakotas Conference. “Several of the relief kits that we were collecting (baby kits and school kits) are no longer accepted by UMCOR. Also, UMCOR is no longer shipping relief kits outside the United States.”

However, individuals and churches can work directly with UMCOR, which now has one main UMCOR depot in Louisiana and several affiliate locations, and they can ship kits to UMCOR directly. Please contact the warehouse before shipping any packages containing donations of relief supplies to assure the warehouse is expecting them. Here is all the contact information.

Here is more information about the relief kits UMCOR is currently receiving.

It is also important to note that: “School Kits are no longer needed by the relief supply network. Donors who have already prepared School Kits for donation may forward them to the Sager Brown Depot or affiliate warehouse by December 31, 2022.” Congregations are encouraged to reach out to the local schools in their communities and provide supplies that are much needed for teachers and students.  Access the details regarding the relief kits UMCOR is currently receiving. 

The Dakotas Conference is proud to be in partnership with multiple mission agencies within the bounds of the Conference. There are multiple ways to be involved with each of these ministries beyond financial support. Here are some of Dakotas Conference mission ministries that local churches are encouraged to work with:

The Bakken Oil Rush Ministry, located in Watford City, ND, serving the area with the intention of meeting the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the people who have now made their homes in the oil field country. “Care. Connect. Collaborate” is the tagline, mission, and motto of the ministry.

Out in Faith Bakken Oil Rush Ministry—A ministry of Faith United Methodist Church in Williston, ND. Out in Faith serves those in Williston who need basic items, including personal care items, coats, hats and gloves, small household items and blankets. The ministry hosts a weekly meal and worship service— God in Faith Together, G.I.F.T. Support is also given to help people connect to housing, employment, and other services. Contact information: 219 1st Ave W, Williston, North Dakota, 58801, e-mail,  phone 701-572-7694, or their Facebook page.

Solar Oven Partners (SOP) has distributed ovens to over 10,000 trained users. The ministry works to place ovens in the hands of the poor in deforested land. This Volunteer in Mission (VIM) ministry travels to the Dominican Republic three times a year. 

The Spirit Lake Ministry Center is dedicated to supporting the peoples of the Spirit Lake Nation. The Spirit Lake Ministry Center hosts volunteer teams from all over the country every year. The ministry also coordinates Shoebox Christmas gifts to over 6,000 children across the reservations of North Dakota, South Dakota and into Minnesota. Spirit Lake Ministry Center is also home to the Journey Congregation, worshipping every Sunday evening and reaching out to serve the people of Spirit Lake Nation. 

Tree of Life Ministries is a relief agency, located in Mission, South Dakota on the Rosebud Reservation, serving several of the poorest counties in the United States. The reservation has an 80% unemployment rate. The ministries of Tree of Life include: The Warm Welcome-feeding program and food pantry, Tree of Life Boutique­-­thrift store and a construction ministry.

Congregations across the Dakotas Conference are encouraged to engage in hands-on mission in their communities. The number of United Methodists in the Dakotas connecting with neighbors continues to grow. A mission ministry in your own community will bless those being served and those serving in the ministry, and can often be started with seed money from a Breakthrough Ministry Grant from the Dakotas Conference and the Dakotas Methodist Foundation.

Breakthrough Ministry Grants are intended as seed money to launch new ministries or expand existing ministries to reach and impact new people as a response to the movement of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of Dakotas United Methodists.  Projects supported through Breakthrough Ministry grants include new ministries and expansion of existing ministries to reach new people, ministries that create church-school partnerships, ministries that build relationships with college students or other young adults, programs that help individuals hear and discern their call to ministry, and technology that will enhance mission and ministry impact. Churches and projects received grants in the past two years totaling $24,500 and impacting over 4,000 lives.  Click here to apply .