The heavy winter snowfall and fast spring melt caused flooding throughout the Dakotas Conference. Volunteers supported Lake Poinsett Camp and Retreat Center throughout unprecedented flooding. Read the details here. 

United Methodists also responded to needs in the Pine Ridge area. UMCOR  issued a $10,000 emergency grant directed to assist in meeting the needs at Pine Ridge. Read more 
 

In April, Camp and Retreat Ministries for the Dakotas-Minnesota Area welcomed Beata Ferris, as marketing and outreach coordinator. Beata is a member of Pierre First UMC. She works part-time September through May, adding more hours during the summer camping season.  Read more 
 

2019 Elisha and Samuel interns, host churches were announced in April. The Elisha Project, now in its seventh year, aligns with the conference’s desire to create a culture of call that actively encourages young adults to explore how God is calling them to build the kingdom. Throughout 2019, four Elisha interns and one Samuel intern explored ministry.  Read more 

In May, United Methodists from across North and South Dakota gathered at the Sherman Center on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University to celebrate the leadership of Bishop Bruce R. and Char Ough. Funds raised from the event are part of the $200,000 needed to establish the endowment that will support future clergy through a scholarship for a Dakota Wesleyan undergraduate student who has expressed a call to ministry. The scholarship is being facilitated by the United Methodist Higher Education Foundation. Read more 
 

Training for Congregational Care Ministry (CCM) was held at Storm Mountain Center May 17-18, 2019. The group included participants from 15 churches, totaling 35 persons from across the Dakotas Conference. Participants represented teams that are exploring effective Congregational Care Ministry models and strategies for their local church. Get all of the details here.
 

May marked the end of the first year of a partnership between Sioux Falls Seminary and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, to share resources, helping students meet ordination requirements through the Kairos Project, which began in 2014. The pilot, which began with a goal of reaching 20 students at a time, currently has 38 students and is still growing in the program. Read more 

The twenty-sixth session of the Dakotas Annual Conference was held June 6-8, 2019, at the Bismarck Event Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. More than 600 United Methodists from North and South Dakota experienced inspiring worship, meaningful learning, conducted business, and enjoyed fellowship. Drawing on John 4:1-26, the theme of the 2019 annual conference session was Dare to Reach: Love Boldly! We explored ways in which Jesus calls us to step out of our comfort zone and reach those around of us with the love of God in ways beyond our imagination. We were encouraged to gather our collective story of how God's love quenches our thirst and explore ways to invite everyone to drink from the well, so that their thirst may be quenched. We were encouraged to practice an evangelistic spirit as we seek to live out our mission—"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19). Here are some of the highlights. 

The Licensed Local Pastor School took place in June at Lake Poinsett Camp near Arlington, South Dakota. This year's class is comprised of 13 members from three different conferences, including the Dakotas Conference, the Minnesota Conference, and the Alaska Conference.  Read more 

The Dakotas Conference is partnering with Embrace Church for a nine-month residency program, to provide a unique opportunity to learn and lead. For 25 hours each week, selected residents will work alongside Embrace Church pastors and leaders to shape and execute a vision, build teams, and develop the skills needed to reach people and make disciples of Jesus Christ who transform the world. Read the details here.