Just before being appointed to Center UMC, Pastor Cory Thrall had been asked to do a pulpit supply there. That morning there were only three in attendance—including Pastor Cory!  A short time later, when he was appointed there as a part of the Missouri Valley Parish, Pastor Cory was told by the board that he was like sent there to close their doors, to which he replied, “God’s not done with Center UMC. There is still hope!”

Center United Methodist Church is a 2017 recipient of the One Matters Award. The award is given by Discipleship Ministries of The United Methodist Church. The award recognizes churches that are turning zeros into positive numbers with a renewed focus on discipleship.

Photo: Cory Thrall receives the One Matters Award at Dakotas Annual Conference in Bismarck on June 8, 2017.

“Because we are working toward multiplying disciples, we celebrate churches that are inviting people to make a commitment of faith as seen in baptisms and professions of faith,” said Rev. Rebecca Trefz, Dakotas Conference executive director of ministries. “And we don’t just celebrate the churches who have these things in the 10s, 20s and 50s each year but also the churches who move from zero in these areas to even just one—because ONE matters.  That’s why we’re excited to once again partner with Discipleship Ministries to recognize churches who have done just that.”

Hope began to stir as Pastor Cory led each person in the church to commit to prayer walking a segment of town. With this step of faith, a vision emerged. The image of the church within the community began to change from being a dying church in its last days of life to one that was still alive and vital.

The change became visible when they threw a community party, were intentional about talking to all the guests rather than just each other, and served over 200 sundaes in a community with a population of just over 500!

Center UMC has begun to reach out to families and children, offering a free meal after worship on Sundays, marriage classes on Saturday nights and a children's outreach on Wednesday evenings.  Volunteers drive ten youth to the nearby town of Washburn for a combined youth group on Wednesday nights.   

That original two in worship has grown to 50 in attendance on Sunday mornings.  The congregation celebrated their first baptism after a ten-year drought.  Center UMC has transformed from being a dying church to a place where God's love is felt and seen.  People who visit the church stay because they feel the love of God in that place. 

Board meetings are no longer full of fears of closing.  They have transformed into discussions of how God can use Center UMC to reach the community of Center with God's love and forgiveness. For all of these reasons, the One Matters Award was presented to Center United Methodist Church, at the 24th session of the Dakotas Annual Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota. Photo: Pastor Cory Thrall, Center UMC.