The Dakotas Conference established an award to honor individuals and churches who are taking this vision of making disciples and multiplying their reach seriously. The Multiplication Matters Award for 2022 was presented earlier to Dakota Wesleyan University campus ministry and Mitchell Fusion United Methodist Church.  
 

Most would agree, healthy organisms eventually reproduce themselves. They do so to unleash a new generation of vision and vitality into the world.  Churches are no exception.  Churches that give birth to new congregations—who create new spaces for new people—unleash a fresh season of expansion and commitment to connect with new people.  They give room for new leaders to use their gifts with freedom and focus on evangelism. Multiplying matters because of how it benefits those inside the church as well as how it benefits those outside.   Generally speaking, multiplying churches reach new people at a rate greater than churches that try other means. Multiplying matters in the Dakotas as our region grows and continually brings change with each new generation. It matters because there are people in every generation that still do not know Jesus. 

Fusion began in 2011 as a partnership with DWU and Downtown Mitchell First United Methodist Church. The goal of the partnership is to reach young adults who did not have a church home. Fusion features a modern style with a casual atmosphere.

Each week an average of 120 people engage in worship and service to the Mitchell community and beyond. The worship is held at the Sherman Center on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University. 

In November of 2013, a task force of members from Mitchell First UMC and Fusion made a recommendation to the First United Methodist Church Council, that the two groups become independent. The task force worked with Paul Nixon and Emily Reese, consultants from Path 1 of the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD).

 Fusion also has several small groups that happen throughout the week and service projects that happen throughout the community, region, and the world. In the past five years, several individuals who have been involved in campus ministry and/or Fusion have gone on to seminary, pastoral ministry or other significant types of ministry leadership.

“It is an amazing partnership that we plan to nurture,” said Dr. Dan Kittle, president of Dakota Wesleyan University.

Thank you to the Dakotas Foundation for sponsoring the Multiple Matters Award.

Watch a video, from 2014 about the development of Fusion.

Watch a video about the collaboration between the Dakotas Conference and Dakota Wesleyan University.