The Dakotas Conference is living out God's Mission, Our Vision--Unleashed

That’s the message that Rev. Ray Baker, chair of the Common Table and Rev. Rebecca Trefaz, Director of Ministries gave to members of the 22nd Annual Conference Session. The message was carried throughout the day as the Common Table reported on the progress that has been made and highlighted the 2014-2015 Missional Report.

Conference attendees learned how local church's have unleashed the power of God's love in their communities. They learned how the Dakotas Conference is one of the largest contributer of mission kits to UMCOR depot west and collects thousands of dollars for missions each year at fall mission events. They learned that the churches in the Fargo area impacted 50,000 lives in one day through an event called Hands4Serving. Attendees learned about how Spearfish UMC purchased an elementary school building and connects with children and families. They learned that the Minot area churches sew up lots of love and feed the hungry. They learned that Mitchell Area First UMC has spread love to their community through a warm meal served at the church or delievered to your door through Love Feast.  They learned that the People Against Child Hunger (PACH) program started with a few in the First United Methodist Church in Watertown serving 80 kids each weekend to serving over 500 children per week. (Watch this year’s missional report video to learn more about these projects.)

They learned that we are healing a broken world in a wide variety of ways (see printed missional report for more details). Other highlights celebrated during a look back over the past year:

Thrive: Hope for Today, Strenth for Tomrrow: The results from a capital campaign feasibility study were shared, there is an significant endorsement of and willingness to participate a capital campaign for a congregational development plan over the next seven years.  Thrive: Hope for Today, Strength for Tomorrow was launched with beginning pledges of $2.2 million. (Watch a video to learn more.)

MCCI: Ten churches are currently engaged in a revitalization process—Missional Church Consultation Iniative. These churches have all said “yes” to starting a new lifecycle of vitality and are working to position themselves for growth in number, spirituality, and community impact.

Generous givers: Through their generosity, Dakotas United Methodists have collectively enabled vital mission through donations of over $2.2 million. Denominational causes receiving the most donataions include: $100,000 to Solar Oven Partners, $180,000 to Renew, Kenmare, North Dakota, and $1,700,000 in giving over and above apportionments to other causes—including $125,000 to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, which brings hope and assistance to places impacted by natural disasters. Thank you for your generosity!