FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA – Over 260 people spent over 1,000 hours being the hands and feet of Jesus on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Volunteers gathered in Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, Casselton and Arthur, North Dakota for a morning of service to make the communities more beautiful and better places to live.

Photo: Volunteers gather at the Red Cross in Fargo to canvass neighborhoods inviting local residents to have a free smoke detector installed in their home.  Photo by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Conference Communitions.

The following United Methodist Churches hosted the event:  Arthur United Methodist Church,  Casselton United Methodist Church, Calvary United Methodist Church, Fargo,  Faith United Methodist Church, Fargo, First United Methodist Church, Fargo,  Flame of Faith United Methodist Church, West Fargo,  Grace United Methodist Church, Moorhead, MN, and  The Gathering United Methodist Church, Fargo.

The churches were recipients of a United Methodist Communications’ Rethink Church initiative grant.  The grant provides funding for media and marketing to United Methodist districts, conferences and clusters that engage with their community in outreach ministry events.

Making a difference in Fargo and Moorhead

Twenty-seven projects were recipients of over 1,000 hours of service.  The sites that volunteers served were:  American Red Cross, Bonanzaville-Houston House, Casselton Public Library, Casselwood Senior Living Project, Churches United for the Homeless, Dakotas Boys and Girls Ranch – two locations, Fargo area highways - ditch cleaning, Dorothy Day House, Fall Festival at Rheault Farm, Fargo Public Libraries—2 locations, Good Samaritan South, Growing Together Garden, Haiti Solar Oven Partners, Moorhead Pubic Library, New Life Center, Rape and Abuse Crisis Center, Rebuilding Together, Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army, Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm, Warm Up America, and YWCA Emergency Shelter.

Volunteers at the American Red Cross canvassed neighborhoods placing a door hanger at each residence.  The door hanger invited residents to have a free smoke detector installed in their home by the local fire department.

Those working at Yunker Farm were busy cleaning and weeding landscaped areas.  Additionally, volunteers worked on preparing activities for children who will be visiting the Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm this fall.

The shelves in the food pantry at Churches United for the Homeless were stocked. Volunteers sorted through boxes of donations and organized the food donated on shelves.

Making a difference in Arthur and Casselton

Opportunities for volunteering were also available outside the Fargo area. The towns of Arthur and Casselton, North Dakota are approximately 35 miles west of Fargo. 

In Arthur and Casselton, volunteers helped out at the public library and the local senior citizen center.  Another volunteer opportunity was with the Haiti Solar Oven Partners (HSOP), a Dakotas Conference, and Volunteers in Mission project.   

How it worked

Volunteers were asked to sign up for a service opportunity online.  On Saturday morning, September 27 they reported to the site for instructions and then hands on work.

When the work was complete everyone gathered in Fargo for a celebration.  Food, music and fellowship created a festive atmosphere.  Volunteers shared their morning experiences and how the work had touched their lives and the lives of others.

Photos were also part of the celebration.  Participants were able to upload their photos online for others to view. 

Making disciples

Many of the volunteers were invited to participate through the church they attend.  Others heard about the opportunity to serve through local media outlets.

Angie, her husband and three children were among the volunteers. Angie and one of the children volunteered at the Red Cross in Fargo. Two of the children and their father chose the Ronald McDonald house as their project for Hands4Serving. The family is not affiliated with a church. They heard about the Hands4Serving event through television and radio advertisements.

Volunteering has not been a frequent experience for Angie’s family. Her husband had spent some time volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House. He wanted to volunteer because as a child he had received assistance from the Ronald McDonald House.

After hearing the ads and talking it over, the family signed up. “We wanted our kids to know that it isn't always about them. Life is about helping others," said Angie.  

Click here to learn more about Hands4Serving.  Rethink Church is part of United Methodist Communications. (Photos by Dave Stucke, Dakotas Annual Conference)