WESTERN, NORTH DAKOTA -- How do you make disciples in the middle of the oil region of western North Dakota? God has inpired the Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church to reach out. The United Methodist presence is growng in the Bakken thanks to converstions at a football game, clergy visits,  and a new chruch service. 

Tri-Church Oil Rush Ministry Fall Mission Gathering held at Prairie Bible Camp

What began as a casual pastoral conversation between drives at a high school football game, ultimately resulted in a successful Oil Rush Ministry Fall Mission Gathering for three North Dakota UM churches.

(Pictured L to R: Pastors Marty Toepke-Floyd and Joddy Meidinger, Kathie and Jim Konsor, Sakakawea District Superintendent Keith Nelson.)

The congregations of Wesley UMC (Edgeley), Zion UMC (Lehr), and Emmanuel UMC (Ashley) gathered recently, not only to hear the Word, worship, and celebrate communion together, (and an obligatory potluck, of course!), but to learn more about the challenges and successes of the Dakotas Conference Bakken Oil Rush ministry in western Dakota country.

Jim and Kathie Konsor, newly minted missionaries to the oil fields, shared an inspirational message about being the “light” to an otherwise dark spiritual environment, which the oil patch region can be for some. “We have to be the light to these folks as Jesus is the light,” said Jim Konsor, as he demonstrated the difference between a weakly lit-battery-nearly-dead flashlight and a powerfully bright spot light.

The gist of Jim's message: Our collective United Methodist presence in the Bakken cannot be a fleeting, flickering light, shining brightly for a moment, then fading away. The residents need a long-term, bright light that will shine for a very long time, if we want to make a lasting spiritual difference in the region.

After the Konsor's inspiring message, which included a musical duet, an offering was gathered. The Spirit of God is alive and well. $4,500 was raised by the three congregations to continue the Konsor’s work!!

Clergy tour Bakken region

The Prairie Harverster Ministry Team; Rev. Jeff Adel, Rev. Bill Hoffman, Rev. Mark Johnsen, and Rev. Kenrad Pederson, spent October 15-17 seeing and learning about the Bakken oil boom in Western North Dakota. "We went to learn, to pray, and to help if we could," said Rev. Kenrad Pderson, Eureka United Methodist Churd.

(Photo by Rev.Bill Hoffman:  Rev. Mark Johnsen helps Jim Konsor with items in the mobile thrift trailer)

Rev. Dan Freed, Dickinson United Methodist Church acted as host and guide. Jim and Kathie Konsor, Dakotas Confence missionaries in Watford City, shared their experiences and plans.

Members of the Priarie Harvester Ministry Team remarked.  "The changes to the area are overwhelming. The traffic, the people, the RVs, the trailers, the man camps, the building, all of it is overwhelming."

As the team visited trailer to trailer at a few of the parks, the question people about where they had come from, about their jobs, what were the major problems, and if members of the clergy team could pray for and with them. The most frequent problems mentioned were housing, loneliness, and exhaustion. Nearly everyone asked for prayers.

There is real spiritual warfare going on in the Bakken. People are up against a proliferation of pornography, human trafficking, greed, drugs, alcoholism, and other issues. Work hours are long and families are often far away.

One trailer/RV park just outside of Watford City has a larger population than Watford City had just three years ago, and there are trailers everywhere you go, whether in parks or yards or just around utility poles.

The visting clergy hope to find creative ways to network people together to address the emotional need of loneliness and to engage the other psychological and emotional needs before we can seriously reach the poulation on a spiritual level.

Members of the Prairie Harvester Ministry Team handed out care kits with cookies, band aids, wipes etc.  As the items were distibuted people were told that these items represented The United Methodist Church and members of the church wanted them to know that we care and that God cares.

"Did we make a difference? Who knows? Konsors are getting known in the community and working with the churches and businesses there. They have good ideas, and are beginning some exciting ministries. The problem is where to start and how to make a real difference," sated Rev. Kenrad Pederson.

Faith UMC in Williston launches new service to reach out

The people of Faith United Methodist Church in Williston, North Dakota are starting a new worship service on Saturday, December 7th at 6:03 p.m.  

The service, which will be every Saturday evening, begins with a meal of soup and sandwiches served by volunteers of the church and ends with a thirty minute contemporary worship service.

(Photo:  The camp of a homeless person outside Faith United Methodist Church in Williston, North Dakota.  Photo submitted by Rev. Mark Britton.)

Though everyone is welcome to attend, this service was designed by Rev Mark Britton, Faith United Methodist Church, as a way to reach out to the hungry and seeking of the Williston community and to give them the hope that can only come through developing a relationship with Jesus Christ.  

"In the year and a half that I have been here, my heart has been broken for those who are living in their vehicles or on the ground of our city.  I knew we, as a church, had to do something to bring hope to those without hope because of their circumstances and felt that the Holy Spirit was calling out for us to be the disciples we are asked to be," said Britton.  Rev. Britton  asks for your prayers as they begin this journey of hope.