Team members pray over items that will be sent out to those in need (photo from Cynthia Nelson)

For members of Asbury United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, mission is more than simply sending a check or collecting supplies. It means putting faith into action — sharing their gifts to be the hands and feet of Jesus and working alongside others to meet needs in the name of Christ.

That commitment took nine Asbury members to the Midwest Mission Distribution Center (MMDC) in Jefferson, Iowa, for two days of hands-on service this past summer. MMDC is an affiliate warehouse that supports the work of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). The trip was another step in a growing partnership between Asbury and MMDC.

“By participating in the trip to Midwest Mission Distribution Center at Jefferson, IA, one realizes how all the donations that Asbury UMC and other churches have collected are used,” said team member Kathleen Nagel. “Items are sent to numerous locations, and we were a part of making that possible.”

Putting Resources to Work

Midwest Mission Distribution Center is a partner ministry of UMCOR. The mission of MMDC is “Bringing the hearts and hands of God's people together to transform resources into humanitarian relief.” For the Asbury team, that mission became tangible through a variety of projects.

Volunteers checked student kits that had been assembled by youth at a church camp, taking apart and inspecting each kit to make sure it contained the appropriate supplies before boxing it for shipment. They assembled feminine hygiene kits and Personal Dignity Kits, sorted donated school supplies and cut fabric for feminine hygiene pads and one-handled bags.

Other volunteers worked in areas that matched their particular skills and interests, including refurbishing old tools and working in the bike shop.

“There are jobs for everyone,” said Cynthia Nelson, who helped organize the trip. MMDC staff tailor projects to a group's abilities and interests, making the experience accessible to people with a wide variety of skills and physical abilities.

MMDC offers team members a variety of ways to serve (photo from Cynthia Nelson)

That flexibility also makes MMDC an opportunity for churches to involve different generations in mission. Asbury has taken both youth and adults on previous trips and plans to return again.

Seeing the Connection

For several members of the July team, the trip was their first mission experience of this kind.

Nancy Gallegos said she found the experience more enjoyable than she expected.

“I was impressed at how organized the whole thing was,” she said. “I feel that we got a lot done in the time spent there. AND we had fun and ate very well. I’m looking forward to going again sometime.”

For Nagel, the experience offered a new perspective on everyday items that can easily be taken for granted.

“It’s rather humbling to see the many needs of others; things that we take for granted like a bar of soap and a hand towel,” she said.

The mission trip also strengthened relationships within the Asbury congregation.

“Going on this mission trip brought together different members of our congregation,” Nagel said. “I learned more about them and heard some interesting and humorous stories. It was a bonding experience and a fun trip!”

For Roberts, who was also participating in his first mission trip, the experience prompted reflection on the abundance of resources in the United States and the opportunity to put those resources to use for others.

He was impressed by “the incredible job Midwest Missions does to gather this stuff and redistribute it to those in need.”

For Asbury, that is an important part of what it means to be the Church: connecting people, resources, and compassion so that practical acts of service can make a difference far beyond the walls of a local congregation.

MMDC provides a different items to individuals and communities in need. (photo from Cynthia Nelson)

A Partnership That Keeps Growing

Asbury's relationship with MMDC began three years ago, after the Jefferson facility opened only about three and a half hours from Sioux Falls.

Nelson and her husband, Jeff, made an initial visit to work at the center and become familiar with its ministry. “Asbury has a long history as a mission-minded church,” Nelson explained. “When MMDC opened their center in Jefferson, IA, we saw an opportunity to once more provide hands-on mission experiences for our congregation.”

Since then, Asbury has organized multiple mission trips, including a youth-and-adult trip and an additional adult trip last fall.

The congregation's involvement extends well beyond traveling to Jefferson. Asbury serves as a Permanent Collection Site, helping other churches and individuals get donated items to MMDC. This brings the larger United Methodist Connection closer to the people of the Dakotas Conference, helping our donations get to the people and places that need them.

“Our partnership with MMDC allows us to make a difference in the lives of those in need around the world and around the corner, opportunities to be in mission locally and globally – through monetary donations, hands-on projects and mission trips,” added Nelson.

An Invitation to Get Involved

Asbury's experience offers an invitation to other United Methodist congregations: mission doesn't have to begin with a complicated plan or a long-distance journey.

Churches can organize a mission trip to MMDC, where volunteers work Monday through Thursday in morning and afternoon shifts. The center can accommodate up to 12 volunteers per shift and offers a variety of projects. Groups can arrange lodging in Jefferson and bring lunches to eat on site.

But traveling to Jefferson isn't the only way to participate.

Churches can collect items such as used sewing machines, medical supplies and equipment, fire gear and equipment, and used school supplies. Congregations can organize Rice and Soy Blessing Bag packing events or assemble kits such as Student Kits and Personal Dignity Kits.

Individuals can also serve from home by making one-handled cloth bags, baby sweaters, quilts, or reusable feminine hygiene pads. Churches can even set up a loom and weave sleeping mats from plastic bags for distribution locally or through MMDC. More information about volunteer opportunities, kits, at-home projects, and other ways to participate is available through the Midwest Mission Distribution Center.

For churches interested in exploring a partnership or planning a volunteer trip, MMDC's Volunteer Coordinator, Kirsten Carman, can help groups get started at kirsten@midwestmission.org or call 515-370-1274.

As Nagel reflected on her experience, she offered an encouragement that may resonate with any congregation looking for a way to put faith into action: “I would recommend it to others. It warms the heart to be a part of a group that is fulfilling God’s commandments.”