Solar oven training in Taile, Arizona, August 20-21, 2024. Photos courtesy of SOP Facebook page.

Solar Oven Partners (SOP), a ministry of the Dakotas Conference, has been changing lives for over 23 years by providing innovative solar ovens and training to impoverished families worldwide. As lives and families are transformed, the story of SOP also continues to evolve.

Even as we grieve the sudden, unexpected loss of executive director Christopher Sylvah last month, the seeds he planted and nurtured continue to bear fruit. The life-sustaining ministry of SOP moves forward, while the search is on for the next executive director.

In late August, a mission trip to the Navajo Nation that Christopher had prepared forged ahead. Our siblings in this community and region, spanning from Arizona and New Mexico, suffer food and energy scarcity, similarly to the people in the other areas SOP serves –the Dominican Republic and Sierra Leone in West Africa.

SOP Volunteer Paul Hilgedick led the group of volunteers to Chinle and Tsaile, Arizona.

Solar ovens were distributed in Tsaile, Arizona, and volunteers led a two-day cooking seminar. Paul Hilgedick, a long-time SOP volunteer from Huron, South Dakota, led the team, assisted by local coordinator Debra Yazzie, of Four Corners Native American Ministry (UM Advance). Paul said important contacts were made and strengthened, and some promising new partner locales for the SOP ministry were identified.

As the trip got underway, Debra said via Facebook, "We had a great first day of the SOP solar oven seminar held in Tsaile, Arizona! Never underestimate the sheer power of the sun to cook food in these tremendously efficient solar ovens in a short time period. The materials, design and concept are certainly blessed.”

Volunteers are integral to the mission and ministry of Solar Oven Partners. Individuals and groups can serve at one of the three SOP workshops in the Dakotas to craft and ship solar oven components. Volunteer groups can also travel to the distribution sites, working side-by-side with oven recipients to assemble their new ovens and prepare nutritious food.

Speaking about the current and future plans for SOP, Al Roll, Missional Impact Development Coach for the Dakotas Conference, said, "SOP had planned some trips in November for the Dominican Republic and maybe even Sierra Leone, but we're delaying all those trips until next year.”

A large group is gathered to see the ovens during a past SOP mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

Roll added that SOP needs help finding enough volunteers for the distribution and teaching trips. To make it easier for volunteers to find the time to participate, the board is considering offering shorter volunteer trips (7-8 days) to some of their distribution sites. The team leaders would be on-location for the entire time to ensure continuity, but the shorter stay for each volunteer group could allow increased participation.

Roll explained, “We want to really focus on the connections within our local churches in the Dakotas, but also in Minnesota and potentially Iowa, to broaden our volunteer base as well as our donor base."

Support for Solar Oven Partners from across the United Methodist connection is vital and valued. As a new executive director is brought on board, the vision to provide families with this powerful tool for healthy cooking and water pasteurization can continue to thrive. 

Right now, if you would like to help in a quick but significant way, you can share the executive director position opening announcement and the job description at your church or on social media. Solar Oven Partners also appreciates your prayers as they discern who God is calling to lead the next chapter of this important ministry.

The Mission of Solar Oven Partners is:

• Establish long-term partnerships with communities having a high degree of economic deprivation and environmental degradation to form communion, deepen understanding, and create opportunity for impact.
• Construct and distribute solar ovens and educate on their use and care in partner communities.
• Improve community well-being for partners:
  • Physically – better health and greater personal safety
  • Economically –cost savings and income opportunities
  • Environmentally – improved air quality and reduced deforestation
  • Spiritually – increase awareness of and relationship with Jesus Christ