Photo: Pastor Holly Sortland baptizes a young girl during Waffle Church.  Sortland baptized seven children and is the 2017 recipient of the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism.  Photo by David Stucke, Dakotas Conference communications associate.

Waffles, syrup, noise, toys, painting, laughter, singing praise to God — that is the happy, chaotic scene on Saturday morning during Waffle Church.  Adults and kids from diverse backgrounds sit down to a warm serving of waffles, worship and the love of Jesus.

Pastor Holly Sortland*, 2017 recipient of the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism,  clearly has a heart for the least, last and lost of God’s people, including developing a strong relational presence with Native people, especially those without a strong faith background, and sharing the good news of Christ with low-income people in the Rapid City area.

To accomplish this God-sized mission of sharing the good news with people living in the margins, Sortland started “Waffle Church” at Rapid City Canyon Lake UMC last summer. People from all walks of life, but especially those the world often ignores or rejects, gather for waffles, for worship, for disciple-making, and fellowship. It is here that the love of God is displayed to those who come through acts of acceptance, inclusion, and kindness.

Pastor Holly is always there to share a smile and enthusiastically welcome and love on the gathered community.  Approximately 50% of the 45 worshippers were previously unchurched.  Many of them are children hearing the stories of Jesus for the first time!  Recently, Sortland baptized seven children, none of whom were infants.

Last winter in Rapid City there was a brutal murder of a young mother. The Saturday following this tragedy, the murdered woman’s eight-year-old daughter came to Waffle Church with her grandmother.  The young girl had never been to church before. Pastor Holly counseled her, loved on her, shared Christ with her and today this young girl attends regularly! In fact, she and her three siblings will be attending Storm Mountain camp this summer – a first time experience for the three children.

Another example of a life changed is the guy who makes the waffles. He was, for many years, a member of a one-percenter motorcycle gang. After doing time in prison, he found his way to Waffle Church, where he now makes the waffles others enjoy.  His conversion to Christ has changed this man from a hard-core gang member to a caring and gentle “waffle maker” who wants to feed the world.

These are just a few examples of how Waffle Church is sharing Christ with the least, last and lost,  and has made a difference in a few people’s lives. Through faith, witness, and love, lives are being changed as they encounter the grace and love of a God who cares intimately for them.

*Pastor Holly Sortland, served at Rapid City Canyon Lake UMC through July 1, 2017, she is now serving at Rapid City South Maple UMC.

Waffle Worship - Making New Disciples from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.