Pastor James Konsor, center, and Kathie Konsor, second from right receive the Harry Denman Award. Photos by Joni Rassmussen, jlynn studios.

The 26th session of the Dakotas Annual Conference recognized several individuals and churches for growth in professions of faith, reaching out to youth, and evangelistic efforts to make new disciples. Several awards were handed out at the Dakotas Annual Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota, June 6-8 including Harry Denman Award for Evangelism, One Matters, Multiplication Matters, Youth Hall of Fame, and the Darrel Leach Youth Worker of the Year. 

Denman Awards

The Harry Denman, Evangelism Award program, honors United Methodists in each annual conference whose exceptional ministry of evangelism – expressed in Word (what), Sign (why), and Deed (how) – brings people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.

The 2019 winners for clergy and laity are Pastor James Konsor, and wife Kathie Kosnor, who serve the Bakken Oil Rush Ministry in Watford City, North Dakota.  Andrea Hult, who is a member of the Brookings First UMC and chair for the Conference Council on Youth Ministry, is the youth recipient. 

One Matters Award
 

Rev. Rick Craig and Jodi Cataldo present the One Matters Award.

Several years ago, Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church established the One Matters Award. The award was created to celebrate the importance of baptisms and professions of faith in the life of the church, acknowledging the vital role these steps of faith play in fulfilling our mission to "Make Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World." This award gives special recognition to churches who have moved from years of either no baptisms or professions of faith to at least one—because one matters—one life transformed, one life that matters to God and matters to us. This year, the Dakotas Conference One Matters Award recipient is Colome United Methodist Church. 

Multiplying Matters Award

Multiplying matters because of how it benefits those inside the church as well as how it benefits those outside. Generally speaking, multiplying churches reach new people at a rate greater than churches that try other means. Multiplying matters in the Dakotas as our region grows and continually brings change with each new generation. It matters because there are people in every generation that still do not know Jesus. The Dakotas Conference Multiplying Matters Award was awarded to Chris Chase, who serves Celebrate Recovery and McCabe UMC in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Youth Awards
 

Jerry Simmons, left, is the 2019 recipient of the Darrel Leach Youth Worker of the Year Award. Jerry is pictured with Kara Togel, a seminary student.

The Dakotas Conference Council on Youth Ministry (CCYM) selects the recipients for the Youth Worker Hall of Fame and the Darrel Leach Youth Worker of the Year awards.

The Youth Worker Hall of Fame honors an individual who has committed to serving at least twenty years to Jesus Christ through youth ministry.  The 2019 recipient, Rev. Paul Lint, who serves as the co-director at Wesley Acres Camp and Retreat Center in North Dakota.  Paul has spent more than 20 years at the conference, district, and church levels leading youth ministry.

Jerry Simmons, who serves as a leader in youth ministry at Canyon Lake UMC in Rapid City, South Dakota, is the 2019 recipient of The Darrel Leach Youth Worker of the Year Award. The award honors someone who is currently serving a United Methodist Church in the leadership of youth ministry. "You have made a difference in the lives of youth to grow in their faith and walk with Jesus," said Andrea Hult, CCYM president.

View all of the resources for the 2019 Dakotas Annual Conference here.