United Methodists across the Dakotas are seeking to be the hands and feet of Christ during the pandemic outbreak. Help us rally the spirit of compassion and impact. Join the COVID Compassion Campaign: Be the Light, Live Hope! “Let us consider how we might spur one another on to love and good deeds!” (Hebrews 10:24) We are better together!

Already congregations are reaching out by sewing 250 masks, feeding 100 families, and showing compassion by phoning more than 1,000 people each week. Here are the details about three ways churches are living out the COVID Compassion Campaign: Be the Light, Live Hope!

Making Masks at Spirit Lake

Spirit Lake Ministry Center, on the Spirit Lake Nation in North Dakota, is reaching out to their community through their congregation, The Journey @ Spirit Lake. “We purchased three sewing machines, fabric, and needed supplies to make face masks for our local community,” says Pastor Mike Flowers, who serves the congregation.

Libby Flowers, co-director at Spirit Lake Ministry Center, along with two other members of the congregation, have been working diligently to create enough masks for everyone in the congregation and for people in the local community.

Karen, one of the members of The Journey @ Spirit Lake who is sewing, says,  "I like to sew and I enjoy having something to do while we try to stay safe and healthy at home." June, the other member of the congregation who is sewing, says, "I enjoy having something  to keep my mind off other things."

So far, 250 masks have been made and 200 masks distributed. The plan is to keep making them as long as there is a need. 

“I think this is a great way to reach out to others in our community and show them the love of Jesus Christ. I am so very proud of our congregation and the way they think of others during this time of crisis,” says Pastor Mike. 

To learn about this project and sewing masks, contact Mike or Libby Flowers.

Fusion and Downtown Mitchell First host Hamburger Helper distribution

It started with a generous donation of 100 pounds ground beef from a donor, who is a member of Fusion in Mitchell, South Dakota. The gift was great, but Fusion did not have a place to store the meat. So, the congregation reached out to Downtown Mitchell First UMC, to see if there was some freezer space available at the church.

It grew from there— members of the two congregations got together to pair the ground beef with boxes of Hamburger Helper. Within 24 hours, 150 boxes of Hamburger Helper and an additional 50 pounds of ground beef were donated, and the distribution was announced. 

Volunteers gave away ground beef and boxes of Hamburger Helper, in bags, to families as cars drove-up. The distribution will continue until supplies are depleted.  

To learn more about setting up a similar type of food distribution, contact Downtown Mitchell First or Mitchell Fusion. 

Watertown First UMC shares compassion through phone ministry

How do you keep in touch with people who are not on social media or do not have or want access through internet technology? The members of First United Methodist Church in Watertown, South Dakota, are connecting through phone calls.

A team of 25 volunteers have divided a list of contacts and are calling 130 people each week.  That is outreach and connection to more than 1,000 people. The ministry is called “Calling Friends.”

“It is a ministry that did not exist before the COVID outbreak,” says Pastor Sara Nelson, who serves at First UMC in Watertown. “It is a great way to be blessed and be a blessing to others. Volunteer callers listen and encourage people. I love to listen to the stories of the callers. I keep in contact with the volunteers.”

When a caller learns about a need, they connect them to a resource at the church, such as someone to pick up groceries or a prescription. Sometimes there is a need to connect people with support in the community.

“We are connecting and building deeper relationships with people through this ministry,” says Nelson.

To learn more about setting up a phone ministry, contact Rev. Sara Nelson at 605-882-4427 or e-mail.