Deb Glennen and Don Miller, owners of Dakota Don's Artisan Waffles (photo from Dakota Don's website)

The perfect recipe takes the right ingredients, some patience, and an end goal in mind: a beautiful dish that delights everyone who partakes.

It’s even more beautiful when God uses the different “ingredients” in our lives to create a “recipe” that helps us live a calling—one that glorifies God and blesses others.

Such is the story of Don Miller and his wife, Deb Glennen – members of Zion United Methodist Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota.  After Don retired from the University of North Dakota, he leaned into his love of waffle-making, intent on discovering the perfect recipe mix. A few years later, after Deb retired, they launched Dakota Don’s Artisan Waffles.

“Don said, 'If you're gonna be in my space, you need to be my partner,'” laughed Deb.

“I could not do it without her,” said Don. “This is a team effort.”

But this wasn’t just a hobby to occupy their retirement or supplement their income. The goal of Dakota Don’s is bigger than that.

“It's God-inspired, and it's purpose-driven,” explained Deb. “Our theme was to get these wonderful waffles to the masses. But the reason for doing that would be to make some money to give away. Our goal was that we'd keep 10% and give 90%."

Reflecting on their journey, it is clear how God used people, experiences, and talents as a recipe for a unique calling.

Don started making waffles over 35 years ago.

“Don’s spiritual gift is waffle-making,” said Deb.

His gifting was spurred on by his heart for hospitality. Don and Deb had invited friends to stay at their cabin with them and needed something to serve for breakfast. He quickly discovered that the existing waffle recipes left a little to be desired.

Deb Glennen invites everyone to have a waffle each Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Deb Glennen.

“I tried a couple of standard [waffle] recipes, and I kind of went, I can do better than this, you know?” recalled Don.

Interestingly, it would be his experiences in academia that would provide the necessary “ingredients.” Before his retirement, Don taught ceramics in the art department at UND – a job that called for curiosity and a knack for experimentation.

“There's glaze calculation in the clay, blending all kinds of stuff in that situation,” said Don.

“He's kind of a chemist. He's done ceramics and formulas. So, that was all a part of his life,” described Deb.

Don brought his passion for finding the right “formula” to his waffle-making.

“It just started with that, and at some point, the recipe I was experimenting with got a little lighter, and kind of nice and crispy,” he added. “Things like that just reveal themselves.”

The results of the experimentation were a hit.

“He was famous for this waffle recipe,” said Deb. “They are special. I never liked waffles until I met him. They were just so exceptional.”

Don was part of a men’s gourmet group for several years and learned culinary skills—another ingredient God used for his calling.

“Four or five of us would get together once a month and cook a meal,” Don shared. “That fostered my creativity and my enjoyment of cooking. I also enjoyed being with people and making something like that.”

Dakota Don's Facebook page provides tips for making the perfect waffle. (photo from FB page)

Don realized he could use his love of cooking and waffles to bring people together.

“He would use it with his students and his classes at the college. He would have students over to our house,” shared Deb. “He used it in a very fellowship way from day one.”

“Waffles are a party. Pancakes are just a food,” added Deb.

As Don entered retirement, the Spirit began to stir in him—how might God be calling him to use this niche passion for something greater?

“People said I should start a restaurant, and the last thing I wanted to do was run a restaurant,” shared Don.

But he wanted to share what he had found to be a culinary joy and a connecting opportunity. Beyond that, Don and Deb also knew God was calling them to use this gift for a greater purpose: generosity and impact – something they believed selling waffle mix could achieve.

Inspired by their daughter, who is on the autism spectrum and now lives independently in Minneapolis with support, Don and Deb wished to provide scholarships and support to the school and support community that made such a positive impact on her life, hoping others could benefit as well.

Don and Deb’s heart for giving extends beyond the school into multiple organizations that help vulnerable adults, including Habitat for Humanity and a local refugee resettlement organization in Grand Forks that previously operated out of Zion UMC.

Their generosity soon found another outlet at Zion, where a new opportunity emerged: Waffle Wednesday. This ministry has become a welcoming doorway for many people, including families bringing their children to the church daycare.

“It's just a way of reaching people and showing love,” said Deb.

Deb plays a key role in helping people experience this incarnational love and welcome.

“My lovely spouse became our spokesperson,” said Don. “We have a waffle costume.”

Where to find Don's waffle mix (Photo from Facebook page)

If you drive by Zion UMC on Wednesdays, you can see Deb outside welcoming people to Waffle Wednesday. For Deb, the waffle costume opens the door for relationship.

“When I started doing that, it was only the costume. There was no other way you could connect. Now I'm out on the street, and I just get so much love,” said Deb.

Relationships have been a key ingredient to living this calling. Since neither Don nor Deb had a business background, they began reaching out for help wherever possible. They connected with people at UND, fellow church members, and an organization called SCORE, which matches retired businesspeople with small business owners like Don and Deb for free mentoring. Through monthly meetings with their mentor, they received support and accountability, helping them chart this course.

“God brings the right people to us. It's amazing,” said Deb.

Even as they use the ingredients God has given them to create the recipe for this chapter, they know that following God’s lead will mean continuing to discern God’s call in each chapter of life.

“We just have to rely on God to bring the right people to us and work out each little piece as we go,” they explained.

In the meantime, they remain grateful for the chance to bless others with the gifts they have been given – something that will hopefully inspire others to do the same.

“People think the things that they do can be really small. This could have been nothing more than, every once in a while, Don makes waffles for the family. But it just grew to such incredible proportions because he put it out there,” reflected Deb.

The right ingredients – experiences, connections, faithfulness, and a willingness to say yes to what God might be calling us to – plus some patience and perseverance, and an end goal to care for others. A recipe that has—and will continue to—bless and delight so many!

Do you know someone who is living out their calling in a unique way? We would love to hear their story! Email the Dakotas Conference Communications team today!