2014-2015 Missional Report by Dakotas Conference UMC

Dakotas Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church

2014-2015 Missional Report

Contents Dakotas Annual Conference: Who we are 3 Journey Toward Vitality 4 LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Building leaders for new churches 5 The Elisha Project 6 Lay Servant Ministry / Certified Lay Ministry 7 Camping strategic shift 8-9 Reaching Youth and Young adults 10

CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT New church starts 11 MCCI year two 12 Breakthrough Workshops 13 Capital Campaign Feasibility Study 14 MISSIONAL IMPACT Bakken Oil Rush Ministry 15 Fall mission events 16 Hands4 Serving 17 Spirit Lake Ministry Center 18 Solar Oven Partners 19 Southeast Pierre Mission Congregation 20 MISSIONAL RESOURCES Apportioned Giving 21 Second Mile Giving 22 Dakotas United Methodist Foundation 23

Dakotas Annual Conference:

Who we are

We are 36,000 United Methodists in 260 churches located in four geographic districts across North Dakota and South Dakota. We are committed to our faith, devoted to outreach, and eager to find and welcome new disciples for Jesus Christ.

We are a growing in worship numbers. Since 2011 the Dakotas Conference is one of the six conferences throughout the United States showing average worship attendance growth. 2011

3.6

Districts

growth 2013

Sakakawea Eastern Sunrise

1.4

growth

2.5 growth

2012

2014

4.3

growth

Prairie Hills Glacial Lakes

2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

We are on a journey together to become a more adaptive, more fruitful, more faithful expression of the kingdom of God. We are passionate about our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world, and our vision is for every congregation to become a vital expression of the scriptural imperatives to grow in love of God and neighbor, reach new people, and heal a broken world. We seek to passionately and respectfully offer Christ in a Wesleyan way that speaks to our cultural contextâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and to ensure that offering Christ is our heartbeat, permeating and shaping everything we do and are. At the core of our journey is an intentional plan focusing on four key ministry pathways designed to increase our ability to fulfill our shared mission and vision. They are:

Journey Toward Vitality 4

Developing Missional Leaders

Equipping Missional Congregations

Extending Missional Impact

Generating Missional Resources

Hundreds of people at all levels across our conference are working together in leadership roles on ministry teams, boards, and committees to support our conference-wide objectives. Our successes are the result of our shared faith and vision. While there is more to be accomplished, daily signs of fruitfulness and Holy Spirit breakthroughs are evident in our congregations, in our districts, and in our conference. Some of them are celebrated in this booklet.

Leadership development

Building leaders for new churches Cathy Townley, a ministry coach from Minnesota, leads the Church Planter Discernment workshop. Eleven people attended the event for current elders, local licensed pastors and laity. The workshop itself was a mixture of learning about what is involved in church planting and the characteristics of an effective church planter—things such as coachability, cultural engagement, and being all in. Participants take a set of inventories to assess their personalities and leadership styles. Following the workshop participants write a self-reflective essay and are interviewed oneon-one by Cathy who then writes up an assessment report for the Cabinet. The idea is to create a “planter pool”—to better understand their gifts as well as affinities so that when opportunities for a new church arise we have a leader who will be effective and a good fit.

11 clergy completed the Church Planter Candidate Assessment in 2015 2015 PARTICIPANTS Chris Chase Charlie Moore l Justin Iverson l Mark Ehrmantraut l Thomas Carlson l Abendengo Thomas l Dan Bader l Ron Johnson l Sara McManus l Katie Rowen l Michelle Slott l l

18 clergy completed the Church Planter Candidate Assessment in 2014

“The Church Planter Candidate Assessment (CPCA) provided me with insight into my comfort, strengths and leadership not only to start a new church but to be a better leader. I now have more knowledge about how I can better serve and go make disciples. “ Rev. Dan Bader First UMC, Pierre, South Dakota. 2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Leadership development

The Elisha Project

The Elisha Project is a college internship program designed to assist young people as they sense God’s call upon their life in a specific way and to help them to discern more fully what God is calling them to do. Internships between interested local churches and college students who have completed at least their first year of school are negotiated with the church, the student, and the Board of Ordained Ministry. The internship is three months in length, usually during the summer. Students receive a stipend of $3,000—$1,500 from the local church and a matching stipend grant of $1,500 from the Dakotas Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. Emma McKirdy 2014 INTERNS

BY THE NUMBERS

3 3 3k $

interns for 2014

months of hands-on experience

stipend for each intern

THE NEED TO DEVELOP FUTURE LEADERS “I was able to spend the summer really discerning where and what God is calling me to do. It was awesome to work with Brandon (Rev. Brandon Vetter) at Fusion. There are a lot of new things happening because the church is so new and reaching out in the community in new ways.” Seth LaBounty, intern Fusion UMC

12.3 percent of United Methodist clergy serving in the Dakotas are under age 40

61.5 percent of Dakotas clergy are eligible to retire in the next 5 years

Valarie Hummel Internship: Harrisburg UMC Home Church: School: Seth LaBounty Internship: Fusion UMC (Mitchell, SD) Home Church: Mitchell First UMC School: Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary Emma McKirdy Internship: Sidewalk Sunday School / Spearfish UMC Home Church: Spearfish UMC School:

Leadership development

Lay Servant Minstry Certified Lay Ministry In 2014-15 the Lay Servant Ministries executive team and our 20 ministry team coordinators sought to contact laypersons from every congregation in our Dakotas Conference in hopes of better serving the call and training needs of the laity. This process has led to the creation of the 2015-16 year-in-advance lay servant training schedule! Our prayer is that this intentional effort will lead to the raising up of our laity in ways that multiply their gifts and graces across the Dakotas! FIRST STEP

Ministry Discernment Retreat One-day workshop to learn basic leadership skills and complete spiritual gifts inventory

SECOND STEP

CHOOSE A PATH THAT MATCHES YOUR GIFTS

Certified Lay Servant Be equipped and inspired to serve as a leader in various ministry areas, such as Christian education, congregational care, hospitality, prayer, mission, and more

Certified Lay Speaker Serve as a trained worship leader and share God’s word through preaching; you may choose to be placed on a published pulpit supply list available to conference pastors

Certified Lay Minister Serve as staff or a volunteer in a specialized ministry in roles such as communications director, music leader, children/youth ministries director, district parish nurse, and spiritual leader of a congregation under oversight of an elder

2014-2015 BY THE NUMBERS

8 62 60 13

discernment retreats offered in the Dakotas laity who attended a discernment retreat laity attended one of the 6 advanced courses offered pursuing certified lay ministry

“I participated in the spiritual discernment retreat. I had an absolutely wonderful time. It is very affirming to find out what your spiritual gifts are and to know this is my purpose and why God put me on the earth, “ Randy Meissner, Mandon UMC, Bismarck, North Dakota 2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Leadership development

Camping strategic shift

The Dakotas Conference ministry, camps and retreats are an integral part of the work to equip local congregations and be a tool for making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. As the Annual Conference seeks to move to align all of the conference initiatives and resources, camp leaders are also called to strategize on how to most effectively provide the camping ministry for the future. With the aid of consultant Jody Oates of Kaleidoscope, Inc. the Board of Camping and Retreat Ministries and the camping staff have been involved in an in-depth evaluation process of the entire camping ministry. Historical and current data were reviewed within the context of the Dakotas Conference Journey to Vitality. USER DAYS FROM 2008-2014

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

Lake Poinsett 4,194 2,940 2,873 3,185 3,702 3,307 3,121 Living Waters 1,688 1,960 1,559 1,597 1,406 1,099 438 Lake Poinsett Total

5,882

4,900

4,432

4,782

5,108

4,406

3,559

Storm Mountain Ctr 6,556

7,299

6,600

7,276

6,697

5,462

6,717

Wesley Acres 3,029 2,718 2,947 2,711 3,021 2,913 2,595 Central Office 2,071 1,177 586 706 709 805 961 TOTAL ALL SITES 8

17,538

16,094

14,565

15,475

15,535

13,586

13,832

Leadership development

The analysis of user days and financial records illustrate the need for further conversation. See the Conference Workbook for a complete summary of the Kaleidoscope report. FINANCIAL VIEW FROM 2009-2015

SITE 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 INITIAL 2015 BUDGET Central Office

$23,263

$15,739

$15,688

$25

$2,266

$30,902

$(4,403)

Lake Poinsett

$(1,515)

$(31,210)

$(31,616)

$(1,662)

$(11,520)

$(116,449)

$(42,396)

Storm Mtn

$94,005

$33,765

$11,141

$34,890

$3,147

$32,722

$32,974

Wesley Acres

$(58,180)

$(76,267)

$(26,563)

$(23,806)

$(58,138)

$(68,345)

$(29,035)

TOTAL

$57,573

$(57,973)

$(31,350)

$9,447

$(64,245)

$(121,170)

$(42,860)

TWO SETS OF STRATEGIC OUTCOMES WERE ADOPTED AS A RESULT OF THE EVALUATION PROCESS. Operating model outcomes:

Ministry Vision outcomes:

1. Develop shared outcomes for the camping ministry across the Conference

Campers will claim and become their best self, claiming Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call on their life. Camp will grow Christian leaders who:

2. Create a staffing model to enact initiatives 3. Focus the operating model and niche of each site 4. Construct a financial model to fund all areas of ministry

Articulate faith

Love and accept everyone

Serve others

Trust God

5. Empower a policy governance board with strategic leaders

2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Leadership development

SEATTLE MISSION TRIP Seattle called out to high school youth and adult youth leaders from the Dakotas Conference to be the hands and feet of Jesus. United Methodist youth and adults from North and South Dakota served ten different agencies and hundreds of homeless and hungry people in the Seattle, Washington region. 96 youth 28 youth leaders 10 agencies served

Reaching youth and young adults The Dakotas Conference is committed to reaching and discipling the next generation. Each year there are a variety of opportunities for youth and young adults throughout the conference to come together to learn and grow in their faith. In 2014 eight Young Adult Ministry grants were awarded to: l

eresford Zion UMC is creating space for young adults and especially young B parents to fill leadership roles in the new AWANA program. nited Campus Ministries at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology U team has developed projects to spread God’s love through a “Spread the Love” campaign of service projects. E mbrace Church launched a third campus at Sioux Falls Seminary called the Summit Ave Campus reaching out to the students on the campus of Augustana College and the University of Sioux Falls. T he Bridge, a ministry of Faith UMC on the campus of NDSU, is reaching out through Bible study and leadership development of a core team. S ioux Falls First UMC, 1st underground, is an offsite worship and bible study experience calling forth young leaders through worship and small group leadership. apid City South Maple UMC volunteers invite the SDSM&T football team to R supper once a month and do a mission outreach activity together. S pearfish UMC plans a monthly worship and service activity with students from Black Hills State University.

Congregational development

New church starts Starting new churches is one of the key ways we reach new people of all ages and life circumstance and connect them with the body of Christ. The Dakotas Conference has 8 faith communities that are in the first seven years of existence. New faith communities must meet specific benchmarks in order to receive continued funding, and the goal is for each of them to become self-sustaining. Here’s a look at the where each of the 8 is now:

YEARS 3-5 YEARS 1-2 l Renew (Kenmare, ND)—vital merger l Embrace Summit Ave (Sioux Falls, SD)— multi-site campus of Embrace Church l Embrace Tea campus (Tea, SD)—multi-site campus of Embrace Church l Embrace Online campus (Sioux Falls, SD)—multi-site campus of Embrace Church

1 Year

2 Year

YEARS 5-7 Embrace Church (Sioux Falls, SD)— New church start 2008, chartered in 2011

E ncounter (Watertown, SD)— A satellite of Cornerstone UMC l Fusion (Mitchell, SD) Collaboration with Dakota Wesleyan University l The Gathering (Fargo, ND)— New church start l

2014 MIRACLE OFFERING LAUNCHES RENEW UMC Kenmare and Donnybrook United Methodist churches are launching a whole new start. Renew, a vital merger received financial support from the 2014 Dakotas Annual Conference miracle offering collected in Rapid City, SD. Community Events Back to School pincic Thanksgiving meal

Monthly family or mission activity Wednesday night worship service & meal

“I never would have thought that people would choose a church because of community outreach and mission, but they do. It is not always about the worship.” Pastor Joddy Meidinger, Renew, Kenmare, North Dakota 3 Year

4 Year

5 Year

6 Year

7 Year 2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Congregational development

Missional church consultation iniative

Originally developed by the West Ohio Conference in 2010, the Missional Church Consultation Initiative (MCCI) resources churches and their pastors with an intensive consultation and clergy coaching model designed to intervene in local churches that are currently plateaued, are in decline, or are on the way “up” but not sure what should come next—and have the pastoral leadership and potential resources to jumpstart a new life cycle of ministry fruitfulness. There are currently ten churches engaged in the MCCI multi-year process.

“The first thing we had to deal with was embracing mission—Making disciples for Jesus Christ. That implies to me focusing on where we are going. We needed to get our road map of where we are going. Our prescriptions help us to do that. One of our prescriptions called for a different leadership team. Another prescription was about a key ministry—youth and children’s ministry. Another prescription was being ready and welcoming for new worshippers. This involves anything from de-cluttering our space to making sure there is a welcoming atmosphere and signage. We also need to invite people in the door of our church. People don’t just walk in the door of a church that invitation needs to be there. “ Kay Braun, Fargo First UMC 12

Year 1 Study Consultation Prescriptions

Year 2 Prescription Leadership Prescription Coaching

COHORT I PARTICIPANTS (2013) F irst UMC, Fargo, ND First UMC, Huron, SD l First UMC, Pierre, SD l First UMC, Sioux Falls, SD l Spearfish UMC, SD

Year 3 Prescription implemented

COHORT II PARTICIPANTS (2014) rand Forks Wesley UMC, ND G Madison UMC, SD l First UMC, Rapid City, SD l Epworth UMC, Valley City, ND l First UMC, Watertown, SD

Breakthrough prayer workshops In 2015, the Dakotas Conference launched the Breakthrough Prayer Initiative training. The six-hour training took place at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota on January 17 and Jamestown First UMC in Jamestown, North Dakota on January 18. Reverend Sue Nilson Kibbey, Missional Church Consultation Initiative, presented the two workshops to over 100 people from 13 different churches. Participants were equipped with tools and resources to practice Breakthrough Prayer in their local churches.

BREAKTHROUGH PRAYER IN ACTION Members at Sioux Falls First UMC have engaged in a prayer initiative called 7:12. At 7:12 a.m. or p.m. members are encouraged to set an alarm on their phones, computers, or clocks to stop and pray. “Often when I am in a meeting at 7:12 p.m. there a lot of phones that start making sounds, reminding us it is time to stop and pray,” said Rev. Bob Ruedebusch, Sioux Falls First UMC. “It is awesome!”

Congregational development

PARTICIPATION BY THE NUMBERS

13 100 2 1,000’s churches

participants

states

of prayers

2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Congregational development

BY THE NUMBERS

360

people gave input through personal interviews and online 40% were laity and 60% were clergy

endorse the initiative More than

1/2

of those returning questionnaires and 75% of those in personal visits said they would make a personal gift.

would welcome the story of the capital campaign to be told in their church

Capital campaign feasibility study Last year, the Dakotas Annual Conference commissioned a feasibility study to assess our readiness for a capital campaign for congregational development—one that would enable us to start new churches, and strengthen existing churches over the next seven years. Tyler Associates conducted the feasibility study, both clergy and laity across the Dakotas participated. The study found that, within the Dakotas Conference, there is significant endorsement of and willingness to participate in the plan presented to start new churches and strengthen existing churches. However, participants also expressed considerable interest in leadership development for clergy. Based on the study’s findings, Tyler Associates recommended moving forward with a campaign—but adding leadership development as a third component of the congregational development plan. Conference leaders affirmed this recommendation and hired Tyler Associates to lead the conference through the campaign.

“Our churches and individual donors will need to see the vision, and then they can get behind it. If the vision is shared well, I believe more than $3.2 million could be raised in the Dakotas.”

“We need our pastors to lead the charge and help the members understand the importance of looking beyond our walls to our greater mission.”

Bakken Oil Rush Ministry

Missional Impact

The Bakken Oil Rush Ministry in Watford City, North Dakota is providing hope. Many people are coming to western North Dakota because they have lost homes and businesses during the recession and had not been able to recover. Others had been through divorce or other personal tragedy. Now they live in the oil region and are lonely but still hopeful to get a new start. This past year Jim and Kathie Konsor, Bakken Oil Rush conference missionaries have reached thousands through the Free Mobile Thrift Store, the Gathering Place and fellowship events.

Items given away

17,058

The Gathering Place:

Fellowship events:

Small groups meet for supper, fellowship time and share a devotional. The devotions are designed to help folks deal with issues that arise from living in the Bakken. Topics include: Maintaining hope in tough times, You are never alone...even when you may think you are.

Picnic in the Park: 200

Gathering Place average attendence: 10 and 12

Spaghetti feeds (3): 125 to over 200

Christmas service & gift giveaway for kids: 95 Nachos & games: 60

Bakken Oil Rush Ministry care·connect·collaborate

Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church

“If it would not be for the Bakken Oil Rush Ministry I do not know what I would have done this past winter. We got coats and warm clothing for the kids. I love Jim and Kathie. They really have helped me and given me hope.” Samantha, from California, mother of 4 preschoolers—living in a camper

2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Missional Impact

Fall mission events

In September 2014 the Dakotas Conference held mission events throughout North and South Dakota—Dakotas Marketplace, Sioux Falls, SD, Mission Fair, Pierre, SD, Party on the Prairie, Minot, ND and Pack the Vans at Bismarck and Fargo, ND.

Total cash receipts from the fall mission events were over

UMCOR kits were also collected at the fall mission events. The total value of the kits collected was $209,000 bringing the grand total for the fall mission events to $280,000. The Dakotas Conference is the largest contributor of mission kits for the UMCOR Depot West in Salt Lake City, Utah.

70,000

Hunger projects from 19 churches received $24,000 as a result of the cash offering from fall mission events.

There were three new grant recipients for Hunger Projects: Community Friendship Meal at Beach United Methodist Church in Howard, South Dakota, Heaven’s Helper Soup Café in Bismarck, North Dakota and Tuesday Morning Breakfast at Watertown First UMC in Watertown, South Dakota. 16

Missional Impact

Hands4Serving

More than 260 people spent more than 1,000 hours being the hands and feet of Jesus on Saturday, September 27, 2014. Volunteers gathered in Fargo, West Fargo, Casselton and Arthur, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota for a morning of service. THE FOLLOWING UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES HOSTED THE EVENT: l

Arthur United Methodist Church

Faith United Methodist Church, Fargo

Casselton United Methodist Church

First United Methodist Church, Fargo

Calvary United Methodist Church, Fargo

F lame of Faith United Methodist Church, West Fargo

race United Methodist Church, G Moorhead, MN T he Gathering United Methodist Church, Fargo

The churches were recipients of a United Methodist Communications’ Rethink Church initiative grant. The grant provides funding for media and marketing to United Methodist districts, conferences and clusters that engage with their community in outreach ministry events. Twenty-seven project sites that volunteers served were: merican Red Cross A l Bonanzaville-Houston House l Casselton Public Library l Casselwood Senior Living Project l Churches United for the Homeless l Dakotas Boys and Girls Ranch – two locations l Fargo area highways - ditch cleaning l Dorothy Day House l Fall Festival at Rheault Farm l Fargo Public Libraries—2 locations l Good Samaritan South l

Growing Together Garden Haiti Solar Oven Partners l Moorhead Pubic Library l New Life Center l Rape and Abuse Crisis Center l Rebuilding Together l Ronald McDonald House l Salvation Army l Yunker FarmChildren’s Museum l Warm Up America l Y WCA Emergency Shelter l l

2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Missional Impact

Solar Oven Partners

2014 proved to be a productive year for Solar Oven Partners (SOP). Since the missionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beginning in 2000, nearly 9,500 solar ovens have been distributed in cities and remote villages across Haiti from Port-au-Prince to Les Cayes. A survey team of four individuals, funded by a grant from the Cora Foundation, traveled with SOP Director Rick Jost and Haitian staff to finish the goal of interviewing another 300 solar oven cooks, for a grand total of 917 interviews since 2012. Women in Haiti reported use of their solar ovens 50% of the time when preparing meals for their families. This translates into a 50% reduction in charcoal demand and use, as well as a 50% reduction in the carbon footprint per each solar oven user!

In 2014, volunteers logged

4,900

3 CONFERENCE SOP PRODUCTION WORKSHOPS: Bread pans in Raymond, SD Reflectors in Moffit, ND l Oven components, packaging in Volga, ND l l

hours towards the production of nearly

1,750

solar ovens.

Missional Impact

Spirit Lake Ministry The Spirit Lake Ministry Center is dedicated to supporting the peoples of the Spirit Lake Nation. The reservation is located in one of the most beautiful parts of the Dakotas just 8 miles south of Devils Lake, North Dakota. The reservation consists of four districts on one half million acres spread across rolling prairie and wooded hills.

IN 2014 AT SPIRIT LAKE: The food pantry distributed in excess of

Provided Shoebox Christmas Gifts for

Provided emergency clothing and temporary housing for

10,000 6,535

in food and met the needs of more than 600 people per month.

T he Sidewalk Sunday School program provides the children of the Spirit Lake Reservation the opportunity to participate in a fast-paced Vacation Bible School program. In 2014, the trailer visited 5 different local communities on the reservation and shared the love of Jesus Christ with more than 300 children each week during a 10week period

children in poverty and need

T he Spirit Lake Ministry Center hosted more than 450 Volunteers in Mission in 2014. The volunteers from across the country built 10 wheel-chair ramps, 2 decks, roofed 5 houses, painted 2 houses, rehabbed 7 houses and provided spiritual fellowship to untold numbers of local residents.

children affected by a life-changing event

osted a back-to-school H bash for the children on the reservation. This free carnival had more than 25 youth and adult sponsors. 300 local children and their parents attended.

T he Spirit Lake Ministry Center began a monthly hot meal program in December with 67 adults and children in attendance. The monthly gathering continued throughout 2015 with a Bible study and conversations of faith.

2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Missional Impact

Southeast Pierre Mission congregation

In 2014, the Dakotas Conference, adopted a new Missional Congregation Support Policy. Southeast Pierre was designated as the first “mission congregation.” Pastor Jeri Burns, Southeast Pierre Mission UMC said, “With the blessing of the Conference in being designated the first mission church in the Dakotas, we are finding new inspiration and renewal. The long-time, can-do spirit of SE Pierre Mission UMC is alive and well.” Southeast Pierre serves many that have struggled to survive and connect, several who are Native American.

PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES: l l

Busy Bees–an afterschool program Clothing and food pantry

l l

Community banquet Puppet ministry

Missional Resources

Apportioned giving

2014 was the first year of the new apportionment formula where churches calculated and sent in 16% of their operating income for apportionments. Our churches have proven their increased commitment to each other and to our mission by their faithfulness.

95.1

3,821,662

of churches participated in apportionments. Up from our average of 92.8%. 2016 APPORTIONED BUDGET Developing leaders (17%)

Cabinet (17%)

Extending impact (27%)

Generating Resources (2%)

eveloping Leaders: Recruiting D and preparing new clergy; Training for current clergy; Life-changing experiences at three camps and at youth events; Helping laity discern and live out their calling. E quipping Congregations: New congregations; Help for existing churches to reach new people and impact their communities.

ALIGNMENT AND AFFORDABILITY

Equipping congregations (9%)

Support Services (28%)

given towards apportionments. This is the highest amount ever.

E xtending Impact: Opportunities for mission work in Haiti and in our Native American communities. The ministry of Africa University; Missionaries around the world. Cabinet and Support Services: The work of our Bishop, District Superintendents, and Conference Staff.

Proposed increase of 1.3 % in 2016--the first increase since 2010. ension and health benefits are 37.9% of total budget. P In the past 50% of budget was for pension and health.

2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

Missional Resources

Second-mile giving Churches give over and above their apportionments to many missions and ministries to which they feel particularly called. Our churches gave $2.2 million to benevolent and charitable causes. The denominational causes receiving the most donations beyond apportionments through our churches include: SECOND-MILE GIVING IN 2014 Top Recipients Given by churches Haiti Solar Oven Project $100,000 Kenmare Vital Merger $180,000 Olson Family $60,000 One Great Hour of Sharing

$39,000

Tree of Life $26,000 World Hunger $25,000 Conference Hunger Projects $24,000 Thanksgiving Appeal (HOPE Center / Ebola)

$16,000TO

TOTAL $2,200,000

Missional Resources

Dakotas United Methodist Foundation The Dakotas United Methodist Foundation serves individuals, local churches, and boards and agencies within the Dakotas Conference by providing resources to help people discover the joy of giving. THE FOUNDATION

FOUNDATION GRANT PROGRAMS Ministry Development Grant Recipients Garden City UMC Beresford Zion UMC l Sioux Falls Wesley UMC l Washburn UMC l Spearfish UMC l The Gathering l Legacy UMC l Lake Preston UMC l Alexandria UMC l l

Invests and manages churches’ endowed and other funds l Provides resources related to planned giving, capital campaigns, and annual budgets l Consults for capital campaigns l

Hosts stewardship seminars Advises on legacy giving—annuity trusts, wills, bequests, etc. l Coaches churches on how to activate and inspire donors l

Bremer Family Mission Grant Recipients BY THE NUMBERS

18.5

313k

M $

assets

distributed to churches, ministries, individuals

243k

investment earnings for churches/ministries

RATES OF RETURN

2014

5-year average

10-year average

Growth Fund 3.36% 7.12% 5.54% Balanced Fund 3.70% 6.27% 4.49%

Jamestown First UMC for the Axis Middle School Program. $500 l Clark UMC for the Tree of Life 2015 Christmas Gifts $500 l Dakotas Conference Camping Program for the “Week of Hope” mission Opportunity in Orlando distributed to various churches with youth participating. $7250 l Ellendale Presbyterian UMC for their work with Feed My Starving Children in an inner city shelter. $500 l Fargo Flame of Faith UMC for the Dominican Republic VIM Journey $250 l

Fixed Fund 6.48% 5.26% 5.34% 2014-2015 MISSIONAL REPORT

1331 W. University Ave., P.O. 460, Mitchell, SD 57301