The long lines, the busy traffic, the waiting for your online order to arrive or the hassle of having to return it—sometimes the rush of Christmas can make us forget the heart of the season: Love made real through the gift of God incarnate. Many of us know someone who has everything they need, someone who says, “Please, don’t buy me more stuff.” What if this Christmas, your gift didn’t fill a shelf—but filled a heart, answered a prayer, or left a lasting legacy?

The Dakotas Conference invites you to celebrate through the Dakotas Alternative Christmas Market—a way to give the love of Christmas in tangible ways. Instead of another sweater or gadget, honor someone you love with a gift that changes lives through one of our Dakotas camps or mission ministries.

Gifts That Keep Giving

When you give through Spirit Lake Ministry Center, you support children and families on the Spirit Lake Nation with clothing, food, and community programs that embody Christ’s compassion. Your gift could mean Vacation Bible School for a child, or a shoebox filled with Christmas gifts or a backpack filled with school supplies for the new year, or the blessing of light construction work that makes a home more livable or accessible.

At Tree of Life Ministry in Mission, South Dakota, your gift becomes a hot meal shared in dignity, groceries for a family in need, or housing repairs for an elder. Each act of love there is a reflection of the Good News that “whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

Through Solar Oven Partners, your gift harnesses the power of the sun to bring sustainable energy and hope to families around the world. One solar oven not only provides a clean way to cook but also reduces deforestation and health risks—a gift that sustains both people and planet. Handmade potholders and pouches for utensils carry the love of Christ from the Dakotas to places around the world.

Bakken Oil Rush Ministry reaches those in the heart of North Dakota’s oil fields who have come seeking work but often find themselves isolated and struggling. Your gift provides warm clothing, English/Spanish language classes, and a community of care in the name of Jesus.

And what better way to honor someone who loves kids and knows the difference camp makes in someone's life and faith than by giving to our United Methodist camps—Storm Mountain Center, Lake Poinsett Camp, or Wesley Acres. These sacred spaces shape young hearts and renew adult spirits. A gift in someone’s honor helps a camper experience God’s creation, grow in their faith in Christ, and discover a lifelong faith community.

A Wesleyan Way to Give

John Wesley taught us that discipleship means not only earning all we can and saving all we can, but also giving all we can. Alternative Christmas giving embodies our Wesleyan call to generosity, stewardship, and love of neighbor. It’s a practical expression of personal holiness and social holiness—faith that takes action.

This is also a wonderful way for Sunday school classes, youth groups, or families to celebrate together. Children can help choose which ministry to support and learn that giving is part of following Jesus.

How to Give

1. Choose your honoree. Think of a friend, teacher, pastor, or loved one who would appreciate a gift that gives back.
2. Select a ministry or camp. Visit the conference website and choose from Spirit Lake Ministry Center, Solar Oven Partners, Tree of Life Ministry, Bakken Oil Rush Ministry, or Dakotas United Methodist Camping (and/or a specific camps).
3. Make your gift and indicate it’s in someone’s honor. Download a printable certificate you can share with your honoree to let them know how their gift is changing lives.
4. Pray for the ministry you’ve supported. Your prayers are part of the gift, too— fueling the work of the Holy Spirit across our Conference and beyond.

A Gift That Multiplies

This Christmas, give a gift that lasts beyond the wrapping paper and ribbons. Give hope, light, and love in Christ’s name. Each gift becomes a ripple of grace—reaching from your home into a life that will be blessed and impacted by these connectional ministries .

As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us.” — 2 Corinthians 9:11

This year, let your giving multiply joy, faith, and transformation—making the incarnational love of Christ a continued reality in the Dakotas and around the world.

Giving Opportunities lists for camps and missions

DAKOTAS UNITED METHODIST CAMPS
*Donations specifically for Camp scholarships can be given through this link as well.

Lake Poinsett Camp
Giving Opportunity List
Amazon Wish List
Storm Mountain Center
Giving Opportunity List
Amazon Wish List
Wesley Acres Camp
Giving Opportunity List
*All donations are tax-deductible. Call toll-free 855-622-1973 to donate by credit card or for more information.

SOLAR OVEN PARTNERS

$60 - A Shipping and Cooking Seminar
$140 - Materials for One Oven
$200 - A Complete Solar Oven Package
$800 - 4 Complete Solar Oven Packages
$1000+ - Impact an Entire Neighborhood!
    The recipients of our solar ovens receive some useful solar cooking accessories. Among these are two items that are sewn by volunteers. Because they are hand-made, oven recipients often applaud and cheer when they see them during our seminars. It means a lot to them that someone thousands of miles away is thinking of them and sending a sign of caring across the miles.
Potholder Pattern
Sewing Instructions for small and large utensil pouches
    Cloth pouches contain four of the oven accessories: the set of measuring cups and spoons, the WaPI, the oven thermometer and the black cloth for bread-baking. These pouches are also a gift to the oven recipient for storage of the accessories or as a little purse. They also allow us to reduce the amount of wasteful plastic baggies we leave behind.
    NOTE: If you sew items for Solar Oven Partners, contact us to determine the best way to get them to us.

SPIRIT LAKE MINISTRY CENTER
*Giving Opportunities for Spirit Lake Ministry Center

TREE OF LIFE MINISTRIES
    (give through the Dakotas Conference ministries page; select Tree of Life)

BAKKEN OIL RUSH MINISTRY
*Giving and Serving opportunities

Outline and draft support for this article provided by ChatGPT, a generative AI writing tool by OpenAI, in conjunction with materials provided from ministry leadership.