Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these…” (John 14: 12,NRSV).

Dakotas United Methodists have been living the incarnational love of Jesus Christ, working to bring healing to a hurting world. Even as seek to offer that grace to others, we know we need the Good Shepherd—the Great Physician—to offer that continual healing to us.

More than 500 people viewed to the 2021-2002 Missional Report as part of the opening plenary session of the Dakotas Annual Conference in Bismarck, North Dakota. Participants heard that:

· More than $50,000 was raised as a part of our 2021 Annual Conference Miracle Offering. This money was shared between Feeding SD, Great Plains Food Bank, and Conference grants to address hunger needs.

· Fourteen seminary students received $93,000 in scholarship assistance from the Dakotas Methodist Foundation.

· The Dakotas Conference paid their General Church apportionments in full to support ministries around the world.

· The Dakotas-Minnesota Area also received an additional $500,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment to expand the efforts for clergy wellbeing.

· More than 30 people took part in lay discernment retreats to explore God’s calling on their lives.

· Youth are growing as followers of Jesus whether it be at with 245 youth and adults attending DakYouth 2021.

· God keeps calling people into pastoral ministry, with 11 new individuals taking that step this past year.

As we look to the year ahead, one that will be filled with unknown peaks and valleys, may we remain open to the shepherd’s leading. May we find rest beside still water so that we will not grow weary of doing good. May we recommit to sharing the goodness and mercy we have found in Jesus Christ with people across the Dakotas and around the world.