The confirmation class includes 7th-12th graders. (picture from Jeanne Sortland)

In rural communities, ministry often flourishes not through abundance, but through collaboration, creativity, and a deep commitment to one another. That spirit is alive and well in Kensal, North Dakota, where a community confirmation class is bringing together youth, families, and congregations across town and county lines in a shared journey of faith.

Last fall, a community confirmation class launched in Kensal, after parents voiced a need they saw: an opportunity for their children to continue their discipleship journey through confirmation. Many of these youth grew up attending the Kensal Community Sunday School, and confirmation felt like the next step. With pastors serving multiple churches across wide geographic areas, offering separate confirmation classes in each congregation simply isn’t always feasible.

When this need was shared with Pastor Jeanne Sortland, she responded with a creative and collaborative solution. Rather than seeing limited resources as a barrier, she saw an opportunity.

The result is a twice-monthly confirmation class open to students in grades 7–12, welcoming youth connected to any of the community’s churches—or those without a home church at all. Although Pastor Jeanne didn’t know some of the youth before confirmation, many felt like they had a connection with the Kensal UMC.

“Most of them say our church is their church because they went to Sunday school there,” said Pastor Jeanne.

Today, the group includes 22 students from Kensal as well as the surrounding communities of Pingree, Carrington, Glenfield, and Jamestown, all gathering in one place to learn, ask questions, and grow together.

“There are a couple moms and they’ve taken charge and make sure somebody brings the food, and there’s typically two adults there other than me,” said Pastor Jeanne, who serves the United Methodist churches in Kensal and Wimbledon part-time.

The class uses the Confirm curriculum from the United Methodist Publishing House, providing a structured foundation in the basics of Christian faith and United Methodist theology. For students who plan to be confirmed in another denomination, any additional requirements are coordinated directly with the pastor of that church—an example of the ecumenical spirit that defines this ministry.

Each denomination has its own confirmation expectations, and Pastor Jeanne is transparent with families about that reality. Still, she sees the community class as a meaningful starting point—one that gives youth a shared grounding in faith while honoring the distinct traditions of their churches.

Kensel (N) community confirmation class. (photo by Jeanne Sortland)

At its heart, the Kensal confirmation class is not just a pastoral effort; it is a team effort. Parents play a vital role, helping with meals, showing up consistently, and participating alongside their children.

“One week I had people come in and talk about when they felt the Holy Spirit was asking them to do something regarding their faith,” Pastor Jeanne shared. “Amanda [Lee] told the story about starting Sunday school, and of course that directly impacted those kids—so they really liked that.”

Amanda Lee is one of the moms who helps with the group and also serves as director of the Kensal Community Sunday School program. For her family, confirmation felt like a natural next step.

“My child has attended the Kensal Community Sunday School program at Kensal United Methodist Church since she was four years old,” Lee said. “Confirmation was the next step in my child’s faith journey.”

Lee has a unique perspective, having taught many of the same students when the community Sunday School program began in 2016. “I enjoy attending the confirmation classes with my daughter to show my support and also be a familiar face the children know in our church,” she said.

She also sees the value of collaboration among congregations. “Having multiple churches involved allows for higher attendance numbers, so children can do group activities and interact with each other,” Lee explained. “Small rural churches often don’t have enough youth on their own for group discussion, games, or engagement. This allows kids to share different experiences and build relationships across congregations.”

The multi-age format—bringing together students from seventh through twelfth grade—has been another unexpected gift. “I’ve noticed how the different ages work well together and help each other in group activities,” Lee said.

For families, the impact extends beyond the classroom. “The confirmation classes have allowed my child to develop questions and encourage discussion at confirmation and at home,” Lee shared. “We’ve had many meaningful conversations as a family, and my child knows that, if she has a hard question that she is working through, Pastor Jeanne has made herself available.”

Kassie Fredrickson, another mom who helps with the group, also celebrates the ecumenical nature of the class. “We believe having a confirmation group made up of youth from multiple churches is beneficial because it allows students to come together to learn about Christianity,” she said. “It demonstrates that people from different church backgrounds can gather, learn, and worship together in a shared faith community.”

Fredrickson noted that students especially enjoy Pastor Jeanne’s engaging teaching style. “Our children have loved hearing her share about the Methodist Church and helping them grow in their understanding of Jesus,” she said, recalling a particularly memorable discussion on Christmas myths and truths during the holiday season.

Games and activities add relational opportunities for the youth. (photo from Jeanne Sortland)

While differences in belief and interpretation can arise, Fredrickson sees those moments as opportunities rather than obstacles. “We feel there are far more joys than challenges when multiple churches come together for ministry, learning and worship,” she said. “While differences in beliefs and Biblical interpretation can present challenges, the shared focus on Jesus’ love and forgiveness is most important. Pastor Jeanne does a wonderful job of bringing discussions back to that simple but powerful message that Jesus loves us unconditionally and offers forgiveness.”

Even as they share in this discipleship journey, there is the hope that this may be a launching point for a future youth group, further strengthening connections among rural youth who often spend hours traveling to participate in activities.

“It is such a joy when children can participate in confirmation in their own small rural community,” Lee added. “So often rural kids are stuck in the car driving 30 miles or more. Being able to offer something right here is a blessing and allows their faith to thrive.”

In Kensal, confirmation is more than a class—it is a testimony to what can happen when churches work together, lay leaders step forward, and communities imagine new ways to nurture faith. It is a reminder that in rural ministry, shared vision and open hearts can make room for something truly life-giving.