New City Church offers invitation and encouragement on social media. (photo from NC Church FB)

“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 calls the Church to a faith that moves toward neighbors in times of hardship.

Through the Micah 6:8 Justice and Mercy Fund, established by the Dakotas and Minnesota Methodist Foundations, United Methodists across the Dakotas and Minnesota are coming together to help congregations respond quickly and faithfully when crisis arrives.

One of those places where that support is at work is New City Church, a United Methodist congregation rooted in the Powderhorn neighborhood of Minneapolis. The church’s building near Lake Street is in a diverse neighborhood of white, Black, Native, Latine, and Asian populations, many of whom are immigrants. When Operation Metro Surge, a federal immigration enforcement initiative in the Twin Cities, brought heightened federal immigration enforcement to the neighborhood, fear settled over the sidewalks and storefronts overnight.

Operation Metro Surge created significant barriers for the numerous food ministries that operate out of New City's building. They saw the number of people coming in person drop from the hundreds to fewer than a dozen in a single week. “We saw families in our community make the hard decision to stay locked in their homes,” said Rev. Tyler Sit, pastor of New City Church. “So the people who minister out of this community are literally going to people’s doors to deliver food that they otherwise wouldn’t have.”

INFRASTRUCTURE THAT BECOMES MINISTRY

Through the Micah 6:8 Fund, New City received an immediate grant to help make that shift possible. Donor gifts are funding a portion of the “behind-the-scenes” infrastructure that keeps this ministry going: sturdy shelving that won’t buckle under the weight of expanded food supplies, new electrical work and a sub-panel, and commercial refrigerators and freezers. “Plans are in place for more than 400 families to receive weekly deliveries of food and household goods,” Tyler explains. “This is above and beyond the ministry that was already happening in our building.”

New City Church, Minneapolis, MN (photo from Rev. Tyler Sit)

It may not look exciting, but it changes what ministry can be. “For me, that feels sacramental,” Tyler said. “That feels like communion—where we’re offering people literal bread that reminds us that we’re all part of the body of Christ.” The ability to store and organize more food means volunteers and partner organizations can pack boxes efficiently, load vehicles, and knock on doors with confidence that there will be enough to share.

TIME, PRESENCE, AND HEALING

The grant has given Pastor Tyler and other leaders time and presence. “This grant made it possible so that instead of spending time researching how I can fundraise, that’s time I was able to spend with community members at a vigil, or providing pastoral care,” he said. “In moments of crisis like these, time and resources are scarce, and every dollar makes a difference.”

New City is located within a mile of where both Renee Goode and Alex Pretti were killed. The neighborhood reminders of their tragic deaths created clarity for Pastor Tyler. “I saw how, through ritual, through worship, through connection to sacred text, through the grace of Jesus, we were able to minister to people—by convening people, feeding people, worshiping with people, and having healing spaces for people,” he reflected. These are all vital steps in healing from trauma.

A LIVING CONNECTION ACROSS CONFERENCES

QR code to donate to the Micah 6:8 Fund.

In this ministry moment, Pastor Tyler is reminded of the gift of being part of a connectional church. “In this religious moment in United States history, denominations are often talked about as antiquated or declining,” he said. “But it’s grants like Micah 6:8 that remind me the exact opposite is true. The connection that we have through our denominational entities, through the spiritual lineage of our faith, is something that can be activated to address the pressing needs and concerns of our communities. It reminds me why it’s so important that we all lean on the connection that we have as United Methodists.”

To donors across the Dakotas and Minnesota who have given to the Micah 6:8 Justice and Mercy Fund, Pastor Tyler offers deep gratitude and a wider vision. “It’s important that we champion the story of God's love in the midst of all of this,” he said. “You’re not just sending a check. You’re reinforcing a relationship—a relationship of care, faithfulness, and investment. Today, you’re responding to what’s happening in Minneapolis. Tomorrow, we will be responding to another crisis across the area. Together, we’ll create a network of resilience and response that will allow God’s peace to minister to our communities and world.”

In the quiet hum of new freezers, in boxes of food carried up stairways, and in healing circles where neighbors share what they’ve endured, Micah’s ancient words are coming to life again: doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God—on Lake Street, and across our conferences.