SPIRIT LAKE NATION, N.D. — About 660 cookies, some hugs and lots of caring were part of the worship and outreach at Spirit Lake Ministry Center. Rev. Mike and Libby Flowers, co-directors at Spirit Lake Ministry Center have started a worshiping congregation.

Photo: A member of Spirit Lake congregation puts cookies in the oven to make 660 cookies for the elders. Photo by Mike Flowers.

“A few weeks ago I was preaching on missions during our weekly Sunday evening service,” said Rev. Flowers. “In the middle of my sermon, a member raised her hand and asked, 'Can we do that?' I was a little surprised and asked what she meant. She said, 'Can we do a mission?' I asked her what it would look like if we did a mission and she said, 'Can we help our elderly?' So right then and there, we planned to bake cookies and deliver them to the elderly centers here on the reservation and in the town of Devils Lake.”

The congregation went to work and baked the cookies during the next family night and made plans to take them to the elderly centers on that Saturday. They baked 660 cookies and let the children decorate them.

Photo: Lots of hands were on deck to bake 660 cookies for the elders at Spirit Lake. Photo by Mike Flowers.

The next step was to visit the elderly centers on the Spirit Lake Nation and in Devils Lake to deliver the cookies and visit with the residents. After some issues with vehicles the cookies were delivered.

“Our next mission will be a Christmas caroling trip during to the elderly centers where we will sing and deliver home made fleece tie blankets for each elder. We are so proud of this young congregation,” said Flowers.

The congregation at Spirit Lake began worshipping on Easter Sunday of 2016.  They have taken it upon themselves to make a difference in their community and the surrounding area.

Photo: A young member of the Spirit Lake congregation delivers cookies to one of the elders. Photo by Mike Flowers.

One-half of Bishop Ough’s 2016 Thanksgiving Appeal is dedicated Spirit Lake and Tree of Life Ministries, that minister to the spiritual and humanitarian needs of our brothers and sisters of the Spirit Lake and Rosebud nations.  Click here to learn more about the 2016 Thanksgiving Appeal.

Spirit Lake Ministry Center from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.