If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.” Luke 16:10

Washburn UMC, Dakotas Conference file photo.

Washburn United Methodist Church in North Dakota is a small church, located in the Northwest part of the state, where 40-50 people worship each Sunday. In less than a year, the church has raised $14,000 for the community and invited the community to be part of meeting various needs throughout Washburn, ND.

“We are inviting people to join us in caring for the community,” said Rev. Annie Carlson, Washburn UMC.

The congregation gives back to the community financially by utilizing a portion of the earnings from an endowment fund established by generous donors. The funds are invested with the Dakotas Methodist Foundation. Investing with the Foundation has provided Washburn UMC with greater earning power and increased management and oversight of the funds.

“We have promised our generous donors that we would invest a certain amount into the community. Thanks to wise management, we can give back. It is our call to give back,” said Carlson.

The first project, a true turning point, was for the local library. The library needed funds for the summer reading program for children and youth. One member of the congregation requested $500 from the endowment fund earnings for the reading program. Rev. Annie Carlson, Washburn UMC, loves reading and libraries. She urged the congregation's leadership to lean into an invitational opportunity.

“We could just write a check, but who would know? I challenged them to think about how we could invite others in the community to assist with the need,” said Pastor Annie. “How could we invite the community to learn about the library, the summer reading program, and help? That is how it all got started.”

The congregation’s leadership team decided to do an upscale taco bar. Funds from the endowment supported the costs for the taco bar, a book to give to each child who attended, and a bookmark for each adult.

Pastor Annie shared, “It was a way for people to learn about what the library is all about and give back. The taco bar, which was really upscale, raised $2,400. We turned $500 into $2,400!”

After the library fundraising experience, people in the congregation began to ask, “What is next? Who else can we help?” The congregation was inspired to identify other needs throughout the community and invite others to help.

Photo from Facebook.

The Washburn Ambulance Service is primarily staffed by volunteers. It is a service that provides pre-hospital care to major trauma centers miles away. There was a need to purchase a Lucas device to assist with CPR compressions.

“It is a 45-minute drive to Bismarck, the nearest trauma center. That means that it would take five different shifts of people to do CPR compressions. It is just not possible to do that with volunteers,” explains Pastor Annie. “The device will do the compressions automatically and free up the people to pay attention to other medical needs and communication with the trauma center. To receive grant funds for the device, there needed to be matching funds.”

Washburn UMC held a soup-and-sandwich luncheon to raise funds for the matching funds. Members of the congregation provided different kinds of soups and desserts. Meats and sandwich fixings were purchased with funds from the Washburn UMC endowment.

“We decided to host the fundraiser on a Monday because the local café is closed. In the two-hour timeframe, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., we raised $4,000 for the ambulance service. It was just a free will offering,” shares Pastor Annie.  

The population of Washburn is 1,500. Volunteers on the ambulance service know the people they are serving. Serving your friends, family, and neighbors can take an emotional toll on the crew members. The ambulance crew expressed gratitude for the fundraiser.

“You really don’t know what this means for the ambulance crew,” said one of the members of the Washburn Ambulance Service. “We question ourselves when we lose someone. With this device, we won’t be questioning ourselves.”

Last summer, the local pool needed some repairs. Washburn UMC sponsored a burger and brat bar, with toppings like caramelized onions, bacon jam, and more. Members of the congregation brought some of the condiments and salads. Endowment earnings were used to purchase burgers, brats, and buns. Dessert was a partnership between Washburn UMC, the American Legion, and Ice Burg—the local ice cream shop.

Photo from Facebook.

“We served burgers and brats, with all the fixings. People got a ticket to get free ice cream at Ice Burg. The American Legion stepped up and paid for everyone’s ice cream. We love the partnership and promoting our local businesses,” described Pastor Annie. “I was off to the side, grilling, and I looked over at the serving line; people were smiling, talking, and laughing. It was amazing. We raised $6,000 in one night.”

Washburn UMC hosted a German supper with smoked sausage, sauerkraut, cheese buttons, and knoephla. The $2,000 raised at the German supper was distributed to Washburn Helping Hands to purchase Christmas baskets for community members in need.

The congregation assists in the community in other ways. Renovations at the school took place throughout the summer. Several classrooms and the school library were packed away and needed to be organized before the start of the school year.

“We had seventeen people who showed up to help. We brought breakfast pastries, fruit, coffee, and orange juice. I helped in the library. There were a lot of books in boxes and in no order. The shelves had to be put together. One of our volunteers, John, who is a master woodworker, put together the shelves. We worked all day and got books on the shelves. Another group of volunteers organized the fourth and fifth-grade classrooms. One of the teachers commented, ‘I don’t know about you Methodists. You are always up to something!'"

A school employee passed away. The school's employees met to discuss how they could support the family. The school's business manager, a member of Washburn UMC, said, “My church will want to help.”

The congregation held a fundraiser at a basketball game for the family. It was a proud moment for Pastor Annie. “She trusted and knew we wanted to be involved. These people trust each other. Washburn UMC knows that it takes all of us. That is the spirit of this church.”

What’s next? Members of the congregation have their eyes and ears open for the needs in the community. The goal is to continue meeting the community's needs and multiplying the money and love.

Pastor Annie sums up the community outreach efforts this way. “When we invite, we multiply the money and the love five times. At every single fundraiser, 100 percent goes to the beneficiary. We help people pay for supplies. We never want service to cost someone who can’t afford it. This is our call to spend money.”