WESTERN DISTRICT CONFERENCE
SEEDS
March 19, 2014
Generous congregation helps with heating crisis
This winter, the weather on the plains has been particularly harsh. Add to that the high cost of propane heating fuel, and for the poorest among us, the situation can be disastrous.
“I came home after a wonderful worship service on a cold Sunday,” said Rob Burdette, transitional pastor of Shalom Mennonite Church, “and read in a Wichita Eagle news article that a Lakota woman died on the Standing Rock Reservation. There was no propane to heat the trailer home.”
Burdette spoke with Irma Walking Elk, the Energy Assistance Coordinator for the Standing Rock Reservation, and with Barth Hague, Shalom’s Coordinating Council Moderator, to explore the possibility of Shalom offering assistance to the people on Standing Rock. After some discussion, a fund was established for Shalom members to contribute to the heating crisis on Standing Rock.
Contributions to the fund were accepted on March 2 and 9 and $5,210 was collected and sent to the Standing Rock Energy Assistance Program. “This is an exceptionally generous congregation,” said Burdette. “Now people at Shalom are asking how the church might work proactively with the people on the Standing Rock Reservation in the future.”
–submitted by Rob Burdette, Transitional Pastor (316-283-7395, office@shalomnewton.org)
Shalom Mennonite Church, Newton, KS
WDC SEEDS is a weekly communication for WDC churches announcing what’s new and good in Western District Conference. Please forward this to congregational members. Pastors are invited to submit one paragraph summaries of kingdom initiatives that will encourage the networking of best practices across Western District Conference. WDC Seeds is also available at: www.mennowdc.org.
Western District Conference
2517 North Main, PO Box 306
North Newton KS 67117
316-283-6300; FAX: 316-283-0620
Email: wdc@mennowdc.org
Website: www.mennowdc.org