BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA – Legacy United Methodist Church (UMC) has experienced an abundance of joy, growth and outreach this past month. A new church was dedicated, a partnership of ministry with Moffit United Methodist Church was celebrated, and a $44,000 gift was given to the community of Bismarck. 

This has been an awesome month at Legacy UMC,” noted Rev. Kermit Culver, Legacy UMC.    

Photo:  Rev. Kermit Culver stands in the sanctuary of the newly constructed Legacy United Methodist Church.  Photo by Mike McCleary, Bismarck Tribune.

Dedicating a new church home

Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Area, and Rev. Keith Nelson, Sakakawea District Superintendent, Dakotas Conference dedicated the new church home on January 5, 2014.

Legacy United Methodist Church opened the doors to the 27,000-square-foot building on 17 acres in north Bismarck, North Dakota in November 2013.

Legacy’s new home has a number of unique features, including a fireplace and an amphitheater that’s being built directly outside the sanctuary that will connect the inner worship space with an outer space. 

The dedication involved members of the congregation laying hands on the building as a reminder that the building is just a tool to reach the community and the world.

Celebrating partnership

Sunday, January 12, Legacy UMC held "Celebrate the Connection" Sunday. Legacy UMC serves as a partner to Moffit United Methodist Church.  Culver provides the message each week to those attending worship at Moffit UMC via technology. Worship, fellowship and a pot luck were all part of the celebration. 

Culver stated, “It was our first pot-luck in ten years.  We recounted lessons we have learned from being in partnership and connection with the Moffit UMC.”

Opening doors to the community

A community open house was held on January 19, 2014.  Visitors and guest from the Bismarck-Mandan area were welcomed to the new church campus.

Legacy provided the community with a gift at the open house A check for $44,000 was presented to the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House, a local shelter in Bismarck at the open house. 

Annually, Legacy UMC conducts a "Christmas Challenge - Have Half a Christmas."  Members of the congregation are challenged to give to the community and spend less on Christmas gifts for themselves.  The total collections over the five years have brought about $185,000 for the Ruth Meiers Hospitality House.

More to come

Future plans at Legacy are a fundraiser for a clergy family in need and a time capsule.

A fundraiser will be conducted for Rev. Ron Olson, Bowman UMC and family. The Olson family was involved in a devastating car accident on December 20,2014. The fundraiser will be a combined effort of the Bismarck Ministry Team and area congregations.  The fundraiser will include a dinner, worship, prayers and a concert.  

The month of May will be the second anniversary of the groundbreaking to the new church campus. Legacy is planning to lay the Cornerstone and time capsules in May of 2014.

“Life and grace are abundant here at Legacy. We are very thankful for all God has provided,” said Rev. Kermit Culver, Legacy UMC.