SHEYENNE, ND —Christmas gifts and people are coming in the doors at Spirit Lake Ministry Center. This past week Mike and Libby Flowers, do-directors at Spirit Lake Ministry Center, reported that over 700 Shoebox Christmas gifts were delivered to Spirit Lake Ministry Center in Sheyenne, North Dakota.  The ministry center also provided a time of fellowship with pizza, pumpkin painting and more.

On Saturday, October 23, 2016, Spirit Lake Ministries received a delivery of 720 Shoebox Christmas gifts from Epworth UMC of Elgin IL.  Andy and Jenny Lindstrom headed up the program for their church. The two sought out donations from local retailers and enlisted the help of members from the congregation to wrap and fill the boxes.

Photo: Libby Flowers (left) and Jenny Lindstrom (right) unload boxes filled with 720 Shoebox Christmas gifts. The Lindstroms traveled 1,500 miles to deliver the gifts to Spirit Lake Ministry Center.  Photo by Mike Flowers.

The Lindstrom’s made the 1500-mile round trip in a rented truck. They wanted to personally deliver the gifts to Spirit Lake Ministry Center. Mike and Libby Flowers, co-directors at Spirit Lake were happy to receive the gifts for delivery to six Native American reservations throughout North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota.

In addition to the shoeboxes, the Lindstroms delivered over thirty boxes of new school supplies for children at Spirit Lake nation. The Lindstrom family has been visiting Spirit Lake Ministries for the last five years to participate in the Volunteer in Mission (VIM) experience. They have been delivering Shoebox Christmas gifts for the last four years.

“We are so thankful for Andy and Jenny and the support of the peoples of the Spirit Lake Nation and our ministry, “ said Mike Flowers.

Spirit Lake also hosted 40 people at family night on Saturday, October 23, 2016. The evening consisted of 16 large homemade pizzas and 30 pumpkins. People from the Spirit Lake nation came together in fun and fellowship to decorate and carve pumpkins in preparation for Halloween. Children of all ages drew on, applied stickers, painted and carved their way to Jack-O-Lanterns spooky enough to scare the bravest person. Every family went home with these beautiful works of art.

Photo: Family members show off their carved pumpkin at family night held at Spirit Lake Ministry Center. Photo by Mike Flowers.

Family night was born from tragedy in a community close to the ministry. A 12-year-old took his life two days before youth night, held on Sunday evenings, at Spirit Lake Ministry Center.  

“The parents came to drop off their children for the night's activities and just didn't leave,” said Mike and Libby Flowers.  “So we threw more burgers on the grill and all, to the chagrin of the youth, watched a movie and visited about the tragedy”

The adults we're looking for comfort and compassion. The ministry center is a place to find just that. Family night has been growing since that night five months ago. “One of our friends told us, ‘It's a great place to come and visit with friends.,’” said Mike and Libby Flowers.

Click here to learn more about the Shoebox Christmas program

Warmth of the Spirit from Dakotas UMC on Vimeo.