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ATLANTA – Until last summer, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship didn’t have much of a ministry presence in Buffalo County, S.D.

Leadership from Together for Hope, CBF’s rural poverty initiative that works in 20 of the poorest U.S. counties, had identified the county as a place where transforming ministry could take place, but they couldn’t find anyone to make a long-term commitment.

Kathleen and Ray Kesner, then Together for Hope (TFH) facilitators in South Dakota, had been learning about the county and building relationships with local leaders. When they shared the ministry need with Ashworth Road Baptist Church in Des Moines, Iowa, members responded. As one of the closest CBF partner churches to Buffalo County, a few members made the seven-hour drive to Crow Creek Indian Reservation, where they met with leaders from the county’s largest reservation.

"They just captured our hearts," said the church’s pastor Tim Deatrick. "We realize the importance of making long-term commitments, and we’re hoping to be invested in the work of Crow Creek for years to come."

In less than a year of ministry, church members have made several trips to Crow Creek to build relationships and learn how they could help. Already they’ve provided funding to help financially-strapped Boys and Girls Clubs stay open and have also donated funds and labor to build a new playground.

"The playground was provided to a community that has been completely overlooked," said church member David Phillips, who along with his wife, Jami, serve as TFH ministry facilitators in South Dakota. "The donation of the playground and, even more, the labor to install it communicates to the people of Crow Creek that they are important to us."

Last September church members traveled again to Crow Creek to deliver new clothes and school supplies for 300 children on the reservation. Local leaders worked to give correct clothing sizes to the church, and the church raised the money and purchased each child a new coat and outfit for school.

"We didn’t go to [local leaders] and say, ‘This is something we want to do,’" Deatrick said. "We asked them, ‘How can we help you be successful? What can we do to help you?’ The coats and clothes were their idea."

Church member Scott Oswald was on that distribution trip and has been touched by the community’s desire to better the reservation.

"They have a sense of community and family and try to overcome such huge obstacles to have a better way of life," he said. "We’re excited about being a small part of [helping them]."

Thus far, more than half of the church’s members have been to Crow Creek. The ministry partnership is making missions accessible for every member who wants to experience missions first-hand, Deatrick said.

"The church is being changed and transformed because individuals are going out and being changed and transformed. That’s what we want," he said. "They can go and have the experience and not just do something but really make an impact."

This summer the church has another trip planned, hoping to take 50 church members – about half of the church – to work with children and teenagers and do construction projects. In August, with financial backing from the congregation, two church members will move to Crow Creek. As law school students who will graduate in May, the church members will be a resource for legal issues and economic development on the reservation.

"We’re excited about what’s going on in the church," Deatrick said. "We really think that what’s happening is a God thing. We’re just hanging on for the ride and looking forward to seeing some other great things happen."

"The most important thing churches like Ashworth Road provide is a sense of worth to the people who live on the reservation," said Jami Phillips. "It has been such a joy to see the Native Americans realize that when these church members look at them, they don’t see an Indian or a Marine or a single mother or an alcoholic. They see a child of God who is worthy of love and compassion because that is the way he sees his children."

To learn more about Together for Hope, visit www.ruralpoverty.net.

CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.