Standing Rock Reservation

The mission partnership that started in 2009 between WMUV, RVBA, and Pastor Boots Marsh of the Standing Rock Reservation has truly been a hand-in-hand, heart-to-heart effort to bring hope to Native Americans living in the Dakotas. Since 2004, an increasing number of Roanoke volunteers have developed relationships on the Reservation under the leadership of Bob Hetherington, Director of Missions for Roanoke. Through WMUV’s network, the efforts doubled as volunteers from churches across Virginia increased the number of hands to minister to the Sioux Indians.

Standing Rock Reservation covers an area about the size of Connecticut on the border of North and South Dakota. The reservation is home to about 8,500 people who struggle with the issues of unemployment, alcoholism, poverty and domestic violence. Desolate land and extreme weather conditions make this area a difficult place to live and work.

Standing Rock Training and Ways to Engage

Register online for Standing Rock Training!!

Click here for the Prayer Cards from Standing Rock Communities

Click here for the Standing Rock Volunteer Packet

Click here to order Standing Rock T-shirts

Click here for ways to engage the Standing Rock mission

Click here for Pillowcase Pattern

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How can you join WMUV hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart-as we minister to our Native American friends in Standing Rock? The following ideas are opportunities to form mission teams to minister and develop ongoing relationships on the Reservation.

Kids Club: A VBS-type experience involves crafts, games, music, and Bible lessons, sewing and woodworking skills. A feeding ministry provides dinner for the children and their families.

Grounds and Games: A travel team visits each community the week before Kids Club, promoting the activities, using inflatables, serving popcorn and snowcones. The grounds crew team makes sure facilities are mowed and kitchen appliances are working.

Adult Crafts: Skills, along with Bible lessons, are shared among adults including sewing, quilting, basket making, and woodworking. The hope is that women and men will find productive ways to use their time and perhaps make some money with their new skills.

Construction: Teams make both large and small improvements to existing church buildings in Cannon Ball and Ft. Yates (i.e., new doors, handicap ramp, adding an addition onto the building, flooring, roofing, painting, hanging wallboard). Teams may receive approval from tribe to make repairs to property owned by the tribe such as painting rooms in the community centers and home repairs.

Medical: Teams provide blood pressure and blood sugar checks, vision checks and foot care ministry. Reading glasses and educational materials are also distributed. Jumpers, shorts and dolls are given to the children in addition to first aid kits. Future endeavors could include assisting the field clinics during the women’s health weeks.

BookNet Project and Ditty (Toiletry) Bags: This is a great way to connect with children by reading a story, providing a craft and sharing a Bible lesson. Books are given to the children along with toiletry bags containing shampoo, soap. toothpaste and toothbrush.

Operation Warm Winter: Teams distribute winter coats, sweaters, hats scarves, etc. and provide a hot lunch for the community. Teams would need to provide transportation for the clothing.

Holiday Helpers: Assist the pastor in providing meals and activities during the holidays in October, November and December.

Teen Club: Engage teenagers in age appropriate activities, such as guitar lessons, dance lessons, exercise, manicure/pedicure, etc.

Community Gardens: Teams would teach children and adults about container gardening and get them started in the spring. Other teams could follow up with cooking and preparing the the produce. Teams could also develop community garden projects with residents.

Summer School: Educators assist with community school’s summer school program.

Family Portraits: Travels to each community taking family portraits and giving framed copies to each family with a Scripture verse on the back.