Stories of Rural Ministries in the Inland Northwest

Okanogan County Veterans Board, led by Michael Stewart, is hosting a Volunteer Services Officer Training - 10/11

Lynn Nelson’s fascination with spiritual questions led to serve as pastor of her hometown church four years ago. - 02/11

David Hacker is guiding informal ecumenical ministries on the Yakama Reservation - 01/11

Whitman County Council on Aging finds ways to keep programs going in Colfax and Pullman, plus its six meal sites. - 12/10

Rural Resources in Colville Senior Nutrition Recipients in remote areas monthly case of frozen meals. - 12/10

Pam Vail's interest in fair trade began with craft items that a priest from Colville brought from Guatemala in 1986 - 11/10

Organic farmer, Eden Brightspirit Hendrix, reaches out to train at-risk youth how to farm, succeed as farmers - 06/10

The city of Brewster has returned to normal since facing an upheaval after Gebbers Farms, laid off workers.- 05/10

Co-op market connects rural and urban food producers and consumers through farm tours and educational programs. - 04/10

Farmer seeks to attract more young farmers sustainable agriculture project near Edwall, Wash. - 03/10

Mobile food distributions help foodbank target pockets of poverty in eastern Washington and North Idaho. - 12/09

Rebuilding gives Nez Perce church new energy, and life after fire destroys church on Christmas Eve, 2008. - 09/09

Orchard practices servant leadership, finding that it enhances their business practices and engages them in ministry. -06/09

Office for Rural and Farm Worker Housing in Yakima addresses stereotypes, policies to develop affordable rural housing. - 04/09

Colfax churches join together in community worship as they prepare for common mission in Colfax. - 03/09

Metaline Falls pastor, mayor and theatre director, the Rev. Tara Leininger, responds in three roles to mine shutting down. - 01/09

CHURCH RENEWAL - National United Methodist church staff member serves a church in Green Bluff - 6/08

FARM WORKER HOUSING - Farm workers in Pasco now live in 'green' affordable housing - 6/08

FARMER CONSERVES SOIL - Couple sow seeds to save soil on farm near St. John and as regional USDA consultant - 5/08

WEAVER RAISES SHEEP - Global travels foster relationships that build peace for weaver-writer in Valleyford - 4/08

SIERRA CLUB Inner City Outings introduce children to wilderness experiences - 4/08

RURAL MUSIC TEACHER - Rural teacher Donivan Johnson composes church music and gives lectures on musicians - 4/08

ORTHODOX RURAL CHURCHES - Spiritual quest becomes a pilgrimage for Matthew Gallitin, now a cantor and helping start an Orthodox church in Bonners Ferry - 4//08

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS - Silver Valley Episcopal women feed 30 Ugandan orphans and take interest in world - 3/08

FAIR TRADE - In the countryside near Spokane is a warehouse for an international fair trade business, Ganesh Himal - 2/08

LONG TERM MINISTRY - Presbyterian pastor in St. Maries and his church chose to have a long-term ministry—now 26 years - 12/07

RURAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - Everyone knowing everyone has plusses and minuses for Family Resource Center in Davenport that deals with domestic violence and homelessness - 11/07

FOOD PRODUCTION ISSUES - Corporate food production affects right of some to food, says David Andrews - 11/07

FARM POLICIES - Faith leaders seek farm policy reform through Church World Service - 11/07

COMMUNITY AND RESERVATION CONNECT - Construction of restroom at Spalding Presbyterian Church builds community on Nez Perce reservation - 10/07

FARMERS' MARKET - Millwood Presbyterian Church engages in community through farmers' market - 10/07

TRAINING PROGRAM REACHES EVERYONE BY PHONE - Episcopal priest starts "eMinistry" to use teleclasses to train lay leaders in rural and urban congregations - 9/07

CHURCH BECOMES ACCESSIBLE - Filipino pastor serving United Methodist Church in Orofino helps lead church to become accessible by adding ramp and elevator - 6/07

GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP - Missionaries instilled global vision in three Lutheran women who recently visited their companion diocese in Tanzania and returned to share with their churches in Cheney, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry and Coeur d'Alene - 4/07

FEEDING THE POOR - Town Orchard Project feeds poor people in Pullman and Moscow - 4/07

SHARED MINISTRY - Potlatch Lutheran and Presbyterian churches share one pastor, one worship service, and common outreach to the community - 3/07

KNITTING TOGETHER - Prayer shawls comfort, say knitters and crocheters in Chewelah's United Church of Christ and Catholic Churches - 12/06

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION - Chewelah and Colville United Church of Christ churches work with Rural Resources to address domestic violence in their communities - 11/06

CHURCHES SHARE PASTOR - Fairfield Lutheran and Presbyterian churches follow ecumenical model, calling one pastor to serve both churches. Three stories share the experience:
1) Pastor believes 'God wove a masterpiece" - 10/06
2)Farmers describe roots of Fairfield farmers, families and community - 10/06

3) Finances were part of the impetus for the ecumenical venture - 10/06

FOOD BANK BUILDS COMMUNITY - The Cove food bank provides a safe harbor for those who are hungry to gather in community and pick up food to take home in the Methow Valley - 9/06

NATIVE AMERICAN YOUTH - Tyla Abrahamson on the Spokane Reservation develops new media to give voice to tribal youth - 5/06

OVERCOMING RACISM - North Central Washington group works in rural communities to dismantle racism as racial makeup of communities shifts - 3/06

URANIUM CONTAMINATION REMOVAL - SHAWL Society pursues protection of Spokane reservation, an area contaminated by uranium mine waste - 1/06

LINK to the Weyerhaeuser Center for Faith and Learning's Rural Ministry Institute Website