Oil Rush Ministry, Helping 100s as Winter Approaches

With decades of national and regional ministry experience behind them and with the support of the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC), Jim and Kathie Konsor arrived in Watford City to start an outreach mission.

"We came with the mission of helping the influx of people moving into the Bakken oil field by helping meet needs on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level," state the Konsors on their web page.

Jim came to Watford City last summer to drive a loader for a rancher who needed help pulling and loading scoria. Like many others who come to the Bakken looking for work, Jim lived in a camper by his friend's house. "I met others coming here to work that had left very difficult and or desperate situations back home. They were coming here hoping to get a new start. Many had lost homes and businesses during the recession and had not been able to recover. Others had been through divorce or other personal tragedy. Now they live out here and are lonely but still hopeful to get a new start," says Konsor. "I would walk the town in the evenings when I had a chance and pray for this city asking God what we could do to help."

His prayers were answered when he spoke to Bishop Bruce Ough. Bishop Ough put out a challenge to raise money to start the Oil Rush Ministry. The challenge was met and the money donated to help fund the Oil Rush Ministry more than doubled his expectations.

The Konsors met with 7 pastors, the mayor, members of the Watford City Chamber of Commerce and members of the Department of Social Services to see what the needs of the community were and which needs were not being covered.

In early October, Oil Rush Ministries purchased a 29' Wildwood toy hauler trailer and began converting it into a Mobile Free Thrift Center. Now completed, the trailer is filled with coats, hats, gloves and basic living supplies such as pots, pans, blankets, sleeping bags etc., and then towed to RV camps surrounding the Watford City area.

On November 14th Oil Rush Ministries and their Mobile Free Thrift Center set up in the Cash Wise Foods parking lot in Watford City and distributed over 100 coats, several blankets and other basic need items. They were inundated with requests for winter items: heaters, blankets, sleeping bags. "We were able to help a lot of families," said Jim Konsor.

Konsor states, "We are trying to work with all of the churches here. We are here to help and want to be a part of the community long term. Our long term plan is to buy land, put up a building where people can come for an occasional hot meal, have a laundry area, music, worship services, showers and room for families to stretch out and visit with each other."

Oil Rush Ministries is accepting donations of coats, sleeping bags, blankets, FR clothing, boots, hats, gloves, new heaters and monetary donations. If you'd like more information, contact Jim or Kathie Konsor at 605-268-0058 or email them at [email protected]

You can also view their website at http://www.oilrushministry.com.