Interfaith community enters second year

The Moorcroft Interfaith Community (MIC) started as an idea among a couple of local church leaders about 18 months ago. They were concerned with the divisions of the churches and peoples

Reverend Monte Reichenberg of the First Presbyterian Church remembers, "It seems like for so long there was so much in-fighting and people talking about each other." He said that such behavior was the reason for one of the MIC's mottos: "Let's talk to one another rather than about one another."

The group started with a basic premise, according to LDS representative Walt Campbell.

"Traditionally in our western society and particularly in the U.S., when a community has trouble, they rally around their church. So our thinking was now would be a good time for church leaders to get to know each other, different churches working together – before an emergency," he says.

Understanding that any change within the community needs to start within this central haven of faith, these leaders made their plans and began to reach out to the leaders and people of all denominations in the community. Rebecca Blakeman says of the MICs view, "[We're here] to let people know that we're a body, a family, it's not their church or our church; it's building a relationship with people and making a difference in the community and surrounding areas."

To this end, MIC began to examine the needs of the citizens in the area last year and figured out practical avenues by which they could help. Reichenberg assures, "We're not trying to take away from any organization that's working now, we're trying to add on – be a plus."

One of the first programs the MIC started last summer is the Totes of Hope for the children. Blessings in a Backpack feeds these kids during the school year, but what happens after the last bell for the season? Totes of Hope continue being a food source for the summer months.

"We have food at the museum and the library so kids can come into those [places] any time during business days and all they have to do is say 'I'm hungry' and they can get some food to take home," according to Reichenberg. "We also have a voucher that can be filled out by the staff at either place and they can take that down to Diehl's to get milk, eggs, bread, [etc]."

They also provide snacks for students to pick up from the school nurse if they need something more during the day; before the MIC started helping in this area, the nurse had been paying for these snack items "from her own funds", says Reichenberg. He notes that Crook County, statistically, "is one of the top three highest in the state of kids who are food insecure, meaning they don't know where they'll get their next meal."

The MIC works with United Food Pantries of the Rockies to supply goods for their Totes of Hope and had to complete the process of becoming a food pantry themselves, "Now, we order from them, but we don't try to compete with the food pantry here. In fact, we try to work very closely with them."

Reichenberg says that the group's goal is to create a distribution center in Moorcroft "to be distributed to other places". He adds that, while they are not yet at that point in their plans, "we're closer to that than we thought because once we filled out the application, we were pretty close". They are considering the MTC as a future option for the pantry.

The MIC has hosted educational classes for the public, a recent course teaching about the wisdom of keeping a 72-hour "go bag" for emergencies; Movie Night; a Christmas program with the community choir, bell choir and a Nativity Scene; as well as ALICE training designed specifically for the unique standpoint of church. The Thanksgiving Baskets have been under the auspices of LOGOS in previous years, but the MIC will host this program starting next year.

The group's next effort is the Good Friday Living Last Supper Service. "It's a way to invite the entire community to come worship and have supper together," explains Reichenberg.

The MIC is also interested in assisting the Moorcroft Volunteer fire department in their efforts to buy air tanks and, among other entities who are finding ways to help, Reichenberg states, "We've kind of come alongside them and talked to them about ways that we can help support that without trying to take over."

At this time there are five church leaders actively working within the MIC and another who associates on a limited basis; however, the group talks with associates throughout the county, offering the opportunity to become active in these efforts. Reichenberg says of those flocks who do not participate, "Different congregations have different focus, some are on foreign missions and some are on more local missions. Each one has their own."

Campbell adds, "We have a men's prayer and breakfast that rotates between here and Pine Haven and we invite them all and tell them that they're all members by default. Some churches just really aren't interested."

Affiliated leader Randy Blakeman speaks to the reason he and his congregation stepped into this fold: "I think the result of it is like where Jesus said 'They will know you're my followers by your love, one for another'. We have to start somewhere and I think the proof's in the pudding. The evidence that we continue to do the right thing should make a difference in people when they see that there are good things going on. That's the reason we are involved in it, it is a good work that reflects the goodness of God [and] we will continue to do the right thing whether everybody comes along or not."