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Local Reach
Ken and Karen Toews serve in Kadoka, a small, rural town of 600 located in western South Dakota. As the county seat, the town serves as the area’s center for shopping, schools, and churches. Approximately ninety miles from a larger city, residents must travel long distances for medical needs and restaurants. As a result, there is a general sense of self-sufficiency in this area, and a strong emphasis on lending a hand to neighbors.
South Dakota has one of the highest rates of working moms in the nation. This has led to a population of children accustomed to fending for themselves and learning self-sufficiency at an early age. Spiritually, most families would claim some religious affiliation, though most of the population fails to attend any church services. There is a strong need for evangelism, both to those who “claim” religion and those who are largely unreached, like the surrounding Native American community.
After seeing the need in their community, the Toewses began serving as area missionaries with a focus that began local and has since grown into the surrounding rural communities of western South Dakota. Within their local community of Kadoka, they serve in the nursing home, lead a junior high released-time class in their home each week, and Karen leads a ladies’ Bible study.
Reaching out to other towns, Ken and Karen serve the Native American communities through children’s Bible clubs. They also fill numerous pulpits in small rural churches throughout the area. Over the summer, their camping outreach serves over 450 campers in grades 1-12 from all across South Dakota.
The Toewses have served as InFaith field staff since 1980.
Ken graduated from Grace College of the Bible in 1977 with a BA in Christian Education, and received an MA from Talbot Seminary in 1979. Karen earned a BA from Grace College of the Bible in 1980.
Ken and Karen have three adult children. They joined InFaith to support ministry in rural areas, including both adult and children opportunities and a camping program.
