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.
