Pastor Randy Harwood has been named as the new director for Solar Oven Partners (SOP), a mission ministry of the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church. For 23 years, SOP has distributed over 12,500 ovens to families who helped build and learn to use them in the Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone, and, most recently, the Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico.
Harwood, a bi-vocational pastor serving part-time at Casselton United Methodist Church in North Dakota, brings many gifts and experiences to the position that will be an asset to Solar Oven Partners’ mission and ministry.
“There are not many jobs where you can actually see a change or know you changed someone’s life. That’s how I see this ministry, Harwood says. “We’re giving people something that can change their lives and make a community better through what we do.”
In addition to serving as a United Methodist pastor for the past 10 years, Randy most recently worked as a recruiter for a talent acquisition firm, a vocation that utilized his people skills and ability to connect with a wide variety of constituents.
“I am very excited that Randy has extensive recruiting experience!” said Karen Workman, a lay member of the SOP Advisory board from Bismarck McCabe UMC. “His recruiting skills will serve him well when he builds Volunteer-in-Mission teams for SOP’s mission trips!”
Harwood also brings experience in higher education career services—a job that involved training and educating others and equipping them with the skills to thrive. He sees this passion for helping people realize possibilities for new opportunities and transformation as a gift of Solar Oven Partners’ work with individuals and communities.
As Randy begins this new vocational chapter, he joins an active Advisory Board and committed SOP volunteer team that have been instrumental in the ongoing impact of SOP since its inception, especially during times of staff transition, including through the dedicated work of the search process.
“We are really excited to bring Randy on board as our new director of Solar Oven Partners,” says Al Roll, Minnesota/Dakotas Conference Missional Impact Development Coach. “His skill set includes relationship building, excellent training and teaching experience, and a very calm and welcoming presence in mission-oriented leadership.”
Gene Bethke, who runs the SOP workshop in Raymond, S.D. was a part of the search committee. ”Randy will bring his previous background experiences and a host of new ideas,” said Bethke. “I am confident he will handle every branch of our needs and learn all the ropes it takes to lead teams, coordinate workshops, and help line up volunteers.”
Harwood also shares this hope and excitement, believing that God has called him to this ministry for such a time as this.
“I am excited just to be a part of this ministry,” said Pastor Randy. “It’s one of the first times in my life where I’ve just given everything to God and said, ‘OK God, you know I don’t have a job. You’ve got plans for me. Let me know what they are. You know that I will follow and do whatever.'”
“I really feel like this whole process was very God-inspired and led.”