Ministry on the Margins

10/20/2026

Reminder of the Events happening at the Ministry today!
October 20th

10/19/2026

A Huge thank you to Valvoline Instant Oil Change for having the Ministry be a part of their Drive to Donate Event last week!

10/19/2026

Join us this week at the Ministry!
October 18th - 24th

10/14/2026

Spotlight Wednesday!

Anthony’s Story in his own words:

There was a time when I didn't think I deserved a second chance at life.
I was deep in addiction. I sold drugs. I hurt people who loved me. I burned bridges and made choices I'm not proud of.
There were times I couldn't stand who I had become.
I lost time I'll never get back. I lost people's trust. I lost relationships. Most of all, I lost myself.
For a long time, I honestly believed I had messed my life up beyond repair.
But somewhere underneath all that darkness, there was still a part of me that wanted out.
I wanted my life back.
Getting clean didn't magically fix everything. It forced me to face myself, my past, the people I'd hurt, and everything I'd spent years running from.
But I used the tools and support that were given to me. Sarah through Free Through Recovery at Ministry on the Margins, Aimee through Job Service, my case manager, and my probation officer all gave me the tools and support I needed, and I'm thankful.
And I'm finally proud of the person looking back at me in the mirror.
Life is good.
Some days, the biggest victory was simply not going back.
Almost four years later, I'm still here. And sometimes I look around and can't believe this is my life.
I have a beautiful home. A job I love. My driver's license back. A car. Stability. Peace.
Things that might seem ordinary to someone else mean everything to me because I remember when having a normal life felt impossible.
None of this was handed to me. I fought for it.
Recovery has also taught me that it's okay to choose myself. To say no. To protect my peace. To put my recovery, my future, and my happiness first.
I spent years destroying myself trying to survive.
Now I'm learning how to live.
If you're struggling, I'm not going to tell you it's easy.
It isn't.
But it is possible. And sometimes, the biggest victory is simply not going back.

10/14/2026

Today is the Day!

Join Valvoline today, October 14th at any Bismarck location for their Drive to Donate event. $20 from every oil change will be donated to Ministry on the Margins!

Thank you to Valvoline for supporting our mission and helping us serve our community!

10/13/2026

Reminder of the Events happening at the Ministry today!
October 13th

10/12/2026

Need an oil change? Make it count!

Join Valvoline this Wednesday, October 14th at any Bismarck location for their Drive to Donate event. $20 from every oil change will be donated to Ministry on the Margins!

Thank you to Valvoline for supporting our mission and helping us serve our community!

10/11/2026

Join us this week at the Ministry!
October 11th - 17th

10/09/2026

Doing some grocery shopping this weekend? While you’re making your list, consider adding an extra item or two for this month’s Mercy Box recipient, Ministry on the Margins. Ministry on the Margins serves people in our community through its food pantry, street outreach, prison ministry, prison-to-society support, and nightly overnight Coffee House.

This month we’re collecting these items for MOTM:

Individual Wrapped Snack Items: Granola Bars, Individual Chips, Protein Bars, Jerky, Cracker Packs, Goldfish, Applesauce, Pudding, Fruit Cups

Microwaveable Foods: Ramen, Mac and Cheese Cups

Canned Goods: Vegetables, Soup, Beans, Tuna, Fruit, Pasta Sauce, Chicken, Ravioli, Chili

One extra can, snack, or meal may not seem like much, but when we all add a little something to those red totes, it adds up quickly.

For a list of donation drop off locations, go to www.themercybox.com.

10/08/2026

In response to Mayor Mike Schmitz’s recent press conference, the Staff and Leadership of the Ministry are thankful that the City of Bismarck is taking steps toward finding a facility to provide a low-barrier shelter in our community.

Homelessness is a complicated issue, and there are no easy answers. We believe everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and compassion, and we remain committed to supporting our neighbors who are experiencing homelessness and struggling during times of transition.

Ministry on the Margins will continue to provide immediate support and connect people with resources that can help them move toward greater stability, including permanent housing.

We also look forward to continuing to work with city officials, community partners, and others as we work toward solutions that better serve our community and our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

An online form is linked on the original post by the City of Bismarck for individuals to share additional suggestions for helping to solve homelessness in the community.

On Tuesday, Bismarck Mayor Michael Schmitz reinforced the importance of a low-barrier shelter in the community during a news conference, suggesting the municipality secure a location for this facility to serve a portion of the community’s population experiencing homelessness: https://www.bismarcknd.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/9086.

An online form is available at https://www.bismarcknd.gov/FormCenter/Administration-2/Homelessness-Solution-Suggestions-Online-333 for individuals to share additional suggestions for helping to solve homelessness in the community.