Caring for creation: How one Utah couple is serving their church and community through gardening and beekeeping

MARRIOTT-SLATERVILLE, Weber County (Utah)— It was about a decade ago that Steve and Kristen Bell joined the Ogden First United Methodist Church and had a pivotal conversation with their pastor.

The couple was interested in doing something to benefit their congregation and community. Steve Bell recalls the pastor asking a question that nobody had ever asked him before.

“What gifts has God given you?” the faith leader said.

“Well,” Steve Bell said, “I can grow almost anything.”

The seed was planted.

More than 10 years later, the Bells work together to oversee the church’s community garden and beekeeping ministries on its 11-acre property in a rural part of Marriott-Slaterville. He primarily works the garden, and she keeps the bees.

“We feel that God calls us to care for creation and this is one way we can do that,” Kristen Bell said. “It’s important to us to give to our community. God gives you talents and you want to use them to help others.”

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