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Rooted in Community. Powered by Purpose.

January 28, 2026

Stearns Electric’s Operation Round Up® program connects the Cooperative to local communities. By simply rounding up their monthly electric bill to the nearest dollar, our members are making great impacts throughout Central Minnesota one penny at a time.

In 2025, Operation Round Up® awarded funds to 5,873 local organizations. One of those, Agape Warriors Ministry, uses a foundation of faith to serve people.

Agape love is often considered the highest form of love, focused on being unconditional and selfless. Agape Warriors Ministry aims to spread that love and service throughout communities in Central Minnesota.

“Our mission is simple: we are servants of Jesus,” Eric Moyer, organization founder, explained. “When He says ‘GO,’ we go. With so much hopelessness and hate being spread in our area, we hope to be an organization that shares love and hope in our communities.”

Sauk Rapids-based Agape Warriors Ministry offers many services, focusing especially on providing food to those in need. In addition to offering a year-round food shelf, volunteers also bring food and supplies to people’s doorsteps (called blessings deliveries) or out to areas where unhoused individuals reside. The organization also sponsors a free Christmas Day dinner, recently serving 1,200 meals.

Agape Warriors Ministry provided over 2,600 blessings deliveries in 2025.

“The impact of the Operation Round Up® program on our organization has been huge,” Moyer said. “We generally provide around 230 blessings deliveries monthly, but the month we received the donation from the Co-op, we were able to make 409 blessings deliveries – nearly double for the month!” 

Additionally, Agape Warriors Ministry provides a laundry ministry, leaving quarters in washing machines and dryers alongside detergent and signs that say, “free wash.”

Moyer says the biggest accomplishment over the last few years is the amount of work the organization does with the support they receive.

“If you saw our books, you would probably shake your head and ask how we can do so much with so little,” he explained. “Two years ago, we provided 562 blessings deliveries. This year, we are at 2,634 blessings deliveries. That’s four times the amount with similar donations!”

Through the Operation Round Up® (ORU) program, Stearns Electric Association offers our member-owners the opportunity to give back to the community. The rounded-up funds (between 1¢ and 99¢ monthly) are placed in a trust fund that is administered by a Trust Board appointed by the Cooperative’s elected Board of Directors. 

Operation Round Up® funds are given to local civic organizations and worthy causes through an application and selection process. 

“On behalf of everyone at Agape Warriors Ministry, we would like to thank you all at Stearns Electric, and through Operation Round Up® for partnering with us in serving our communities,” Moyer said. “We cannot do it alone, but with joining together and using our talents for good, love will win.”

For additional information on Agape Warriors ministry, or to donate, visit facebook.com and search for “Agape Warriors Ministry.”