SELFRIDGE - Elva Mae Bakke simply says she and her husband, a retired Assemblies of God pastor, are "on divine assignment" on Standing Rock Reservation.

Marcus Bakke retired in 1999 after 19 years as the Assemblies of God's district superintendent. The Assemblies had a church in Selfridge which had been closed, so the couple, who lives in Bismarck, decided to make an effort there because the needs are so great, Elva Mae Bakke said. It's a whole different world on the reservation, the Bakkes said - people with no furniture, not even beds.

From going down on an occasional Sunday, Marcus started driving there during the week, making house calls. People wouldn't let him in at first, he said.

But he'd bring little gifts of food -"people aren't used to that," he said. "Pastors usually ask for things." Eventually they opened their doors.

"First you make friends with them," he said. "First you have to love them. And that's something God has to give you."

Today, five years later, there might be eight to 25 people in the Selfridge church on Sundays. When whites and Indians talk to each other, get over the hatreds and build relationships, see each other as people, Bakke sees progress.

The spotless white church still smells like smoke, not unpleasant, more like the day after a barbecued pork dinner. The smell is from the 2004 fire that spurred them to fix up the inside, one of those blessings in disguise you hear about. Ever since then, good things have been happening, Marcus said. People have come forward to give, the parsonage is being remodeled and the parking lot has been smoothed and graveled.

To emphasize that the church is alive and well, they've rebuilt the interior, introduced a motorcycle Sunday, a family sobriety celebration and potlucks after church.

"Until you can help people who are really down and out and the community can see it," he said, "that's how you get credibility."

Bakke has seen ministries fail on Standing Rock. Some go in without enough financing, but some don't last long if they're oriented toward results, he said.

"They get burned out," he said. "The wives can't handle it. The kids don't like it at school."

After a year or a year and a half, they'll give up.

That's not nearly long enough, he said.

She and her husband stay, Elva Mae Bakke says, "because these are real people, real moms, real kids, with real hurts. That's what we see. Real people. We keep on loving people the best we can. When people hurt, we want to help."

Nobody gets cash from them for liquor or drugs. But those who are trying, making steps in turning their life around, the Bakkes will help.

Have the Bakkes ever been "taken" where money is concerned? Probably, Bakke said. But not often. Anyway, "if you don't make mistakes, you're not trying."

Elva Mae Bakke tells a story about her husband loaning someone emergency money, knowing that the chances of getting paid back weren't good.

"Do you think you'll ever learn?" she asked him.

"I hope not," he replied.

"That was a good answer," she said, and smiled.