Covenant News

Disbanded Church Donates Property to Youth Program

LaBOLT, SD (March 16, 2001) - Solid Rock Youth Ministries was birthed by an Evangelical Covenant Church. Now, another church denomination has given the organization a big boost in pursuing its ministry goals.

A local Baptist church in the area disbanded and gifted its 15-acre property to Solid Rock Youth Ministries, which is in partnership with LaBolt and Elim Covenant churches. The property includes the former church building and a parsonage, as well as 10 acres of pasture, according to Pastor Scott Miller. Lay leaders at the Baptist church convinced their church board to gift the land to Miller after evaluating emerging youth ministries in the area.

The parsonage at the Baptist church site is being remodeled by local contractors. A ministry in nearby Milbank is helping with construction on an at-cost basis. The project is expected to cost about $200,000 - half of that money has already been raised, Miller said. The Miller family will live at the new facility, which will include a new wing connected to the nearby church building.

A dormitory to house at least 10 children for weekend retreats is being built in that wing and a 40-foot-by-40-foot youth room is also being added to the facility. The sanctuary from the former Baptist church will be used for Sunday night community services and youth worship activities throughout the week. Horseback trail rides, fishing, boating and hiking are among the activities available on nearby land, giving visitors a place of solitude and a release from everyday life.

"God is working in remote areas," Miller observed. "Between the print shop and the youth center, there are more than 40 volunteers. The community support has been incredible."

The primary purpose for the new dormitory is weekend retreats for area children that have lost one or both parents. Christine Miller, co-pastor of La Bolt Covenant and Elim Covenant churches along with husband Scott, has a heart for ministry to children in crisis. She lost her father at age 13 - her experience in counseling will be valuable in directing this unique ministry.

Scott Miller said that many weekends will be available for other use, however. He is encouraging churches in the Northwest Conference and elsewhere to apply for free use of the facility. He also hopes that pastors and their families can take advantage of the dorms.

"Christine is excited about being able to minister to more kids in crisis," Miller said. "I'm excited for pastors who can use the facility. Some of them have four or five kids and don't have the money for big trips. Another thing that excites me is being able to bring urban youth into a rural environment. Anybody who comes for an extended period time seems to be more spiritually alive when they leave than when they came.

"For our area, it's exciting because they're seeing an empty building being used," Miller noted. "Rather than driving by these buildings and seeing them falling down, they're seeing the buildings bringing new life. It's great seeing growth rather than decline."

Solid Rock Youth Ministries was formed in September 1999 and a print shop called Solid Rock Printing was established the following May as a way to pay for the youth ministry program. The print shop employs 38 teens in part-time jobs that incorporate job training and discipleship mentoring. Some teens travel up to 30 miles to work at the print shop because there are few jobs in Grant County. Solid Rock Printing has completed print jobs totaling $55,000 to date.

There are about 40 primary customers involved in the printing ministry. The rapid growth in the printing company has allowed Miller to employ a full-time manager, which is located in LaBolt. It has also allowed Miller to integrate the adults at his churches with youth. The interactions have touched Miller and the older adults have supported him and the youth ministry to a greater degree than he anticipated.

"We're busy, but we're not so overloaded because we have so many volunteer people," Miller said. "I've got people who answer phones, clean, shovel snow and write proposals, as well as deliver The Grip (a youth publication distributing 5,500 copies monthly). They've been intentional in working with these kids. This is part of their daily life. Rather than seeing my congregation on Sunday, I'm seeing many every day."

Covenant Ministries of Benevolence, through its Outreach Ministries, provided $5,000 to purchase printing equipment. The Northwest Conference also has provided $5,000.

For more information on Solid Rock Youth Ministries and Solid Rock Printing, contact Scott Miller by telephone at 605-623-4601 or by email at solidrockprinting@hotmail.com.

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