Disbanded Church Helps South Dakota Ministry Expand

Solid Rock Youth Ministries, directed by Covenant pastor Scott Miller, is constructing and renovating property that formerly housed a Baptist church. The result is the Mount Bethel Retreat Center, a 10,000-square-foot facility in Strandburg that is scheduled for completion in September.

Two buildings were situated on the property as part of a Baptist church that disbanded January 1. A third building, which will serve as a dormitory and activity room, measures about 6,400 square feet and is being constructed this summer.

The project originally was estimated to cost $200,000, but the generosity of area businesses has brought that number down. A local Baptist church gifted its 15-acre property to Solid Rock Youth Ministries, which is partnering with LaBolt and Elim Covenant churches (located in LaBolt and Stockholm) and other area churches of different denominations.

"I feel overwhelmed," said Miller. "We're trying to keep God in perspective - God is right in the middle of all of this. The response of the people has been great. We've had 65 referrals from kids or congregations that had kids in need of the center. There are a lot of farmers that lose their lives to injuries and illness and there are many kids who need to deal with it."

Scott's wife, Christine, will direct the Mount Bethel Retreat Center. The Millers - including their six children - will live at the center. The prime purpose for the new dormitory is weekend retreats for children who have lost one or both parents. Christine has a heart for youth ministry to children in crisis. She lost her father when she was 13 and her experience in counseling will be essential for directing this unique ministry.

A dormitory to house at least 10 children for weekend retreats is part of the construction and a 1,600-square-foot youth room is also being added. The former Baptist sanctuary will be used for Sunday night community services and youth worship activities during the week. Horseback trail rides, fishing, boating and hiking are among the activities available on nearby land, giving those who come a place of solitude and a release from everyday life, Miller observes.

Thirteen horses have been donated to the retreat center, which is scheduled to house its first kids retreat in January. Miller said that church groups are also invited to use the center - 10 congregations already are scheduled to use the center for various weekend events.

Besides running the retreat center, the Millers will continue to be heavily involved with pastoring two congregations, a youth center and operating Solid Rock Printing, which now employs 13 young people and three adults. The addition of a summer youth center director and a print shop director at Solid Rock Printing should lighten the load, Miller hopes.

Solid Rock Printing, founded in May 2000, generated $30,000 of business last year and will exceed that figure in 2001, said Miller. A large group of volunteers supports all of the ministries and the Covenant churches in LaBolt and Stockholm also have committed funds for area young people desiring to attend CHIC 2003. The two churches combined to send eight teens to CHIC 2000 and Miller hopes to send two dozen for the next CHIC event.

"God is working in remote areas," Miller said. "Between the print shop and the youth center, there are more than 40 volunteers. The community support has been incredible. We're busy, but we're not so overloaded because we have so many volunteer people. I've got people who answer phones, clean, shovel snow, write proposals and deliver The Grip (a youth publication distributing 5,500 copies monthly). And 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 Department of Compassion and Justice, provided $5,000 last July to Solid Rock Youth Ministries to purchase equipment for the printing ministry. The Northwest Conference also donated $5,000. About $10,000 was donated by local organizations last year.

For more information on Solid Rock Youth Ministries and Solid Rock Printing, contact Miller by telephone at 605-623-4601 or by email at solidrockprinting@hotmail.com. The web site can be visited at covenant@tnics.com.

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