A Note

From Pastor Ryan

For as in one body we have many members and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us…” (Romans 12:4-6, NRSVUE)

2026 is poised to be a very exciting year for youth ministry at SOTP!

Last fall, I introduced you all to Marisa Wielgos, a tremendous volunteer who has done some great work already as she has become the primary leader for our Thursday night youth group gatherings. She also led a fun and meaningful lock-in on January 2nd. Marisa volunteers for us on a very part-time basis because of the demands of her regular full-time job, but the work she has put in thus far has been so good for our youth ministry.

I continue to look for a full-time Youth Ministry Coordinator to come aboard as our primary high school ministry leader, and Marisa will be ready to be a valuable support person for this future leader. And another awesome chapter in our ministry was launched in January.

When I began my call at SOTP in August of 2022, our youth ministry was at a sort of crossroads. The old Youth and Family Ministry Team (in my understanding) had not met regularly for some time. I knew I would need to put a team together, but as I looked at the team that was already serving as our Children and Family Ministry Team, I realized they were the people I would want on my youth team anyway, so I asked them to expand their focus to include Confirmation and Youth Group.

Fast forward to late 2025. Jill and the Children and Family Ministry Team is achieving great success in their role as event planners and played a critical role in our reimagining of our Kids Connect program. I realized the time had come for me revive the Youth and Family Ministry Team, and God put a leader in my path who is poised to join Marisa and me in continuing the success of our Confirmation program, making great strides with our high school youth group, and even helping to launch our young adult ministries.

Dan Wichtendahl (who many of you know through his guitar playing in our Praise Team at the 10:45 service), wanted to branch out and get more connected in the ministries of SOTP. I presented him with the idea of him serving as a chairperson as we revive the Youth and Family Ministry Team, and he accepted! Dan, Marisa, and I met on Ministry Night in January, and couldn’t be more pleased with the prospects of our new venture. Marisa will continue to plan and lead Thursday night youth group gatherings along with the occasional weekend event. Dan will come alongside and work on some fundraising opportunities, assist with Marisa’s planned events, and plan some of his own. They are going to be a great complement for each other! In addition to Dan and Marisa, I have asked Tim Torkelson and Jess Panella to join our team in their capacity as leaders of our Confirmation program.

I can’t wait to see what this group will accomplish together, and I can’t wait to see what we can do when this group serves as a complement to our future Youth Ministry Coordinator. The SOTP Youth Ministry arrow is pointing up, and we all have good reason to feel excited and encouraged by what God is up to among us.

Marisa, Dan, Jess, and Tim, I owe you so many thanks for all the work you have done and all the work you will do! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Pastor Ryan

email Pastor Ryan at pastorryan@sotpmail.com