2023 Recap + Looking Forward to 2024!
tre Ministries Quarterly Update, Jan 2024
2023: Looking Back on God’s Faithfulness with Gratitude
Our word for 2023 as a ministry was obedience. Committing to obeying the Lord’s direction and leading fosters unity among staff, young adults, and those who partner with us, as we trust that whatever we walked toward was in alignment with bringing belonging, purpose, and hope. 2023 was a year of clarity, commitment, and open hands and hearts to see where the Lord was calling us. As we responded to this call of obedience, here is a snapshot of what we implemented as a ministry:
New Programming - Upper 20s, Young Adult Groups, Prayer Nights, Grief Groups, WWJD Leadership Project, Married + Engaged Group, Men’s Group, Women’s Group
Full Time Staffing - Positions added to our team: Director of Young Adult, Campus Ministry and Outreach
Building Sponsorships - Implemented business sponsors for our Friday nights to connect young adults to Sioux Falls area businesses while educating them in different topics.
Additional Partnerships - Camp POSTCARD, Axis180, Area Counseling Centers and continued advocates for young adult connections and involvement in their church homes.
Over the years, the number one way we have seen our mission move forward is through community. Approximately 200 new young adults walk through our doors each quarter seeking community, and thousands of young adults this past year have been impacted by belonging, purpose, and hope from tre! In a world full of technology and loneliness we are answering the call to listen, be present, build relationships, support, encourage and send.
Young adults have responded not only by showing up but by supporting tre this past year. 24 young adults have signed up to volunteer 7 hours a month for tre programming to support and/or lead our programming and over $15,000 was raised by young adults alone this past year! What an amazing blessing and testimony to the work God is doing in and through young adults to foster community and spiritual depth. Praise God for His faithfulness and His provision!
Young adults at the tre Christmas party, worship night, and our “Summer in December” event.
2024: A Year of Collaboration
Looking forward, we sense the Lord calling us to Collaboration in 2024. Collaboration is needed to create a transformational impact on our community. tre is known for our efforts to partner with churches and nonprofit organizations. With this word as our focus, we will continue to model and intentionally invite others into relationships to build deeper trust within our community.
Collaboration creates a sense of community, shared purpose, and builds a supportive environment for natural development. It allows us to reach broader audiences and engage with diverse communities, expanding our influence and outreach. Working alongside other nonprofits, churches and businesses brings valuable resources, a variety of skills, and perspectives, and we believe this will only benefit our young adults.
Ephesians 4:12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the fullness of Christ.
Here’s a glimpse of our programming this winter as we continue to walk towards God’s desire for young adults in our community:
ADVOCATE PROGRAM | At the heart of our ministry, we want to empower and equip young adults to live out their God given purpose. The advocate program is a very hands on approach to that, and we could not do what we do without our advocates! This program not only emphasizes active engagement in our ministry but also focuses on personal and spiritual development through training and discipleship.
BIBLE TALK | We all have questions about the Bible, whether you have spent years studying it or whether you have never read scripture before. Bible Talk meets once each month on Monday nights - we invite a guest pastor from the community to spend the evening with us, and we dig into scripture together and wrestle with various topics. We strive to hold an environment where everyone is welcome, and no one is judged regardless of disagreement.
MEN’S + WOMEN’S GROUPS | Men’s Group has been meeting for almost a year now, and Women’s Group is launching soon! These groups are environments where we read scripture together, talk openly and honestly about what is going on in our lives, and receive prayer and accountability through those around us.
PRAYER NIGHTS | Tuesday Prayer night is an intentional, open space for Young Adults to spend time with the Lord in prayer and worship, and to receive prayer and support. Our desire is to create an environment free of distraction where people can come, step away from the busyness, and rest in the Lord, being reminded of His love and His goodness regardless of circumstance.
CAMPUS + OUTREACH MINISTRY | One of the biggest blessings of campus ministry is seeing students feel cared for, and showing that we are willing to go the extra mile to meet them where they are. We’ve seen growth not only through more students coming to tre, but also through healthy partnerships made with other ministries and campus staff. Serving on campus is an amazing opportunity to see young adults grow and support them in this time of their life.
YOUNG ADULT GROUP | Through workshops, lessons, and hands-on projects, young adult group seeks to equip and encourage our young adults to live lives that fully reflect Jesus through their spiritual growth, personal lives, interpersonal relationships & financial practices.
YOUNG ADULT HANGOUTS | On Friday night hangouts, we strive to provide young adults with a space that feels inviting to all backgrounds and nurtures a culture of loving community. We have an activity planned each week and provide dinner. Something we strive to do on Fridays is make everyone feel like they are seen and wanted here at tre!
WORSHIP NIGHTS | Our monthly worship nights provide a unique space for young adults to encounter the Holy Spirit and grow in their walk with God. Our hope is to train young adults to play an active role and take ownership on these nights, and to equip them to serve in their churches.
UPPER20s | For many, workplace environments can be stressful and difficult at best, and toxic and discouraging at their worst. Mix in the potential of moving to a new town, making new friends, and figuring out your life’s path, and your later twenties can be exhausting. Upper20s exists to create positive spaces that foster community and friendship among young adults in the 24-30 age range. It has been amazing to see a core group of young adults join us as well as new people, and we have witnessed deep friendships being formed.
WORSHIP PASTOR LUNCHEONS | New this year, worship pastor luncheons provide a place for local worship pastors to meet, connect, and build unity in our region.
Young adults hanging out on our Friday nights.
A note from Sandy, CEO of tre Ministries:
Over the past year, our community has witnessed growth and transformation in the area of leader development, outreach, and spiritual growth. We have a commitment to develop Christian leaders within our community. We have a remarkable increase of dedicated and passionate leaders through our intentional programs, mentorship initiatives, and collaborative projects. Young adults have embraced their roles to be a positive change for their community, families, future families as well as themselves. Our outreach efforts have expanded across denominations, nonprofits, businesses and states! We reach a diverse demographic forging meaningful connections within and beyond Sioux Falls. The spiritual growth experienced by our young adults has been profound with a shared sense of purpose and a deepened connection to belonging and hope found in Jesus Christ. This successful year stands as a testament to our collective dedication to building a community that thrives on leadership, outreach, and spiritual enrichment. As we look toward the future, we are dedicated to continue this upward path, fostering an environment where belonging, purpose and hope is found in and through a relationship with our Lord and an engaged expectant community.
Blessings on your New Year! May the Lord show His kindness and love towards you in tangible ways as you continue to trust in Him.
tre Ministries