Southern Hills UMC :: Sioux Falls, SD

The South Dakota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church purchased 4.8 acres of land in southeast Sioux Falls in 1998 for $112,500. The also paid assessments of approximately $50,000.
Pastor Russ Tarver was appointed by Bishop William B. Lewis in May, 1990, to organize a congregation.
In June & July of 1990, informational gathering were held at Prince of Peace Retirement Center. That group selected the name “Southern Hills United Methodist Church.”
In July-August of 1990, volunteers from 31 United Methodist Churches made 25,000 telephone calls to invite those without a church home to our first service. 1400 families were contacted with 5 mailings.
Over 100 persons attended our first service on September 23, 1990, in the Robert Frost Elementary School. On April 7, 1991, we were chartered with 47 Charter Members and 12 Special Friends.
On September 8, 1991, we began to meet in the John Harris Elementary School. Groundbreaking for our current facility took place at Annual Conference on June 12, 1992.
We began construction on our new building on May 12, 1993. The cost of our first unit was $450,000 (7,480 square feet). On January 23, 1994, we moved into our new church home!
Marcia Sietstra was installed as a 1/4 time pastor on February 13, 1994. Her responsibilities were in the areas of Christian Education and Worship. Marcia resigned her position in June of 1997.
Pat Johnson was hired as a part-time Administrative Assistant/Secretary in January of 1994. She had worked as a volunteer Administrative Assistant up until that time.
A Service of Consecration was conducted by Bishop Lewis on May 15, 1994.
David Lee Brown, a professional church musician, was hired on September 24, 1995, to lead a contemporary worship service.
Lisa Dewes was hired as Assistant Christian Education Director in September of 1995 and was on our staff until January 15, 1996.
Penny Chmielewski joined our staff as Assistant Christian Education Director in June of 1996. She left Southern Hills in November of 1996.
The parsonage at 2608 South Ascot Avenue, was purchased on June 14, 1996. The Parish and Community Development Committee of the Dakotas Conference provided a $23,000 grant to make this purchase a reality.
Pastor Steve Ziebarth was appointed by Bishop Lewis to replace the retiring Pastor Russ Tarver. Pastor Steve arrived on July 1, 1996.
In September of 1998, we moved to two worship services. The 9:00 A.M. service is more traditional in its format. The second service, called “Hills Alive,” is led by the worship band “Friends,” and is an alternative style.
We built a storage garage on the property in the summer of 1998.
In January of 1999, Jorjann Blake was hired as the Coordinator of Assimilation and Lay Ministry. Jorjann’s outstanding work was made possible by a grant from the Parish and Community Development Committee of the Dakotas Annual Conference.
In May of 2000, Blythe Parsons was hired as our Administrative Assistant to fill the position vacated by Pat Johnson. Pat elected to stay home and provide care for her new grandson.

In September of 2000, we partnered with Lutheran Social Services to provide an After School Program for children from John Harris Elementary School. The program started with 6 children.
Our Mission, Vision, & Values Statements were re-written in 2002. We have officially adopted those statements and they govern our mission and ministry.
Worship, Christian Education, and VBS are critical and vital pieces of our ministry. Much effort is committed to these ministries.
Jans Corporation replaced the roof, repaired the dry wall, painted the interior, and replaced the siding on our building over the summer and fall of 2002. The steeple was replaced in November of 2002.
On March 30, 2003, a Building Team was selected at a special Charge Conference. Due to space constraints and a strong sense of God’s call, we began planning for a multi-purpose addition.
Blythe Parsons resigned in September of 2003. Pat Johnson filled in on an interim basis and then applied and was hired as our Administrative Assistant in October of 2003.
Between July and December of 2003 the congregation raised $40,000 to pay for Phase 1 of our Building Project and for the capital campaign to support the project.
Todd Weidner and Erin Heupel attended the “Building God’s Way” Training in Ogden, Utah on November 18-19, 2003.
Our Building Team participated in a Design Charette in December of 2003. The charette provided us with preliminary designs, preliminary cost estimates, a conceptual drawing, and a 3-D depiction of the proposed addition.
DMA (Scott Bahorik and Kirstie Arrowood) provided our congregation with excellent consulting services and led us in a capital campaign that culminated with Celebration Sunday on June 6, 2004. Our congregation raised $340,000 in cash and pledges for the new addition.
The capital campaign not only raised a significant amount of money, but also stimulated our spiritual growth and renewed our commitment to the ministry and mission of our congregation. An awesome Vision Banquet and 24-Hour prayer vigil was held as a part of the campaign.
In the fall of 2004, this congregation began a renewed focus on Adult Christian Education. As a part of that renewed focus, we offered “Disciple Bible Study” and a wide variety of other adult education opportunities.
Our “Youth On Fire” continued to grow under the leadership of John and Kelly Kemp and Pastor Steve.
In the fall of 2004, we partnered with Lutheran Social Services to offer a Christian Pre-School on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings. 10 students were enrolled.
Southern Hills Church continues to focus on service to the community. We offered child care for parents who were participating in Parent/Teacher Conferences at John Harris Elementary School during the 2004-2005 school year. More than 50 children participated.
The summer of 2005 included a new program called “Picnic In The Park.” Each Sunday evening, we met at one of the city parks for a short devotional time and a potluck picnic. It was great fun.

Eight Southern Hills youth participated in a YouthWorks mission trip to the Sisseton/Wahpeton Reservation in Sisseton, South Dakota in June of 2005. Celeste Nelson and Pastor Steve went along.
Jeff Rahn, Sarah Hahn, and Celeste Nelson were added to the staff serving “Youth On Fire” for 2005-2006. The youth program was the largest in our history.
Educational opportunities for children, youth and adults continue to be exceptional. In the fall of 2005, many new adult classes were added. The elementary children used the “rotation” model for classes. VBS is best described in one word: “WOW!”
As we entered the fall of 2005, the congregation continued to raise money to enable the construction of the new addition. New members were added to the Building Team on October 16, 2005.
A Sound/Projection Booth was added to the Celebration Space. Skip Hackett, Ross Stromseth, and Dave Burns were instrumental in getting that project completed.
The Building Team began the conversation about remodeling the Chancel Area in the Celebration Space.
We completed 451 Health Kits for the Ingathering For World Hunger! This 2005 total was and increase of 101 kits!
The After-School Program became nationally accredited (the first in South Dakota) and served 45 children. In the fall of 2008, we were serving 130 children and their families.
The Groundbreaking for the Outreach Center occurred in October of 2006. Bishop Kiesey and District Superintendent Greg Kroger were present for the festivities.
Construction began in earnest in October of 2006 and continued through the year in 2007. In August of 2007 Southern Hills took possession of the first phase of the Outreach Center. Included in the first phase were: the entire building shell, 2 Classrooms, 2 Bathrooms with showers, the infrastructure work on electrical, plumbing and heating, the hallways and the connecting link.
The old portion of the building was completely refurbished by Easter of 2007. In the fall of 2008 new chairs were added to the Celebration Space.
Work soon began on the Multi-purpose room. By November the congregation used the space for our first annual Praise Band Festival. In December we hosted the Goodwill Industries Shoe and Mitten Party. By mid-January of 2008 we took final possession of the Multi-purpose room.
In February of 2008 and May of 2008, Southern Hills hosted two major concerts in our new addition. Pillar was the headliner in the February concert and Phil Joel headlined the May concert.
In the summer of 2008, our youth attended two mission trips. The first was to Juarez, Mexico. Nine people from Southern Hills accompanied youth and adults from across the Dakotas Conference to build houses in Juarez. 13 youth and adults went to Sisseton to serve the people of the Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe. An awesome experience was had by all!
We completed and shipped 501 health kits to the Ingathering in the fall of 2008!
Southern Hills continues to be an awesome place that “Makes Disciples . . . And Makes A Difference!”