Justin Trent. Dakotas Conference file photo.

Justin Trent had been living on the family ranch near Smithwick, South Dakota, and running a trucking business. As a certified lay minister, he had filled the pulpit and served congregations at various times.

"I felt the call to go into full-time ministry last spring. I called the district superintendent and just asked him if there was a church to serve somewhere. He said, "Yes." But he didn't know what church. I had an interview and moved."

When Pastor Justin Trent arrived to serve the congregations in Wall and Wasta, South Dakota, attendance was down at the two churches. When fall kicked off, people started showing up.

"Worship attendance was down a little bit. School started, and we started with church school, a release time on Wednesday afternoons. They've got a deal with the school. There are four churches in town. At three o'clock in the afternoon, kids get bused to whichever church they choose. We have about 34 children attending that" said Pastor Justin.

Five volunteers and Pastor Justin work with the children for an hour each week. Three people serve as teachers: kindergarten and first-grade students in one room, second and third-grade students in one room, and fourth and fifth-grade students in another classroom. In the first 15 minutes, everyone gathers for music. Then, the students head to classrooms for a Bible lesson. Students gather back together for a snack.

On Wednesday nights, Pastor Justin has launched a youth group. The youth arrive at the church at 6 p.m. for a meal, activities, and a lesson.  

"There hadn't been a youth group in place," Pastor Justin explains, "When we kicked it off, the parents signed up for different nights to provide a meal. There are 20 youth coming. We get kids from different churches that come. It was a little overbearing for one person. So, I quickly recruited some help."

Three groups meet for Bible study throughout the week. On Mondays, people gather at 7 p.m. in Wall, on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. in Wasta, and at 2 p.m. on Fridays.

"There is not anything new or unique happening here, but the people of the church say it feels like there's some life coming back into it," Pastor Justin said. "We have about 25 people that show up for the Bible studies on the different nights."

The congregation continues to do mission projects like cancer care boxes for individuals fighting cancer.

This summer, the youth group will meet once a month with another church in town. They are planning community outreach activities, including worship in the park in August.

"The people are so ready to volunteer. I haven't been able to count the number of volunteers and the hours they put in," Justin shared. "People who have stepped up to help with the church school. People stepped up to help with the youth group. In confirmation, we had seven students. Individuals stepped forward to mentor each one of the kids."

Some volunteers are not members of the congregation. Pastor Justin explains, "We had a confirmation retreat at Storm Mountain. I had three young adults, not even those from our church, willing to go along and chaperone the youth. They have powerful faith lives. One drove from the Omaha, Nebraska, area to come here and spend time with the kids. It was a God thing. God put them there at the right time."

There is an effort to get a praise band going for worship. "We are working on getting a praise band started. The church school kids recently sang and played kazoo during worship. Youth who were not being confirmed helped with worship on Confirmation Sunday" said Pastor Justin.

Pastor Justin plans to continue his ministry journey and become a licensed local pastor.  He said, "I am just doing what I think a full-time pastor should do. Just being with the community and loving on the people."