Brenda Swanson, right, accepts the Darrel Leach Youth Worker of the Year from Rev. Scott McKirdy, Spearfish UMC. Photo courtesy of Janelle Jones.

“Leading youth ministry has connected me more deeply with God.”  That is how Brenda Swanson, youth director at Spearfish UMC and 2018 Darrel Leach Youth Worker of the Year, describes her passion and spiritual journey in youth ministry.

“I guess you have to be a little crazy to do the job,” she said. “But I do it because of the kids. You get to be part of their faith.”

Swanson lives on a ranch, just 10 miles from Spearfish, South Dakota.  She spends time helping her husband on the ranch when she can. Her full-time job is being the youth director at Spearfish UMC.

A typical year in youth ministry at Spearfish UMC includes weekly youth group meetings, monthly service projects, a couple of all-night lock-ins each year, conference events—DakYouth, Winter Connection, Leadership Training Camp (LTC), a mission trip and fundraising for the ministry. 

Brenda Swanson takes a moment to smile for a photo at Leadership Training Camp. Photo by Dave Stucke.

Three mission trips to Juarez, Mexico with youth is something that she will always remember. “I felt I left a piece of my heart there each time.”

Brenda shares that seeing some of the youth go on and serve in their own areas of ministry is very fulfilling.  Names that come to mind include Sean Binder, Alisa Hohbach, Emily Rettinghouse, and Ben Wilsey. All of these individuals have explored ministry in various ways throughout the Dakotas Conference.

“It is rewarding to see these individuals serving in ministry. But, there are many times that you will not see the impact that you have on lives. That's just the way it is in youth ministry, ” she said.

Things have changed over her 15 years of service. Technology has changed the way events happen, and the way information is communicated and managed. The availability of parents to be with their own children and also walk beside them in their faith life has dramatically influenced everyone. “So many parents have to work. So, they are busy and don’t have time.”

Brenda describes herself as a quiet introvert, and never imagined she would be doing this job. “I had no intention of doing this full-time. God put a passion in my heart, and here I am.”

She hopes to continue in the ministry as long as she is able. “God hasn’t told me to stop yet, and I love it. I am thankful that I am still capable of doing this.”