There is something wonderful about the moment when the right person walks through the door. After a thoughtful and prayerful search process, we are overjoyed to introduce Jackson Dalen as Trinity Lutheran Church’s new Director of High School Ministry. Jackson joins us on September 1, and we could not be more excited about what God is going to do through his ministry among our young people.
Jackson grew up in Underwood, Iowa, a town of about 500 people where everybody knows everybody. (He assures us that Owatonna feels like a major metropolis by comparison, and we are happy to help him navigate the big city.) Growing up, Jackson was deeply involved in sports, and that background shaped him in ways that still show up in how he leads: a love of teamwork, a competitive desire to keep getting better, and a genuine belief that what you do alongside other people matters.
His path to ministry has been anything but straight, and we think that is part of what makes him so interesting. Jackson has spent the last year working at Rainbow Trail Lutheran Camp in the Colorado Rockies, where he worked his way from summer counselor to a year-round, full time program leadership role . At Rainbow, he led staff, coordinated retreats with congregations and youth directors from across the Rocky Mountain Synod, managed logistics and budgets, and did what great youth ministry people do: he showed up for young people day after day and pointed them toward Jesus. He brings a deep, lived familiarity with Lutheran theology, and a genuine passion for helping young people discover who they are in light of who God is.
What drew Jackson to Trinity was our approach to high school ministry. He was excited by our focus on developing positive, Christ-centered relationships, the opportunity to create new, genuine entry points for young people who are not yet connected. And he lit up when talking about mission trips, adventure experiences, youth gatherings and the kind of community that forms when young people live and serve together. Jackson’s enthusiasm is contagious, and our young people are going to feel it.
In his note accepting the position, Jackson wrote: “I am excited to come to Trinity knowing I will be embraced with open arms, with love, and with joy! I am excited to share my story as well as hear the story of as many members as I can. I am excited to share the good news of Jesus with everyone I encounter! I am excited to see how God’s love and grace shows up in the lives of each high schooler I connect with! Most importantly I am looking forward to pursuing my call to high school ministry, as a faithful servant of our incredible God! I extend overwhelming gratitude to the members, staff, and call team of Trinity for this incredible opportunity!”
In his role, Jackson will work to develop leadership for our youth group, build and support a peer ministry leadership team, develop our adult volunteer community, and work to create the kind of relationships with students that research and experience both tell us are among the most important things a church can offer a teenager.
We invite you to welcome Jackson warmly when you see him. Introduce yourself. Tell him about your young person, your grandchild, your neighbor who is in high school. Pray for him as he makes this transition and puts down roots in our community. And if you know a high schooler who needs a place to belong, now is a wonderful time for them to connect.
Jackson, we are so glad you are here. Welcome home.
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