ABOUT US

RIVERTREE CHURCH

WHO WE ARE

Here's the deal, RiverTree Church cares about one thing more than anything else, Jesus Christ. RiverTree Church is a family of individuals that have found hope in Jesus, and simply want as many people as possible to experience that exact same freedom.

WHERE WE COME FROM

RiverTree Church was started in 1924 by a trio of families. Back then, this trio of families imagined a church that was truly welcoming to everyone - where everyone had a seat at the table regardless of personal history, family background, ethnicity, or gender.

WHERE WE ARE HEADED

What's the bottom line? More than ever, RiverTree Church is committed to fostering a family built around multiplying Jesus . Hope for the future. Hope for better. Hope for progress. Hope in Jesus. And as we move forward as a church family, inclusion and belonging remain at the center of who we are as followers of Christ.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

What does this mean for you? Most importantly, you're always welcome at RiverTree Church. We're saving a seat for you. Wherever you're at in your faith journey, you'll always be accepted as part of the RiverTree family.

 

Ready to plan your first visit?

BE OUR GUEST

OUR VISION

God has us here to make disciples who are equipped to face the challenges of life in faith. We are given a picture of this kind of life in Jeremiah 17:8 - 

They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

 

From this, we see...

1. They LIVE ROOTED in Jesus. They don’t just believe in their head or feel faith in their heart. They embrace a new and active way of living life, taking their cues from Jesus.

2. They BRANCH OUT, growing in Jesus. Jesus meets them where they are at, but they are changed as they follow Jesus. They grow into the person God created them to be. 

3. They BEAR FRUIT for Jesus. The goal of discipleship goes beyond Bible knowledge and good behavior. Disciples pursue God working through them so they can help others LIVE ROOTED in Jesus, BRANCH OUT, growing in Jesus, and BEAR FRUIT for Jesus. 

 

This invitation (and definition) didn’t just apply to those first disciples. It extends to us as well. This is our God given mission!

OUR BELIEFS

ONE GOD
BAPTISM
THE BIBLE
GOD'S WILL
OUR PURPOSE
ONE GOD

OUR BELIEFS

ONE GOD

We believe in one God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and the Savior of all who put their faith in him alone for eternal life.

FULL STATEMENT OF BELIEFS
BAPTISM
THE BIBLE
GOD'S WILL
OUR PURPOSE

OUR DENOMINATION

We are thankful to be part of a movement and a church family that is bigger than our local church. We are part of the Wesleyan Church, a denomination with a vision of transforming lives, churches and communities through the hope and holiness of Jesus Christ. 

 

The Wesleyan Church

MEET OUR TEAM!

Dan Ziebarth

Lead Pastor

"I run in the paths of your commands, for You have set my heart free." - Psalm 119:32.

Pastor Dan is our Lead Pastor and South Dakota native, hailing from Madison. He's married to his high school sweetheart, Michele. They have three children; Bethany who is married to Son-In-Law Jesse, Hannah and Benjamin. After working as an engineer for nine years, God called Pastor Dan into full-time ministry. He's so thankful that God has led them to minister here in Mitchell. He loves to help people get deeply rooted in Jesus Christ, so they can discover and live out their calling in life.

EMAIL DAN

Ben Aleshire

Adult Discipleship Pastor

"Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." - Colossians 3:1-4

Ben and his wife Brie, along with their three daughters and mini golden-doodle, moved to Mitchell from Roseville, California. He has had diverse life experiences. He joined the Air Force at 19 and used his education benefits to get a bachelor's in pastoral ministry. He worked for Apple while helping start up two churches in North Carolina. He spent some time working with teens in mental health while running a residential treatment facility, and more recently, served as a funeral director. Additionally, as a cancer survivor, Ben brings his diverse life experiences to the table when discussing discipleship to Jesus with others. He aspires to continue to write, teach the Scriptures, preach the Gospel, and love people well. 

EMAIL BEN

Riley Hanson

Youth Pastor

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another”

- Galations 5:13 (ESV).

Pastor Riley grew up outside of Brookings, South Dakota. As Pastor Riley grew in his faith, he felt convicted to fully surrender all that he wanted to Christ. He discovered God’s call on his life towards Ministry during his junior year at Cedar Canyon Camp in the Black Hills. Years later, he attended Indiana Wesleyan University, eventually finishing his Master’s Degree. In his spare time, he loves to go to coffee shops to socialize and write stories. He also loves the outdoors.

EMAIL RILEY

Angie Klock

Kids Ministry Pastor &

Facility Manager

"The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still." - Exodus 14:14

Pastor Angie is the children’s pastor and grew up in Ethan, South Dakota. Pastor Angie is married to Jarod, and together they have five kids; Noah, Leah, Anna, Rachel, and Joshua. Pastor Angie worked as a physical therapist and stay at home mom prior to being called into vocational children’s ministry at RiverTree Church. She and Jarod farm outside of Mitchell. Pastor Angie can most often be found with her kids or in her kitchen, baking and cooking, running, sewing and other creative projects. 

EMAIL ANGIE

Elsa Tapio

Worship Arts Director

For with God nothing will be impossible. - Luke 1:37

Elsa is the Worship Arts Director at RiverTree Church. Music has been an integral part of Elsa's life for as long as she can remember. As a child she often got scolded by her siblings to quit singing because she sang everything. She loves helping RiverTree connect with God through worship each Sunday. Elsa and her husband Nate have 5 children, Ashlyn, Josiah, Kahris, Emelia, and Brace. She enjoys family time, reading and spending the summer outdoors.

EMAIL ELSA

Josh Klumb

Technical Director

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. - Phillipians 2:3-5

Joshua Klumb is the Technical Director at RiverTree Church. Josh began attending RiverTree with his family in 1993 when he was 9 years old. He has served on the technical team in various volunteer capacities for the past 22 years. He married his wife Sadie in 2018 and they currently reside in Mitchell. Josh farms with his family on the farm where he grew up in rural Mt. Vernon. He has served on the Local Board of Administration for RiverTree Church from 2011 until he took this position in 2022. He has also served in the State Legislature since 2015 and currently serves as the State Senator for District 20. 

EMAIL JOSH

Laura Wolbrink

Communications Director 

‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ - Isaiah 41:10

Laura first attended RiverTree Church in the summer of 2017 after moving to Mitchell from Brookings with her husband, Jeremy. Laura and Jeremy fell in love with RiverTree and immediately decided to make RiverTree their church home. They have two children, both of whom are proof of God's promises and grace. Laura loves spending time with her family and can often be found working on some sort of creative project that inevitably takes longer than she thinks it will.

EMAIL LAURA

Michelle Wieczorek

Financial Secretary

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. - Philippians 4:8

Michelle is the Finance Secretary and has attended RiverTree Church since birth. Michelle is married to Brent and together they have four daughters: Brooke who is married to son-in-law Josh, Olivia, Bridget, and Miley. She and Brent farm south of Mount Vernon. Michelle enjoys shopping, conversations, camping, exercising, and spending time with family! You will rarely find Michelle without a McDonalds Mocha Frappe or a fountain pop, and if ever her office door is open, feel free to pop in for a chat!

EMAIL MICHELLE

Bekka Nash

Administrative Assistant

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12 (esv)

Bekka's life has been on the move since the beginning. She had the privilege of growing up in a missionary family and being involved in missions herself. Three years ago, she was introduced to her husband, Aaron Nash, and moved to Mitchell, SD. RiverTree Church, and especially the small group, has helped her begin to plant herself here. Aaron and Bekka love to go exploring the many parks with all of God's beautiful creation. They also enjoy finding coffee shops and small home-town diners. Bekka has had the privilege of living in many places; she am glad one of them is Mitchell, SD.

EMAIL BEKKA

Contact Us

We would love to hear from you!