Forging a purposeful and faith-filled path to Wessington Springs
A 30-year, faith-filled, purposeful path across four states led Nancy Rieke to Wessington Springs, where she currently leads Our Savior’s Lutheran Church as pastor of the rural congregation.
Three decades ago, she and now-husband Tedd were both single parents when they met in Watertown.
“We had kids the same age and met through their confirmation classes,” she fondly recalls. “He came with four girls and I came with two boys.”
The family moved a lot over the years as Tedd served congregations in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and across South Dakota before finishing up with interim pastoral work in North Dakota.
Nancy’s journey in faith leadership truly began over ten years ago at Colman Lutheran when that congregation was between pastors and continued when she was hired as pastoral assistant at Messiah Lutheran in rural Trent.
“At that point, I started taking classes through Luther House at Sioux Falls Seminary,” she reflects. “It’s so interesting to look back. I never thought I’d keep going. All of a sudden I was meeting with the Bishop and her Assistant who encouraged me to keep going.”
Rieke was already serving back at Colman Lutheran as their Vicar (unordained minister) when the time for internship came up.
“I didn’t think I needed to go but the Bishop kept encouraging me. I couldn’t really think of a good reason not to go but I had my doubts,” Rieke shared. “Furthermore, I never dreamed anyone was going to want me. I thought, who is going to call someone old enough to retire?”
That’s when, Rieke said, God interjected.
“It’s like I heard God saying, ‘that’s none of your business if I want to give you this year to get this degree and prove that you can do it. It’s my business, not yours,’” she remembers vividly.
She heeded the powerful instructions and completed her internship near Green Bay, WI.
Rieke said she hopes that through sharing the details of her journey, her message can serve as a promising story for women.
“Back when I graduated from high school, you either got married or went tocollege.Igotmarriedand raised my sons. Now at 67 I have my master’s degree — I was 66 when I got it,” she said. “I have learned and truly believe that God doesn't recognize age or gender or health or wealth or anything else when He looks at us. God sees only a beloved child and gives to that child unbelievable opportunities. All we have to do is listen…and keep walking.”
She indeed continued walking, following a path that led her to several interviews — which she turned down. Then she came to Our Savior’s in Wessington Springs.
“When I first came here, Loree (Gaikowski) was so enthusiastic when she showed me around town. The church council was wonderful — it made a big impact on me that they all got along so well and are really involved,” she said. “I love it that our council is so young and that our members come to church because they want to. We just love each other here. On Sunday people start coming in at 9 a.m. and stay until 12 — worship is at 10.”
Her decision to answer the call in Wessington Springs was cemented when she received a personalized message from leadership in the South Dakota Synod.
“Rev. Renee Splichal Larson is the Associate to the Bishop. She works with congregations in the call process. Renee called on her way home from her meeting with the congregation here at Springs, and told me I needed to interview here; that all during her time here, my name was the only one she thought of. It meant a lot to have that outside affirmation,” Nancy said.
Pastor Nancy started at Our Savior’s the first Sunday in Advent, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Now eight months in, Pastor Rieke said she is truly happy with the congregation and the community as a whole and is grateful for God’s guidance leading her to her current call.
“God always has a purpose — you never outgrow God. No matter how young, or how old you are, God will use you,” she reflected. “And if you’re lucky, you’ll end up at Our Savior’s in Wessington Springs!”