Matt Bader a sophomore, Christian leadership major and history minor at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota was selected as the 2016 youth recipient of the Harry Denman Evangelisim Award. He plans to pursue ordained ministry. However, he has been answering God’s call to minister to others since he was young. 

Photo: Matt Bader receives the 2015 Harry Denman Evangelism Award from Bishop Bruce R. Ough, Dakotas-Minnesota Area.

A recent story, by Jarrett Mills, in DWU Alumni Magazine highlighted one of those ministry areas that began in middle school.

It all began with a conversation with his father a few days before Bader left for a mission trip at the Spirit Lake Indian Nation. Bader was kicking around the idea that if he were able to keep a pair of shoes in good condition for six months, his father would buy him a nice pair of blue and orange Reeboks. Soon after Bader stepped foot on the reservation, his eyes were opened. "I’m looking around at all these kids, and this kid has no shoes, and this guy has no shoes," Bader said. "If they don’t have shoes, many aren’t able to get on the bus to eat lunch throughout the summer. For many that is the only hot meal they get in the summer."

Bader got to work immediately. ‘We were all challenged in youth group to make a difference in the world," Bader said. "I wanted to make an impact.” He began to brainstorm ideas on how he could raise money to buy shoes for people on the reservation while in high school in Valley City, North Dakota Bader finally came to a conclusion. "If I go out and run three miles and get someone to sponsor me each mile, I would have enough to buy a pair of shoes," Bader said.

Two hundred fifty miles later, Bader is now able to provide many pairs of shoes and also explained the process in how he purchases them. "Once I get the money collected at the end of the summer, I will go to Wal-Mart and buy shoes," Bader said. "It’s really fun walking through Wal-Mart with carts full of shoes and buying out their entire selection." In order to receive a pair of shoes, the school has an incentive for the students. The students must finish out the spring semester in good standing, and they will receive shoes. So far Bader has donated more than 500 pairs of shoes.

Matt serves as the volunteer leader of the middle school youth group at First UMC in Mitchell, SD, where he attends college.  In that context, it is so evident how much he cares about the young people.  He is committed to reaching middle schoolers who don’t always get a lot of attention or investment and to making that time and space open and welcoming.  He has risen to the challenge of sharing in the visioning and leadership of the program and has recruited other college students to share their gifts through this ministry.

Matt has a calling on his life to serve.  He feels a strong call—and has been affirmed in this calling—to be a pastor of a local church.  Matt not only serves at First UMC but also in the Conference office.  Through these interactions, Matt has expressed his passion for the United Methodist Church.  When there is talk of conflict or decline in our denomination, Matt is quick to counteract that by saying, “That may be the feeling of others. But me and my friends believe in this church and believe it its possibilities for the future.”  We are grateful to be able to share in the journey of a young man who, even now, is sharing the Good News and making disciples, and who will continue to do that for years to come.