After decades of service, youth ministers bid farewell to Buffalo Covenant Church

Val Pederson and Guy Bergstrom, both of Buffalo, will be retiring from their positions in youth ministry at the Buffalo Covenant Church this summer. They each served the Buffalo Covenant Church for over 30 years. The decision to retire was difficult and emotional, but they still plan to be members of the Buffalo Covenant Church.

Val Pederson-

Youth Ministry Pastor

Val went to college for ministry, and received some of her education at the University of Northwestern St. Paul and Bethel. She began working in youth ministry in 1983. She took a break and was a stay-at-home mom until returning to the church in 1998, when she became the Pastor of Youth Ministry.

She shared that her involvement and passion for youth ministry began at a young age. “By 11th grade, they gave me my own class to teach for Sunday school,” she shared. “I knew I loved working in the church and working with kids,” she said.

“I love growing the children’s leadership skills, and seeing them flourish, it’s been a blessing,” Pederson shared. She believes that it was her calling to do youth ministry and has enjoyed her time with Buffalo Covenant Church.

During her time with Buffalo Covenant Church, Pederson oversaw the whole youth program, performed baptisms, and she also worked on weddings that took place at the church, as well.

Pederson announced her retirement last summer, almost a year ago. Her last day with the church will be June 10. “I plan to give the church some space to allow the new hire to come in and not be in my shadow,” Pederson shared. She will still be attending church but wants to wait to get involved on a volunteer basis. “Once a pastor, always a pastor. That’s how you see the world,” she stated.

Pederson shared that it was a difficult decision to make to retire, but she believes it’s the right time. “It was a decision that I thought about for a long time,” she stated. “It will be nice to spend time with my kids, and grandkids and not have to worry about my schedule determining when I see them,” the grandmother of five shared.

Guy Bergstrom-

Associate Youth Director

Bergstrom worked with the Buffalo Covenant Church for a total of 36 years. He shared that he has “too many,” fond memories from his time with the church. While working with the church, Bergstrom has also done marketing part-time. “I will be leaving my position at the church, but I will be going back to marketing,” he stated.

Bergstrom grew up in the church and has always enjoyed camps and retreats. His parents were also involved in youth ministry. He was inspired by his parents’ and his youth minister’s leadership. He attended a one-year all Bible college in Montana, “it deepened my love for the Lord and His word,” he shared. He also attended business school for accounting and management.

Bergstrom has enjoyed “Seeing the youth grow, and claim their faith in Jesus Christ on their own, and then see them come back to Buffalo Covenant Church as adults; it’s such a cool aspect of youth ministry; it’s a real joy.”

During his time with the Buffalo Covenant Church, Bergstrom worked with various ministries, led college summer Bible studies, and he would also concentrate a lot of his time out in the community, building relationships with students and families in the area.

Bergstrom announced his retirement at the January annual meeting, and his last day will be May 31. “It took me a number of months to come to the decision, it’s bittersweet,” he said. “Ministry never stops,” he shared. “I definitely see continued ministry on a volunteer basis at Buffalo Covenant,” he stated.

Blessings for future

Pederson and Bergstrom wished blessings upon the future of the youth ministry and the Buffalo Covenant Church. “It’s been a blessing to work in a church in a community like Buffalo,” Bergstrom shared.

They shared the importance and impact that youth ministry has. “You work with people during the most formative years of their life, when they make their own decisions on faith,” Bergstrom stated. Both Pederson and Bergstrom agree that youth ministry is a great thing to invest in. “I would encourage other churches to invest in those formative years,” Bergstrom said. “It’s the best job on Earth,” Pederson shared as her closing remark.