Who We Are

The history of sharing Children, Youth, and Family programming in Richfield goes back many years with the formation of the Richfield Lutheran Collaboration. The three ELCA churches in Richfield, Woodlake, Oak Grave, and House of Prayer, came together to pool resources, time, and energy, knowing the work they did together had the possibility to positively impact the RIchfield community far more than either congregation could do on their own.

Through door to door canvassing and community research, they decided the best way to work together would be to host intergenerational outdoor services during the summer months, supporting the boys and girls club programs at the Richfield Middle School, and holding annual weekend retreats for families.

In the early months of 2020, and as part of their initiative to live into their new mission and vision, Woodlake was looking to expand their staff to include a part time youth outreach position. Just as they were preparing to open the hiring process, the youth director at House of Prayer resigned to take a different position. Woodlake and House of Prayer had already been working together on many Youth and Family focused ministries, and decided to make the partnership official by hiring a single full time Youth Outreach and Program Director to plan and oversee all shared aspects of ministry.

Daniel Ditmanson joined the Shared Children Youth and Family Ministry of Woodlake and House of Prayer as the inaugural Youth Outreach and Program Director in December of 2020. In the early stages of the ministry partnership it became clear there was a need for a single mission and vision that the two churches could equally support and that was easily communicated to the congregations and surrounding community. The Shared Children Youth and Family Ministry of Woodlake and House of Prayer was rebranded as Richfield Area Lutheran Youth (RALY) in September 2021, and we’ve seen amazing support and success as we continue to serve our congregations and the Richfield