History
Prior to 2017, two pastors from churches in Sioux Falls, initiated talks to begin a new mission somewhere in the greater Sioux Falls area. These were pastors Benjamin Tomczak from Bethel Lutheran and Jonathan Werre from Good Shepherd Lutheran.
After Brandon was chosen as a likely site for a new mission, an intensive community study was completed by Pastor Mark Birkholz. Pastor Birkholz serves as a Mission Counselor in the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod.
In 2017, a new mission was approved by the Board of Home Missions of the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod. They began calling for a pastor to come and begin mission work and organizing the church in Brandon.
In 2019, Pastor Craig Wilke, a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, was assigned to serve as the pastor to start the new mission in Brandon. Pastor Wilke was ordained and installed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on July 21, 2019.
A group of people began assembling in Brandon at the Wilke’s apartment for regular Bible Studies. After a community survey, the group named themselves Sure Foundation Lutheran Church and set their Grand Opening for September 20, 2020.
On September 18, 2020, Sure Foundation closed on their newly built parsonage in Brandon at 1625 W Bennett Dr. This parsonage would serve as a Residential Ministry Center for weekly Bible classes, meetings, and social gatherings. The house was completed by Good Shepherd’s own member, Paul Fick and his business, Paul Fick Homes.
On September 20, 2020, Sure Foundation launched every-week worship with 75 people in attendance.
On January 3, 2021, Sure Foundation moved to its location to the Brandon Golf Course, where they worshiped every week until the new church building was completed.
On September 20, 2023, Sure Foundation purchased 3.6 acres in the north central part of Brandon, 600 N Pasque Flower Trail. And in September 2025, Catalyst Construction broke ground on Sure Foundation’s future church home. The construction was completed and Sure Foundation held their first worship service in the new building on April 27th, 2025.
The Grand Opening Service was held on June 8th, 2025 and the Building Dedication was held on July 13th, 2025.