Board of Directors

Nate Helling

Nate Helling joined the Sioux Falls Ministry Center Board of Directors in 2015. Helling currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer & Vice President of Operations at Sioux Falls Seminary, a position he has held since July of 2015. Helling has held several other positions at Sioux Falls Seminary since joining its staff in 2004. Helling attended Augustana University where he received a bachelor's degree in business administration and management information systems in 2002. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity degree from Sioux Falls Seminary in 2010. In his free time, Helling enjoys biking and reading. A member of Central Church in Sioux Falls, Helling has served on the Elder Executive Committee. Helling lives in Sioux Falls with his wife Lisa and their son Caleb.

Rich Merkouris

Rich Merkouris has a growing passion to serve those in need and he thinks the Sioux Falls Ministry Center is the perfect place to meet the needs of people in Sioux Falls.  He says, “I love thinking about the work of Jesus that will take place through this facility and how agencies, along with their guests, will benefit from these ministries being located in the same facility.”  Rich graduated from the University of Sioux Falls with a degree in mathematics and received a Master of Divinity from Sioux Falls Seminary.  Rich also serves as Pastor of King of Glory Church in Sioux Falls.  He and his wife Shannon have two daughters, Hannah and Hazel, and a son Henry.

Karrie Schipper

Karrie Schipper grew up in Madison, S.D. and attended the University of South Dakota and obtained a BS in Health Administration. She and her husband Greg have three sons: Jackson, Gavin and Logan. Their family is a member of First CRC Church in Sioux Falls. Karrie has worked for Avera since 1996, in 4 roles:  HR Manager, Clinic Manager, Physician Recruiter and currently as a Business Development Manager. Her passions are faith, family and friends. She enjoys helping and likes to make a difference in the lives of others. Her life objective is to seek, trust and glorify God so that one day when she stands before him he may say “well done my good and faithful servant”.