The learning center will be run by Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. The church had previously run a small 14-person daycare out of their church building. With the closure of the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in summer 2022, the church found the perfect opportunity for a full-sized center with plenty of space.

Martin Luther College professor Keith Wessel gave the sermon. He said the new learning center is a testament to the church’s understanding of God’s word.

“These are God’s treasures,” he said. “It reminds us of the privilege we have being called to be stewards of the gifts God has placed in our hands. God’s treasures find us and spur us on to faithfully do the work and take care of the things God has put before us.”

Wessel said some churches pay considerable money to consultants, who focus more on influential adults to grow a church’s congregation. He shared a biblical story where, during a spirited theological debate in the Synagogue of Capernaum, women brought their children with them. When attempts were made to take them away, Wessel said Jesus called them to him.

Treasures Director Adam Schmidt gives shout outs to employees of the new child care learning center during its dedication ceremony Sunday.

“‘Let the little children come to me, don’t hinder them,'” he said. “‘The kingdom of God belongs to such as these'”

By creating this child care learning center, Wessel said the ministry had childlike faith which allowed them to bring their treasures to Jesus.

State Sen. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-St. Paul, attended the ceremony and shared a few words. He said he was sad to hear about the nursing home closing, as elderly living is an issue in rural Minnesota. He was happy to hear the space will be used for child care, another topic of concern.

After the dedication ceremony ended, attendees got to tour the facility and speak to several people involved with the new center.

God’s Treasures Director Adam Schmidt said with the new building and license they will be able to have 60 kids, with potential to expand to 82. He said with the demand he’s experienced, he is glad they can expand.

“We’ve been running at capacity for the last year and a half, so we couldn’t take anymore,” Schmidt said. “We did have parents calling looking for care like any other childcare business. There’s always a waiting list.”

Schmidt said the most difficult part of the process was checking all the boxes and having all their ducks in a row in time for licensure.

“Things have to happen in order. Construction wrapped up sometime in April. Then we started assembling the rooms. We had to look through all of the checklists, making sure we were meeting all of the state requirements. All of the licensing, details had to be nailed down. Bringing on the personnel and having them signed off by our license takes a lot of time.”

God’s Treasures received its license May 29, less than a week before their opening June 3 and over a year before construction was completed on the property April 2023.

The center will cover kids six weeks to 12 years old. Schmidt said they do currently have some spots available, and admission is not limited to kids in Winthrop. For more information, contact the God’s Treasure’s Childcare Facebook page, call 507-647-7409, or go to https://godstreasures.us/.