About
Us
One church
Multiple locations
our mission. | setting captives free.
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Matthew 20:28
Since 2021, Ransom Church Yankton has been on a mission to Set Captives Free—free to become all that God created them to be. We believe that true freedom is found in Christ, and we pursue this mission through three core values:
worship free of inhibition.
We seek to meet with God regularly, worshiping without anything holding us back and cultivating spiritual consistency.
live free of sin.
Through biblical community, accountability, and discipleship, we encourage one another to walk in holiness and freedom from sin.
serve free of self.
We embrace faithful obedience by serving wholeheartedly, putting others before ourselves with passion and practicality.
At Ransom Church,
We exist to remove barriers that keep people from experiencing the full life God has for them. Whatever is holding you captive right now, Jesus wants to set you free. He paid the price so you could walk in true freedom—and He is who we are chasing.
Join us on this journey and step into the life-changing freedom found in Christ!
our beliefs.
We are a Wesleyan church and our doctrine is in line with Wesleyan Doctrine. But beyond that, we believe that it is our call as Christians to be in the world but not of it. We believe in living a holy life, but we do not believe this is characterized by a list of rules, but rather by a life surrendered to Christ.
We believe that we are called to dynamically interact with the people around us, to live among them and share our lives with them in order to reach them with the truth of Jesus Christ. We believe that everyone has a calling to serve in the church and our world, that we are all called to His service.
our pastor.
“I’ve Never Felt So Free”
– Aaron’s Story
For Aaron Hansen, following God’s call wasn’t about waiting for the perfect moment—it was about obedience.
Aaron grew up going to church and would have said he was a Christian. But deep down, he hadn’t truly made Jesus the Lord of his life. When he finally surrendered fully, he discovered that Christianity wasn’t just about belief—it was about trust, about walking in freedom.
Aaron has always had a heart for teens and young adults, recognizing that, like him, many don’t know what they don’t know. His perspective on faith shifted when he first walked into Ransom Church in Sioux Falls. He immediately thought, “Yankton could really be impacted by a church like this.” Looking back, he realized, “I was a captive for 25 years and didn’t even know it.” That moment sparked a desire to bring Ransom Church to Yankton.
For a long time, Aaron prayed for God to send the right pastor. Then his cousin asked him, “Why not you?” He had a million reasons why it couldn’t be him—but God had other plans.
From a simple watch party in his living room to gathering in a downtown warehouse and then a dance studio, Aaron and his team remained faithful to God’s calling. Today, Ransom Church Yankton has its own space—a place where the mission extends beyond Sundays, reaching people every day of the week.
Through it all, Aaron has held to one unwavering truth: God’s calling doesn’t change. His purpose remains clear—to go and make disciples. The heart of Ransom Church Yankton is to be in the community, setting captives free—because true freedom is only found in Christ.
our partners.
At Ransom Church, we believe in the power of partnership to further God’s Kingdom. One of the key ways we live out our mission is through collaboration within our leadership and across our campuses. Through our teaching team, leadership, and partnerships across campuses, we are committed to equipping and empowering people to live in the freedom Christ offers.
our teaching team.
Our teaching team is made up of pastors and leaders from Ransom Church Sioux Falls who prayerfully develop biblically grounded, impactful messages. This team works together to craft sermon series that challenge and encourage our church family to grow in faith, live in freedom, and serve with purpose.
one church, multiple locations.
Ransom Church was founded in Sioux Falls, SD, in 2009, with a vision to Set Captives Free. As the church grew, God opened the door for expansion, leading to the launch of our Yankton Campus. While each location has its own unique community, we are united as one church. The Yankton Campus joins in worship and discipleship while streaming the weekend messages via live broadcast, staying connected to the broader mission and teaching of Ransom Church.
awaken network.
We are proud to partner with the Awaken Network, a ministry dedicated to equipping church planters and making disciples. Through this partnership, we invest in raising up new leaders, strengthening local churches, and expanding the reach of the Gospel. Awaken Network provides valuable resources and support, allowing us to deepen our impact and continue setting captives free.