Madelyn Tinklenberg

Madelyn was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she loyally attended Sioux Falls Christian School from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. Hearing about Jesus often at school, Madelyn invited Christ into her heart at a young age, but she says it took a while for her heart to shift and her faith to become real to her. She remembers having a lot of head knowledge and being able to recite Bible stories with ease, but it wasn’t until she entered high school that her heart changed.

Madelyn notes that her time as a Collision student was instrumental; what started as going to Collision lunches for the pizza transitioned into a desire for the community and time in scripture. She also began spending time at MariCar Community Center with a Collision staff member, and she was hooked; her eyes were opened to the multitude of broken people around her, and her heart for outreach grew exponentially. 

Being called out as a Collision leader her senior year propelled Madelyn in a way she never expected, as she had previously worked mostly behind the scenes. Leading from the front for the first time, she had to be confident in what she believed so as to lead others in a way that would point them to Jesus. 

Nowadays Madelyn attends Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, where she is pursuing a degree in social work. Balancing school and ministry, Madelyn is excited to be part of the Collision team and to continue to be engaged at her alma mater, Sioux Falls Christian, as she trains and encourages students to live out the Great Commission.