Concordia Nebraska faculty and staff to present at Best Practices in Ministry

Best Practices in Ministry (BPM) is a free conference that has been hosted by Christ Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Arizona, for more than 10 years.  The conference is designed to encourage ministry support workers as they share the gospel of Christ. 

The next BPM event will take place February 12-14, 2026, and many Concordia University, Nebraska faculty and staff are attending the event to present, exhibit and enjoy fellowship with event attendees. 

Concordia Nebraska will also present an alumni and friends fellowship event as part of the conference, gathering on February 12 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the quad at Christ Lutheran Church and School in Phoenix. The alumni and friends fellowship event will feature snow cones and a special gift for Concordia Nebraska alumni.  

Presentations by Concordia Nebraska faculty and staff include: 

• Director of Counseling Services Kathy L’Heureux ‘97: Creating Christ-Centered Safe Spaces: Trauma Informed Practices for the Classroom   

• DCE Program Associate Director Amy Hubach ‘01: When They Hurt (discussing the definition of trauma, the different types, statistics and how to help students and adults on the journey through trauma) 

• President and Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Director of Academic Ventures Dr. Bernard Bull: The Radical Call to Loving Leadership 

• Professor Emeritus and Director of the Institute for Religious Education Dr. Mark Blanke CO ’82 GR ’92: The Three Es - A Systems Approach to Developing Lay Leaders   

• Secondary Education Program Director Dr. David Rindt: Unpacking The Anxious Generation 

• Associate Professor of Agriculture Dr. Kimberly Clark: Everything I Know about Scripture I Learned in the Tractor 

• Director of University Institutes Deb Jurchen ‘06: If Only These Parents Would...! Engaging Parents in Simple and Effective Ways 

• Assistant Professor of Lutheran Education and Faith Formation Rev. Dr. Pete Jurchen ‘04: Why We Crave Story – And How the Gospel Delivers 

• Professor of Geography and Chair of Department of History, Geography, Intercultural Studies and Modern Languages Dr. Joel Helmer ‘92 and Catalog Librarian Holly Helmer ‘92: Go Into All the World: Tips for Organizing and Leading International Travel Experiences 

• MA Marriage & Family Therapy and MS Family Life Education Program Director and Visiting Professor Kathleen von Kampen ‘10: I-Gen & Suicide: Myths, Tools, and Faith 

• Dean of the College of Education, Health and Human Sciences and Head of Teacher Education Dr. Lorinda Sankey ‘80: Strategies for Retaining our Educators  

Other attending Concordia Nebraska faculty and staff include: 

• Senior Director of Outreach, Relations and Engagement Jennifer Furr CO ’97 GR ‘03 

• Director of Dual Credit Dr. Beth Pester ‘96 

• LCMS Church Work Recruiter Aaron Rohde 

• Advancement Officer Pete Kenow ‘88 

• Associate Vice President of Graduate Programs and Operations Jon Krause 

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 1,700 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.