Concordia Nebraska to recognize church work students with sending service

On Friday, May 9, Concordia University, Nebraska will recognize the professional church work graduates at a sending service. The worship service allows for the students who are going out to serve the world through the church to be recognized for their work and dedication before they either take a call or go on to further their education.

The service was started about seven years ago by Concordia Director of Dual Credit, Dr. Beth Pester. When Concordia was Concordia Teacher’s College, the Lutheran teacher graduates would have experienced something similar to call day at the seminary at their graduation. Dr. Pester wanted to celebrate the people choosing to go into professional church work degrees. She talked to the university about implementing something that would do that and got approval to create the opportunity. She and Rev. Dr. John Mehl, Executive Director of Mission of Christ Network, collaborated to create a sending service that could become a Concordia tradition.

“All of Concordia’s graduates have been equipped to serve God through their vocations, the Sending Service is designed to celebrate the preparations that professional church work graduates have received to go out and serve the world specifically through church work careers,” said Dr. Pester. 

The Sending Service recognizes graduates from all five professional church work fields: pre-seminary, pre-deaconess, director of Christian education, director of parish music and Lutheran teachers. This year for the first time a classical Lutheran educator graduate is also being recognized. There are no pre-deaconess graduates this year.

At the service, each graduate being recognized has the opportunity to walk across the stage during the worship service and be recognized. It is stated when they walk across where they are going, either to serve in the church and world, or to continue their education. The service is a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the graduates who go out into the world to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus.

Church work students being recognized this year include:

Pre-Seminary

Joshua Burmeister, Wykoff, Minn.

Aarin Dean, Seward, Neb.

Caleb Swor, Allen, Texas

Director of Christian Education

Abigail Baack, Seward, Neb.

Mikayla Curl, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Brianna Bianco, Loveland, Colo.

Abigail Velten, Whitesboro, Texas

Director of Parish Music

Ryan Edinger, Wentzville, Mo.

Ethan Gillespie, Random Lake, Wis.

Classical Lutheran Educator

Abigail Merritt, Wylie, Texas

Lutheran Teaching Diploma

Elizabeth Ascher, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Julia Baker, Poy Sippi, Wis.

Joshua Bergt, Fairmont, Minn.

Mikayla Curl (Also DCE), Colorado Springs, Colo.

Abby Dueck, North Richland Hills, Texas

Faith Espinosa, Clarinda, Iowa

Nathalie Fortenberry, Bend, Ore.

Henry Gaertner, Royal Oak, Mich.

Abby Hemenway, Clearwater, Neb.

Lydia (Armbrecht) Hoft, Williamsburg, Iowa

Kayla Johnson, Wichita, Kan.

Jaxson Kant, Garland, Neb.

Rhaya Kaschinske, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Katelyn Lueders, Bennington, Neb.

Nathaniel Meller, Austin, Texas

Julie Oetting, Belvidere, Ill. 

Emily Otten, Omaha, Neb.

Nathan Pennekamp, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Madeline Peters, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Kayla (Loesche) Reece, Saint Louis, Mo. 

Grace Reimer, Sussex, Wis.

Emma Shane, Webster City, Iowa

Amanda Steinke, Brookfield, Wis.

Colin Thuringer, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Alexis Urban, Sioux City, Iowa

Jessica Zehendner, Pleasanton, Neb.

At Concordia, we equip students to serve as the hands and feet of Christ and be His witnesses through our church work programs. Whether you want to be a Lutheran educator or Director of Christian Education or a pastor, deaconess or parish musician, you’ll be prepared to share the love of Jesus around the world. Learn more about Concordia’s church work programs here.