DCE Practicum class presents “Behold, the New” event, bringing together students, faculty and community for an evening of Christ-centered education

On April 15 from 7-9 p.m., the first-ever “Behold, the New” conference took place at Concordia Nebraska, featuring a conference-style set of presentations from various members of the Concordia community and beyond. The event was open to members of Concordia’s student body, faculty, staff and the larger community.  

"Behold, the New” focused on how Jesus impacts every area of one’s life from the perspectives of professors and mentors across many fields at the university.  

The event was held by the Director of Christian Education (DCE) Practicum course students. In this course, students training to become DCEs gain an in-depth understanding of the career path, its history and necessary skills. They also gain off-campus field experience in congregational ministry.  

Presenters included Kim Boyce, Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo, Billy Moore, Dr. John Jurchen, Ben Limback, Rev. Richard Snow, Dr. Shanna Opfer, Dr. Keith Kerschen, Rev. Dr. Peter Jurchen, Venita Steinbauer and Daniel Lewis.  

I hoped participants would realize the importance of ‘active listening’ in their devotional life. In the midst of life’s storms, we need to listen to and cling to God’s promises.

The event allowed participants to attend up to three different presentations. Billy Moore, a Data Analyst for Concordia’s IT department, presented “New Reasons to Read Old Stories” and said that he discussed how the deeper themes in fairy tales can often be taken for granted.  

“We often dismiss fairy tales as simple relics of the past,” he said, “but what if these old stories hold something far greater? The Brothers Grimm sought not just to preserve folklore but to uncover deep, hidden truths...what if, in their search, they stumbled on something profound – tales which echo a truth that seems to point, perhaps, toward the greatest story of all? My goal was to connect these dots, and hopefully do it in an interesting way.”  

Concordia’s Chief Operating Officer Kim Boyce said that his presentation, entitled “Ecclesiastes: Altering Reality” focused on the differences that can arise between our perceptions and reality.  

“It is often said that ‘your perception is your reality’ and this is only partially true,” Boyce said. “My goal for any student who attends this session is for them to identify areas in their life where they may have a ‘perception’ but want to gain a Biblical perspective.” 

Visiting Professor of Theology Daniel Lewis presented “Healing Through Listening,” which encouraged attendees to engage in active listening practices when interacting with others.  

“First, I hoped that participants would have a deeper appreciation for how much they can bless and support their peers by simply being present with others and practicing a few simple active listening skills,” he said. “Second, I hoped participants would also realize the importance of ‘active listening’ in their devotional life. In the midst of life’s storms, we need to listen to and cling to God’s promises.” 

Professor of Chemistry Dr. John Jurchen presented "Blood, Water and Light," discussing how Christians can engage with Biblical material through the natural sciences. 

"I am hoping that we were able to develop a new tool to engage and appreciate God's Word," Jurchen said. "Specifically, our Heavenly Father has created us with bodies and those bodies live in a material world...As it is the same Lord who gives us His Word and made the world in which we live, can we use the tools of the natural sciences to examine His material world and gain a deeper appreciation of His Word?"

Several speakers expressed their joy about the event and its turnout, saying that they hoped for its continuation in the future.  

“This is a bit of an experiment for [the DCE practicum class] but the effort of encouraging and providing resources to students in their Biblical literacy is a real win for students – no matter what!” Boyce said.  

“I was amazed at how well these practicum students did in organizing and running the event,” said Lewis. “I’m hopeful this becomes a yearly tradition for the DCE practicum course.”  

The Christian Education Leadership program at Concordia University, Nebraska prepares its students to serve the church and world as professional Directors of Christian Education (DCEs). Learn more about the CEL program here.