More than 300 students attend Concordia Nebraska church work lunch event

More than 300 students attended Concordia University, Nebraska’s recent church work student luncheon on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The event included networking opportunities, a taco and nacho lunch buffet and remarks by Mick Onnen of Lutheran Hour Ministries of Nebraska. 

The event was also attended by a number of special guests including Concordia University System President Rev. Dr. Jamison Hardy, Concordia University Education Network Executive Director and Concordia University System Assistant to the President Rev. Dr. Paul Philp, Concordia University System Vice President Rev. Douglas Spittel, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Minnesota North District President Rev. Brady Finnern, Emmanuel Lutheran Church and School (Asheville, North Carolina) Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. Jeff Skopak, Metro East Lutheran High School Theology Chair Mr. Jon Giordano and Mr. Gary Thompson. 

The event was also highlighted by a discussion panel featuring the ministry team from Seward’s St. John Lutheran Church. 

“Each of us shared about our role on the team and how to work best in team ministry. One of the blessings of all of the other church worker professions outside of pastors is that all of& the others are naturally trained to serve on a team. When I was in the seminary, there was no instruction on team ministry. Thankfully I was trained as a teacher first before becoming a pastor. Our staff shared with the students the joys and the challenges when serving on a team,” said St. John Lutheran Church Pastoral Leader Rev. Scott Bruick ’87. “It was great to see so many future church workers at this luncheon. We pray that the Lord will continue to shape the hearts of the men and women studying at the university as He prepares them to share the hope of Jesus into the lives of those to whom they will be called to serve and to serve alongside of them.”

“It was incredible to see so many students who are focused on church professions. [Our] panel was able to explain each of the church work vocations and how we work together for care of the congregation. Regardless of vocation, each needs to know not only their own role, but each of the others and how they fit together,” added St. John Lutheran Church Deaconess Jeri Morrison. “I appreciated how tables were somewhat assigned so that a guest was at each table and the variety of church work students were also distributed as evenly as possible. It was very easy to find a table with a pre-deaconess student and be the guest at that table.” 

All of the panel’s participants comments on the large number of church work students gathered at the event. 

“When I walked into the room I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of students in the room. I noticed at the tables there were different table tents that revealed that in the room was pre-seminary students, teachers and the Director of Christian education students. Over the past several years, there has been a great concern about the amount of eligible teachers for Lutheran Schools across the United States. At the church worker lunch, the amount of students studying to be in one of the areas of church work was hope. It was evident to me Concordia Nebraska had intentional programs to encourage students into church work,” said St. John Lutheran School Principal Barb Mertens. “It was enjoyable to hear their stories about choosing Concordia and their excitement about their current studies. God will use all of them for His ministry.” 

“The Holy Spirit continues to call, gather and enlighten the Church, and seeing these vessels of God's Word together in one place is nothing less than inspiring.”

Sophomore Lydia Fink is majoring in elementary education, minoring in general science and pursuing her Lutheran Teacher Diploma at Concordia Nebraska. She said the lunch was a wonderful experience and a fantastic reminder of how many good friends she has met through the university’s church work program. She said she was excited to see so many students at the event and that she’s& grateful for the university’s intentional support of future church workers. 

“I would have never imagined that something like this would be part of what I get to receive as a future teacher. It is so interesting to think that one day we will all be spread out, serving where God has called us across the United States, and I am sure even overseas,” she said. “It has been amazing to see how Concordia Nebraska has created a place where church workers, along with students in other vocations such as business, science, and math, are being prepared to support ministry. We need both church workers and lay members to be faithful stewards, and Concordia is clearly equipping us for that calling.”

Students from various church work programs were intentionally grouped at each table along with various university faculty and staff. At the close of the event, Hardy led the group in a closing prayer and in singing the Doxology.  

“The Holy Spirit continues to call, gather and enlighten the Church, and seeing these vessels of God's Word together in one place is nothing less than inspiring,” said St. John Lutheran Church Director of Parish and School Music and Concordia Nebraska Adjunct Professor Paul Soulek. “In addition to my full-time call to St. John, I serve as adjunct faculty in the Concordia music department, teaching Arranging and Applied Organ and directing the Male Chorus. Bridging these two roles—and connecting university students with the parish life at St. John—is an incredible privilege. It is an unexpected path that has quickly become one of the most rewarding aspects of my vocation.” 

There are currently 309 students in church work programs at Concordia Nebraska. Concordia Nebraska’s church work programs include Lutheran teacher diploma, director of Christian education, director of parish music, pre-seminary, pre-deaconess and classical Lutheran educator certification.  

“It was exciting to witness both the amount and the breadth of interest in church work professions. It’s easy to be encouraged about the future with so many young men and women on the path to serving our Lord’s church,” said St. John Lutheran Church Associate Pastor Rev. Nathan Scheck. “It’s a joy to serve across the street at St. John and partner with Concordia Nebraska in its work.” 

Are you interested in learning more about church work education opportunities at Concordia Nebraska? Learn more here.