Young Alumnus of the Year: Rev. Travis Ferguson says “Concordia Nebraska is a place that helped me discover who God made me to be.”

During Homecoming weekend, the Concordia Alumni Association honors alumni and friends for their outstanding service and accomplishments. The Concordia Nebraska Young Alumnus of the Year award is given to an alumnus who graduated within the last 15 years and has made a significant contribution as a servant leader in the community, church and world. This is a recognition for outstanding performance in his/her vocation. 

Rev. Travis Ferguson ’13 currently serves as senior pastor of Christ Lutheran Church and School in La Mesa, California, and is also a chaplain (major) with the United States Air Force Reserve. He received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and behavioral science from Concordia Nebraska, a master of divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 2017, and he is currently working toward a doctor of ministry degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. His wife Amy (McDaniel) ’15 also attended Concordia Nebraska. They have two children, Luca and Levi. 

Prior to his current service, Ferguson served as associate pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Often recognized for outstanding service, he was named Reserve Organization of America Chaplain of the Year in 2021. His Air Force awards include an Air and Space Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, an Air and Space Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, an Armed Forces Service Medal with one service star and a Humanitarian Service Medal. 

Concordia gave me a firm foundation of scripture, the Lutheran Confessions and a Lutheran-Christian worldview.

Active within the church and his community, Ferguson serves as secretary of the board of directors of the Lutheran Mission Society San Diego. In his senior pastor role at Christ Lutheran, he is responsible for overseeing an annual budget of over $4 million, leading an executive team and caring for the souls of members and school families. His days are filled with pastoral counseling, mentoring the church’s vicar, meeting with key staff and lay leaders, planning worship, visiting the sick and dying and even playing kickball with school kids during recess duty. 

“I love seeing lives changed by the Gospel. Answering kids’ questions about God and the world is probably one of the most fulfilling parts of my day to day,” he said. “Additionally, I love being able to walk with people through the best and worst times of life and find it incredibly meaningful that people trust me with their worst.” 

He met his wife Amy while they were both in college at Concordia Nebraska. He was a senior and she was a sophomore. Following graduation, they married and moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for his vicarage at Trinity Lutheran Church. Upon my graduation from seminary, they moved to Knoxville, Tennessee, and then to San Diego, California. Amy serves as the admissions counselor at their church’s school.  

“Concordia Nebraska is a place that helped me discover who God made me to be,” he said. “I came into college with a lot of baggage and made a lot of poor choices while I was in college. The grace that was shown to me by professors, especially Dr. Nancy Elwell, Dr. Thad Warren and Dr. Kathy Miller, were transformative. The support and direction given by Pastor Ryan Matthias was invaluable as well. Truthfully, there are too many people to thank from my time at Concordia – I am where I am today in no small part because of the people who poured into me [during my time there].” 

Ferguson said that he has many fond memories of his time on campus, but the thing that stands out the most is the spiritual formation that he experienced during this time at the university. 

“I know that the staff and faculty are playing the long game with students like me,” he said. “The professors never made me feel like a burden, especially the professors who I would have time and time against for my degree track. Their vulnerability and authenticity were impactful – and led me to where I am today.” 

He encourages current Concordia Nebraska students to savor their time on campus. 

“Don’t view college as a hoop to jump through to get to the next chapter of life. Engage in the process. Read the books. Do the homework. Take part in the discussions. Go to chapel. Drink it in. Concordia is a special place; you’d do well to let it form you,” he said. “The theology department were not just “professors” but pastors who patiently walked with me and guided me as I prepared for pastoral ministry. Concordia gave me a firm foundation of scripture, the Lutheran Confessions, and a Lutheran-Christian worldview.”  

Students pursuing a degree in psychology from Concordia University, Nebraska study the human experience by exploring the many areas of the psychology discipline such as mental disorders, social interactions, memory, learning and human development. With these skills, students can pursue a career in counseling, human and social sciences, corrections and research.