08/02/2024
Sharing in Ministry-Pastor Steven Neal to serve Family of Christ and Campus Lutheran at UNK
Following the recommendation of the call committee and vote of both Nebraska Lutheran Campus Ministry and the Family of Christ Lutheran Church congregation, Pastor Steven Neal has been called to serve as Pastor. He will begin his call September 1.
“I'm thrilled about the partnership between Campus Ministry and Family of Christ and excited for the call to serve in this time and place,” Pastor Neal said. “This shared ministry envisions intentional, mutual mission together, and there are so many exciting ministry opportunities, both outward-looking and inward. We will serve the larger community together and worship and grow and share the love of Jesus together. Family of Christ is excited to expand their mission of directly supporting students and growing those relationships, and students can look forward to a warm, welcoming congregation excited to embrace and walk alongside them. Together, we'll listen, discern, and explore God's grace and call for us.”
Reed Wagner is a peer minister on the University of Nebraska Kearney campus and has been active at Campus Lutheran for several years. He also served on the call committee.
“I’m very excited for this call and the new life it will bring into our community,” Wagner said. “I look forward to the leadership and our collective work to be advocates for our community as a whole.”
The call committee for Pastor Neal included members of Family of Christ, UNK campus ministry alumni and current students who are involved in campus ministry at Campus Lutheran.
The call brings new life and energy to both Campus Lutheran and Family of Christ as they work together to plan, develop and navigate a new, shared identity under the leadership of Pastor Neal.
Nan Straatmann is the call committee chair and has been active with Family of Christ for 40 years.
“This has been a journey and at times we have had to reach deep to keep focused on what God’s plan is for our congregation. Through prayer we found not only courage but Joy in knowing that our future with Pastor Steven is good not only for Family of Christ and Campus Lutheran but for our community as we move forward in our mission.”
Weekly worship, meals, small group ministries and service to the community are all ways the ministry envisions serving as one family together. Over the past year, college students at Campus Lutheran and congregational members at Family of Christ have already started building relationship through planning, meetings and fellowship time together.
“We see this as an opportunity for sharing together in ministry as one collective call… one “Family of Christ,” Executive Director for Nebraska Lutheran Campus Ministry Jon Fredricks said. “We have so many opportunities to grow and serve together in mission. It is wonderful to blend our ministries together.”
