SEWARD, Neb. — More than 300 students pursuing church work professions gathered at Concordia University, Nebraska, for a church work student luncheon on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, an event that combined networking, a taco and nacho lunch buffet and remarks from Mick Onnen of Lutheran Hour Ministries of Nebraska.

The luncheon drew several 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.

A discussion panel featuring the ministry team from Seward’s St. John Lutheran Church was a centerpiece of the event, focusing on how church workers serve together.

“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.

Bruick also pointed to the size of the gathering and the students’ future roles in ministry. “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 in the lives of those to whom they will be called to serve and to serve alongside of them,” he said.

St. John Lutheran Church Deaconess Jeri Morrison said the panel aimed to help students understand how different roles fit together in congregational life.

“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 the 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,” Morrison said.

Morrison also described how seating was organized to encourage conversation among students and guests. “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,” she said.

Panel participants also commented on the large turnout of church work students. St. John Lutheran School Principal Barb Mertens said she was struck by the number of students and the range of programs represented.

“When I walked into the room, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of students in the room. I noticed at the tables there were different table tents that revealed that in the room were pre-seminary students, teachers, and the Director of Christian Education. Over the past several years, there has been a great concern about the number of eligible teachers for Lutheran Schools across the United States. At the church worker lunch, the number of students studying to be in one of the areas of church work was hopeful. It was evident to me that Concordia Nebraska had intentional programs to encourage students into church work,” Mertens said. “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.”

Among the students attending was sophomore Lydia Fink, who is majoring in elementary education, minoring in general science and pursuing her Lutheran Teacher Diploma at Concordia Nebraska. She said the lunch served as a reminder of the community she has found through the church work program and the university’s support for students preparing for ministry.

“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,” Fink 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 with university faculty and staff. At the close of the event, Hardy led the group in a closing prayer and in singing the Doxology.

St. John Lutheran Church Director of Parish and School Music and Concordia Nebraska adjunct professor Paul Soulek said the gathering was encouraging for those preparing to serve.

“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,” Soulek said. “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.”

Concordia Nebraska currently has 309 students in church work programs. Those programs include the 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.”