INTRODUCING...NEW DISTRICT WORKERS

With the new year comes some District staffing changes.   

It is my pleasure to introduce three men who will be working on a part-time basis in the new year to assist congregations and workers to carry out their ministry.  All three men are familiar to the District having served within the District either in the parish or directly for the District.  We welcome Lee, Dan, and Mark!

Bob Whipkey has retired and there are plans for someone new to fill that vacated position.  

  YOUTH COUNSELOR - Lee Belmas - He's back and ready to go! Lee began  working for the District in 1985, after graduating from Concordia/St Paul.  He worked as the District Youth Counselor for twenty-one years providing resources for Jr. and Sr. High Youth and their leaders, as well as being an encourager to the DCE's and youth workers of our District.   Lee coordinated many retreats and District youth events as well as providing leadership at the Synod level.   Lee currently works very part-time doing family ministry at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Wausau.  Lee retired from the District in October, 2011.  Lee just celebrated 38 years of marriage with Fran, is a father of two and a grandfather to two, with another on the way!   To reach Lee, you can email him at leeandfran@charter.net or call him at 715-581-5893. 

Lee's task is to encourage, listen, coach and provide insight to the youth workers and DCE's in our District.  

PASTORAL COUNSELOR - Pastor Dan Kohn is a sole pastor at Bethlehem  Lutheran Church in Altoona. Before becoming a pastor, Dan was a licensed Mental Health and Addictions Counselor for over 30 years. He is also an author of four books, including The Resilient Pastor. Dan writes a daily devotional for Wisconsin Christian News website. Dan also serves as a synodically-trained reconciler. Dan has been married for 40 years, has two adult children and three grandchildren.

Pastor Kohn's role will be to address counseling needs in the District. This will include direct, confidential counseling with pastor, and other church workers. He will also be developing resources to assist pastors in their counseling role, and making referrals. Dan can be reached confidentially at revkohn@gmail.com or by phone at:  715-610-2400.

MINISTERIAL HEALTH RESOURCE - Pastor Mark Lundgren serves a dual-parish as sole pastor for St. Luke Lutheran Church in Sherry and St. John Lutheran Church in Auburndale, Wisconsin. Mark has been a pastor for 20 years, serving in suburbs, the inner city, and now, a rural setting. He has lived in eight different states from Hawaii to Montana and Las Vegas to Chicago. He has an education background and has taught at grade school, high school and college levels. He has authored devotions and articles and is currently working on a novel. He has worked in the area of ministerial health in two districts and continues to research and present on the topic. Mark and his wife of 16 years have six children.

  Pastor Lundgren's task is to present to congregational leaders, pastors, circuits and other gatherings on the topics of overall ministerial health, spiritual retreats, sabbaticals, and other health and ministry related topics. He will also encourage networking of ministerial health resources and work with congregations to meet their needs.   In the fall, the plan is to offer coaching for individuals.   Pastor Lundgren can be reached in the following confidential ways by email at preacher000000@gmail.com  (that's six zeroes after "preacher")or by phone at: 715-383-4582.