Have you ever left a meeting and the minute you sign off or walk away you just smile as a wave of gratitude washes over you? That happened to me after meeting with Jaelyn Arndt, an Augsburg alum and current Assistant Director of Communications at the NCAA.��

We at the Christensen Center for Vocation (CCV) were intrigued to hear Jaelyn’s story after a tweet last summer where she answered the question “What is your calling?” She credits the Auggie support system for helping her find her dream. We, at CCV are curious to know the various ways we see vocation lived out on a daily basis in the lives and work of our Augsburg colleagues, students, alums, and our neighbors in the Cedar-Riverside and Seward neighborhoods.

By vocation we mean the ways we are compelled, empowered, challenged, freed, and responsible to show up (individually and collectively) in ways that help our neighbors and neighborhoods thrive. We believe every individual and every institution experiences a vocational tug.

This is a story about how an Augsburg alum became an engaged neighbor through learning about her own vocation.��

Jaelyn graciously agreed to meet with me (Ellen Weber) via Zoom from Indiana and share her story.��

When Jaelyn came to Augsburg to tour, she was guided by our Volleyball Head Coach, Jane Becker and Assistant Coach, Jennifer Jacobs. She walked away from that tour years ago thinking, “These are my people!” So after her senior year at Washburn, she started at Augsburg and was part of the volleyball team.����

Throughout her time at Augsburg, Jaelyn leaned on her volleyball teammates and staff like family. “Because it is a D3 school, people actually cared about me and my wellbeing.” The volleyball team was a place where Jaelyn learned who people are. “Before the season started, our coach would give us working packets about our teammates. We had workshops where we learned each other’s love languages, how we like to be approached, and how we give feedback. We started our practices sharing what we were grateful for or sharing how our day was. It mattered who we are and that we knew who actually was on the court with us.”��

It was clear from speaking with Jaelyn that she felt that the volleyball community honored her whole being, not just the athlete part of her identity. This is the power of an expansive definition of vocation. That it is who we are and how we show up in the world that is our vocation.

She broke her ankle after her second year, and she found herself asking the question, “Who am I?” This isn’t uncommon for someone to experience when we think about our vocation as one thing, one career, or one role. That ends up being all that we think we are, so when we all of a sudden can’t perform that one role, we can end up in an identity crisis.��

After Jaelyn’s injury, she decided to go to chapel more often on Wednesday evenings, which opened her ears to deep listening. It was there that she learned about the language around calling and vocation at Augsburg. She learned that who one is is different than what one does and, as she explains, “What matters is how I show up because who I am is with me all the time.”

Jaelyn shared that Augsburg taught her about how to be in the world. She learned how to show up in different spaces with all types of people and the importance of creating a welcoming space for all. Throughout her interactions in all sorts of departments, (Jaelyn worked in lots of departments throughout her time here!) Jaelyn learned how to accompany those around her by listening to their stories and finding ways to share those stories with the world. She learned how she is called to show up as neighbor through storytelling.��

Jaelyn first realized her calling of storytelling when she went to Australia to study abroad. She began sharing her own stories via Visco and learned that she loved it and was good at it. Since she graduated from Augsburg she had a few different jobs sharing stories in non-profit work and coaching volleyball. Then in January of 2022, she started her dream job of working at the NCAA. She thinks about who is highlighted in the story and who is telling the story. She knows that counter-narratives matter. While she was talking with me, I could feel in my own body Jaelyn’s passion and energy for her own vocation of digital storytelling.��

I asked Jaelyn for her advice for folks uncovering their vocation. She came up with the following:

• There is not one path, but it is okay to get off the path!
• Chase what fills your cup.��
• Be patient as there is no checkbox for life!
• When you are living your authentic life your life will feel so filled.����
• Look for healthy environments: positive good people allow you to put your best work forward.��

Jaelyn shared in the beginning of our time together a quote that impacts her work and life that is important to her. It is from Maya Angelou, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” It reminds her that relationships matter.��

It was clear from start to finish of our interview that Jaelyn cares how she shows up in the world for her neighbor. She is genuine in her interest in hearing the stories of those around her.�� She is passionate about finding ways to share those stories with the world, especially sharing stories that counter and challenge systems of oppression. She reinforced how Augsburg is a huge part of her identity today, and that everything comes back to it. She is grateful to the Augsburg community and the way she was taught about vocation and how to show up in the world as herself.��

I am grateful for the time and story that Jaelyn shared with me as I am exploring storytelling myself. I hope we can continue to highlight people like Jaelyn who strive to show up each day as their authentic selves in all that they do.��

The post “Learning My Calling of Storytelling” at Augsburg: Jaelyn Arndt’s Vocation Story appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.

With excitement, Jon makes a return to Augsburg University as he graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry Degree in 2015. Since graduation Jon worked in children, youth, and family ministry in faith communities within the Twin Cities and also Billings, Montana. He also spent time working in the digital department at Star Tribune from 2017-2019. Through his eclectic career, Jon has admired his time building relationships amongst his teams, creating projects for people of all ages, and the time spent organizing information, art supplies, and bundt pans.

Currently, Jon is also a nursing student at Minneapolis Community & Technical College. He finds joy in coffee, reading, time with his loved ones, and time napping. Jon is eager to strengthen his skills in project management, work with the CCV Team and other departments on campus, and create the V-Portfolio for the students of Augsburg.

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Geoffrey Gill

Geoffrey Gill began his ministry to youth as a youth leader for Faith Tabernacle Church, in Minneapolis. From there, he has worked with youth within the community in a variety of capacities, including working with the Youth Advisory Council for National Youth Leadership, and starting “Helping Young Men” a�� nonprofit mentorship group at Central High School in St. Paul.

Geoffrey is a graduate of Augsburg University in Minneapolis, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in youth and Family Ministry. He is a certified Master Life Coach from the Best Life Coaching Society, in Fargo, ND.

Along with private coaching clients, a consulting partnership, healing and restorative justice circles, Geoffrey also works with teenage boys, who are in recovery for substance abuse.

Geoffrey is a man of God, a mentor, coach, educator and father of a wonderful son, whom he considers his number one investment, and the fire of his legacy.

Jennifer Starr Dodd

For over twenty years, Jennifer Starr Dodd has been committed to building community vitality by connecting with and empowering others to be the change that they would like to see around them. Through relationship, Jennifer has been successful in this goal by turning ideas into attainable goals for the populations she is serving.

Having worked with at-risk children, youth, and young adults for 15 years, Jennifer masterfully intersects education, experience, and environment �� to promote awareness, understanding, and opportunity.

Jennifer shared her expertise in curriculum development and implementation when she served as a Teacher’s Assistant at Saint Paul Public Schools, and when she facilitated a wide range of academic and enrichment classes for school districts located in Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville, Hastings, and Washington County for REACH With Me, an educational company that merged education with enrichment to help students develop a passion for learning.

When REACH With Me closed its for-profit standing in order to better realign with the needs of underrepresented communities, Jennifer co-founded Reaching Up Ministries, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to “create hope, help, and opportunities by bringing community members together to respond to the local needs of youth and families”.

Serving as the Chief Operating Officer, Jennifer coordinated food distribution and procurement with local businesses, churches, organizations, and schools to distribute lunches to 525 youth and families in need in Dakota County. Her work also involved mentoring high school students enrolled in AP classes while also training them to be tutors to elementary and middle school students in Reaching Up’s district-wide free after school Homework Help and enrichment programs.

Also during this chapter, Jennifer continued her service for young people and families in need by sitting on the ERD (Eliminating Racial Disparities) for Youth Committee in Dakota County. She also oversaw JDAI’s (Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative) endorsed Community Coach Program, an initiative developed to cultivate relationships with paroled youth and help them navigate steps toward health and moral wholeness.

Most recently, Jennifer served as the Homeless Youth Liaison and Foster Care Connections Coordinator for Roseville Area School District. After the vicious and merciless murder of George Floyd, she decided to step away from her position at the district to be a Community Bridge Builder and further advocate for the oppressed. Our Village Reunion was formed in September of 2020, where equally-valued people gather for mutual aid as well as caring, renewal, and relationship.

Currently, Our Village Reunion is pouring into 150 families every week by meeting their needs in the wake of the uprisings and the economic wreckage caused by the pandemic.

Jennifer is married to the love of her life Jia, and is step-mom to five vivacious children ages 14-25, and co-parent to their two cute cats, Sherlock and Serena.

Amanda Vetsch

Amanda joined the Riverside Innovation Hub team in August of 2018 as an Innovation Coach where she spent a year learning alongside of two local congregations and seven other young adults. From June 2019 – November 2020, she worked as the Communications Coordinator with the Hub while she finished up her M.A. in Theology with a Concentration in Justice and Reconciliation from Luther Seminary. She now works with the Hub as the Congregational Coordinator, which includes communications, facilitating a learning cohort, event planning, and general coordinating.

Prior to working at Augsburg, she lived, played, and learned in Rwamagana, Rwanda as a volunteer with Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM), studied Biology at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI and grew up in Minneapolis, MN.

During her time as an Innovation Coach, she learned a lot of things and is most grateful for the opportunity to teach and grow with people as they experimented with the Public Church framework. Her favorite part of the work is Accompaniment and the various ways it takes shape, but her most favorite is meeting with people over coffee, or hanging out at coffee shops, or really anything that has to do with coffee.��During her time as communications coordinator, she learned TONS about effectively communicating, managing systems, and investing in learning relationships. She’s excited to continue learning and growing with this next learning community.

When she isn’t working, she is likely playing volleyball, hanging out with family, and friends, exploring the great outdoors, watching Netflix or reading.

Amanda is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside of faith communities as they discern how to live out their values and theological commitments in their geographic neighborhoods. She is hopeful that the work we do together can contribute to healthy, just communities where everyone can thrive.

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AYTI Ambassador Ian Heseltine interviewed Marty Wyatt, AYTI Program Assistant, to learn more about the impact of Marty’s participation in Augsburg’s Youth Theology Institute. In 2007, Marty was a youth participant, and he was a mentor in 2008 and 2009. In addition to his role at Augsburg, Marty is pursuing a masters of divinity at Luther Seminary.

Here is Marty’s response:��

Honestly, the week [of Youth Theology Institute] made me want to come to Augsburg for my undergrad. Looking back this is the biggest impact because of how going to Augsburg impacted my life. I would have never met the people I did or experienced the city if I didn’t go to Augsburg, and that started with the Theology Institute. The Institute introduced me to Augsburg’s campus, professors, students, and staff. They seemed to genuinely care about people and the community. It made me want to get to know them better and be a part of this community that cared so deeply for each other.

I think during the week my faith was renewed. High school can be a hard and isolating time for some and the Institute reignited my faith in a powerful way. I learned (or re-learned?) to look for God in everything, from the mundane to the exceptional. The Institute opened a way of thinking about faith differently than I had before. I began to think critically about what I believe and why, which over time led to a deepening of my faith that I wouldn’t have if I didn’t critically examine it first.��

The biggest impact on my theological thinking was probably the classes. This was my first introduction to theological thinking and the classes were taught in an accessible way that made me excited to learn more. The mentors also made a big impact on my thinking–they were open to new and different ways of thinking. They were not afraid to ask questions and wrestle with them with us throughout the week.

The Institute was really my first formal place where I was told my questions and thoughts were valid and theological. I always had deep questions about God, but did not name it as thinking theologically until the Institute. Anytime we think about God and how God relates to us and the world, we are thinking theologically, so yes, these ways of thinking still impact me today and I continue to think about how God is in relationship with all of creation on a daily basis.

One of the things that stuck with me from the week was that worship, or spiritual practice, can really be almost anything where a person takes the time to pause and reflect and listen for God. I still think about that today. I’m a busy person and usually don’t take a lot of time to myself to think about things (unless it’s for a paper) and intentionally sit in what people would think of as worship or spiritual practice. But during the Institute, I realized that anything can be a spiritual practice if you take the time to recognize it as such. This is helpful to remember when busyness seems to take over and you have no time to intentionally worship. You can still fit in time to remember that everything comes from God and refocus and center no matter what you are doing.

One of the most basic things I believe is that all people are beloved children of God and are created in the image of God. To me this means we should treat everyone with dignity and respect and should stand with and fight for the marginalized and oppressed in the world. I also believe that we are freed from the constraints of sin so that we can love and serve our neighbor. I try to approach any contemporary issue I face with these things in mind. The theme of the Institute the year I went was “Imago Dei” (Image of God). These were words that I had heard my entire life, but hadn’t really connected with them in a meaningful way. Because we focused on this all week, I started to see why the idea of being created in the image of God is so powerful. If we truly believe that we are all created in the image of God, then how could we possibly mistreat our fellow people? Fellow images of God? How can we not stand up for the rights of other people and stop oppression?

Learn more about the Augsburg Youth Theology Institute at��/ayti/

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Wednesday, October 24, 2018
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Hagfors Center 150, 700 21st Ave S, Minneapolis

THE MANY FOUNDINGS OF �鶹ԭ�� UNIVERSITY

What do words like “founding” mean at a place like Augsburg? If, as a Lutheran institution, we believe in the concept of “semper reformanda” (always reforming), then shouldn’t we say that Augsburg has had multiple “foundings”—not only physically, but intellectually and theologically?

Augsburg history professor Phil Adamo will explore these questions in the 2018 Heritage Talk, offering examples from his new book, Hold Fast to What is Good: A History of Augsburg University in 10 Objects, written for the upcoming celebration of Augsburg’s 150th anniversary. A reception will follow the presentation.

More about our speaker:

Phillip C. Adamo has an international reputation as a scholar and teacher. He has presented his research at major conferences throughout the United States and Europe. In 2014, The Medieval Academy of America, the oldest and largest association of medievalists in the world, presented Phil with the CARA Award for Excellence in Teaching. In 2015, the Carnegie Institute for the Advancement of Teaching named him Minnesota Professor of the Year. Phil is currently working on a history of Augsburg for its 150th anniversary.

More about the event:

This event is free and open to the public.

Registration for Heritage Day closed.

For any questions regarding registration for this event, please call Liz Behnke in the Institutional Advancement Office:��612-330-1171.

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“Bricks and Mortar of the Epistle of Straw: Luther and James on Faith and Works.”

Amanda Brobst-Renaud, ‘04

– 2013 MDiv from Luther Seminary
– Current Ph.D. Candidate in Biblical Studies at Baylor University

“Formation of Worship in Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.”

Katharine S. Mahon, ’06

– 2010 MTS from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
– Current Ph.D. Candidate in Liturgical Studies, Liturgical History at the University of Notre Dame

ABOUT OUR ANNUAL HERITAGE DAY

Augsburg was founded in 1869 by Norwegian Lutheran immigrants seeking to educate leaders for church and society.�� Augsburg’s Lutheran heritage — its “faith and values” — continues to shape its mission in the midst of a religiously diverse campus and neighborhood. Since 2005, Augsburg College has celebrated its founding by inviting notable guests to speak on subjects related to Augsburg’s roots in the 16th Century Reformation of the Christian Church.�� Heritage Day themes are aligned with the themes of the Luther Decade��initiative. The Augsburg College Heritage Day (also known as “Founders Day”) is a joint venture of the Augsburg College Christensen Center for Vocation, the Augsburg College Religion Department, and the Augsburg College Office of the President. For further information, please visit /religion/heritage-day

The post 2015 Heritage Day appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.

Curious about the experience of Auggies who have been involved in theological exploration of vocation? The summer 2014��Augsburg Now magazine features an article about previous Christensen and Interfaith Scholars, .

The post Faithful and Relevant appeared first on Bernhard Christensen Center for Vocation.

We asked them to tell us about the congregation(s) where they serve, and what they are most energized about with their call. We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments, and��we wish them well in their��new vocations as pastors!

Michael Buller,��Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Abercrombie, ND and Galchutt (pronounce Gal-Shoot) Lutheran Church in Galchutt, ND

My role is solo pastor of a two point parish. ��I am very excited about this parish because they are in desperate need of new life. They are “mission re-development sites” which essentially means that they are on the verge of closing. I received mission re-development certification in the ELCA, so we could very well be a good fit for each other.

Since arriving I have discovered that there is a great deal of life in both Abercrombie and Galchutt proper and a great deal of life in the surrounding areas. ��For instance we have an educational farmstead near by called����which is only 4 miles outside of Abercrombie. ��They have concerts during the summer, gardening classes, crafting classes, any many other activities; super cool stuff, and wonderful people.

In November of 2015 Emmanuel Lutheran will be celebrating 125 years of faithful ministry and we will be making it into a very big event. Finally the two churches tend the grounds of a third church building.��St. John’s Lutheran church is located between Emmanuel and Galchutt and is the oldest Lutheran Church building in the Eastern North Dakota synod. We have a joint worship service there each year.

I have a website folks can look at to keep tabs on what I’m up to: it is . ��There are many other pictures and stories on this site.��

Emily Wiles,��Faith Lutheran Church in Avon, Indiana – rapidly growing suburb outside Indianapolis��

Faith is a small congregation with a tremendous level of mission and opportunity. We are currently seeking approval to build a new church building; about 5 years ago, Faith sold their large, mostly-unused church building in Indianapolis and moved to Avon, hoping to be Christ’s church in a growing community.

Things that I’m excited about include Faith’s people, their willingness to follow God’s call to new opportunities, and the dynamics of a small congregation setting roots in a new area. These people know how to do ministry within the walls of a church, and I’m excited to walk with them as we begin to do more ministry outside the walls.��This is a congregation that feeds; they have a small but vital food pantry and always share monthly meals. The new church property resides on 35 acres: 22 of those acres are currently farmed and Faith visions a vital, viable community garden that supports their food pantry and its community.

My role has been set since the beginning, but is still forming; I’ve only been here a month. ��My call is to remind them that God loves them and provide resources and encouragement to do ministry together and individually.

Peter Weston Miller, Atonement Lutheran Church, New Brighton, MN

Atonement Lutheran Church in New Brighton has always been invested in transformation. Originally, Atonement was a mission start of the American Lutheran Church merger in 1960. For the first time, Lutherans agreed to merge across ethnic lines in order to create a new church body. (Prior to 1960, it had always been Germans uniting with Germans or Norwegians with Norwegians.) ��19 other “Atonement Lutheran Church” were birthed in districts around the country. It was a bold strategy of the Lutheran church to put away cultural divisions and unify under the banner of God’s work in Jesus Christ, to always be made new.

Today, Atonement continues to serve and grow with a new population of local residents. There is an influx of young families and people see New Brighton as a hub that can get you anywhere in the Twin Cities. I love that Atonement has a history of experimentation and a commitment to transformation. It has an excellent preschool program for the neighborhood, as well as a variety of mission partnerships with local organizations and community churches. We also house a Nigerian Pentecostal worshiping community called Faith Community Church. Worship for us is a blend of contemporary, Southern Gospel barbershop, and traditional Lutheran liturgy. One of the central symbols of the church is its large font in the entry space. People love to gather here, reminded that they are marked with the promise of baptism to be a community that is moved and drawn by the Holy Spirit.

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