L to R: Dr. Mark Erickson, Dr. David Veum, Rev. Troy Tysdal, Professor Nathan Oldenkamp, Pastor Craig Schmidt, Professor Brad Pribbenow, Kay Asche, John Zwiers, Naomi Evans, Pastor Darren Shaw, Pastor Kevin Skaret, Pastor Clint Knutson, Pastor Ben Hosch, David Narvesen, Pastor Luke Kjolhaug, Pastor Clayton Robison, Pastor Drew Nelson, Dr. Eugene Boe, and Dr. Gaylan Mathiesen.
Kay Asche
Kay Asche grew up in Milnor, ND. She home-schooled her six children while she was actively involved in ministry to women. She first read about the Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS) offered at LBS when serving as a church office administrator. She enrolled in a community college where she completed the undergraduate courses required for admittance to the CTS program. Kay then applied to LBS and completed the CTS while serving as Secretary to the President of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.
Kay would welcome an opportunity to use the Visitation/Chaplain training in Hospice Care that she received during her studies at LBS. She also has a growing desire to be a part of the Lutheran Brethren International Mission ministry to the Bagirmi people in Chad, Africa.
Peter Bradford
Peter graduated from Lutheran Brethren Seminary in 1981 with a diploma. He has been working with LBS over the last couple of years to upgrade his diploma by doing additional work and now graduates with the Master in Theological Studies degree.
He has served churches in Minnesota, New York, Colorado and New Jersey, and is presently serving Good Shepherd LC in Blairstown, NJ. He works as a hospice nurse at Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Sussex County, New Jersey.
Peter’s credentials as a registered nurse, working in mental health, alcohol and substance abuse, with families who are grieving, with people who are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, has often opened the door for him to share the gospel in both public and private settings. He enjoys bringing his years of professional and personal experience to Lutheran Brethren pastors and congregations to help them build ministry teams within their own congregations.
Naomi Evans
Naomi Evans lives in Wahpeton, ND. Her home congregation is Inspiration Lutheran Brethren Church of Breckenridge, MN. She has worked as a registered nurse in intensive care and coronary care units, a nursing home, hospice, and as a short-term missionary nurse in Chiayi, Taiwan. Naomi has been blessed with five children and two grandchildren.
Naomi graduated from Mahnomen High School, Mahnomen, MN, from Lutheran Deaconess School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN, and from Moorhead State University, Moorhead, MN with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
She completed the Certificate in Theological Studies with an emphasis in Missions. She is looking forward to opportunities that have surfaced locally for ministry within her church and is open to cross-cultural mission opportunities as the Lord leads.
Ben Hosch
Ben is a native of Fergus Falls, MN. He graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 2005. He completed his Associate of Arts degree in 2007 and a Bachelor of Science in Youth Ministry from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN in 2010. He came to LBS after working three years as a special education paraprofessional.
Ben graduated from LBS with the Master of Divinity degree. Ben serves as pastor at Stavanger Lutheran Church in rural Fergus Falls, MN, and he and his wife Sara minister to students in the dorms of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. Ben and Sara are pursuing a call with LBIM to minister among the Hakka people of Taiwan as the Lord provides.
Ben and Sara have three children: Adelaide, Emery, and Winnie.
Luke Kjolhaug
Luke grew up attending Elim Lutheran Brethren Church in Clearbrook, MN. He graduated from Clearbrook-Gonvick High School, and earned a B.A. in Engineering from Wheaton College and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He worked four years as a Civil Engineer. Luke graduates with the Master of Divinity degree.
He came to LBS uncertain that he was called. Then his volunteering to help with ministry led to a part-time role as Associate Pastor for Youth at Stavanger Lutheran Church. There the Lord gave him considerable pastoral experience and confirmed his calling.
Luke’s years at seminary have been extra special thanks to the match-making skills of a fellow student. Luke met Bethannie in his first year at LBS, and last August they were married. They have moved to New Jersey, where Luke now serves as pastor of Bunker Hill Lutheran Brethren Church in Princeton.
Clint Knutson
Clint Knutson grew up on a farm outside Naicam, Saskatchewan. He graduated from the high school department of Lutheran Collegiate Bible Institute in Outlook, Saskatchewan, and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Studies from the University of Saskatchewan. After completing two years at LBS, Clint was called in 2014 to be the pastor at Birch Hills Community Church and Saron Lutheran Church in Saskatchewan, Canada. He then completed his third year through the LBS distance program. He graduates LBS with the Master of Divinity degree. He will continue in his present callings.
Clint is married to Heather. They have two children: Ivan, and Eli.
Seth Leivestad
Seth received a strong sense of God’s call during the centennial celebration of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren in 2001. He and his wife Shelly even stopped at the seminary on their way home to Colorado to get more information. That sense of call was reignited eight years later when a representative of LBS spoke at his church. Two years after that Seth was completing his bachelor’s degree and enrolling in seminary.
Seth is a graduate of Hillcrest Lutheran Academy. He earned an Associate of Applied Sciences: Communications–Radio/TV Broadcasting from Brown Institute, Minneapolis, MN and a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Faith Evangelical College and Seminary. He graduates LBS with the Master of Divinity degree.
Seth accepted a call in 2013 to serve Calvary Community Lutheran Brethren Church in Fullerton, CA as Associate Pastor while completing his degree through the LBS distance program.
Seth and Shelly have been married for 18 years and have three children: Leif, and twins Liora and Lenora.
David Narvesen
David Narvesen grew up at Community of Joy Lutheran Brethren Church in Eagan, MN. He has a degree in Civil Engineering from North Dakota State University. After college he worked with the Washington State Department of Transportation in Kelso for almost eight years. While living there he and his wife Sonja were members of Faith Fellowship LB Church in Kelso.
Coming to seminary, they assumed that David was called to be a pastor. Then through the mission classes and a vision trip to Chad, God called them to serve as missionaries. They are now engaged in specific training, and begin French study in January, in preparation for serving among the Fulbe people in Chad. David graduates with the Master of Divinity degree.
David and Sonja have four children: Nathaniel, Eva, Boeden, and Ivan.
Drew Nelson
Drew Nelson is from Rapid City, SD, and grew up attending South Canyon Lutheran Church. Prior to coming to LBS Drew was actively involved in youth ministry.
Drew graduated from Rapid City Central High School and, following a time of service in the military, went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Ministry from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, MN. He graduates LBS with the Master of Divinity degree and has accepted a call to serve Grace Lutheran Church in Erhard, MN as full-time Associate Pastor.
His wife Kori is the granddaughter of LBIM missionaries Lu and Addie Mathison. Drew and Kori are parents of Abigail.
Clayton Robison
Clayton attended Word of Life Lutheran Brethren Church in Marysville, WA when growing up. He graduated from Lake Stevens High School, and did his undergraduate work at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA.
Clayton is very open about his gratitude for the Lord’s intervention in his life in rescuing him from his destructive path. After returning to the Lord, Clayton served as Youth Pastor for several years at Cornerstone Community Church in Ferndale, WA. During that time he also worked on his schooling and completed an associate’s degree. He then enrolled in LBS and has earned the Master of Divinity degree.
Clayton has been serving as pastor of Jevnaker Lutheran Church in Borup, MN for the past two years and will continue in that position after graduation. He and his wife Corissa have three children: Fisher, Isaac, and Hannah.
Craig Schmidt
Craig was serving as an elder at Grace Lutheran Brethren Church in Bismarck, ND and had worked as an award-winning professional photographer when his life took a major turn. He and the LBS President had talked about God’s call in the past. Over lunch in April 2014 he was asked if the time had come to begin his studies. His answer was yes.
Within days of applying to seminary, Craig was invited to speak at Bethel Lutheran Brethren Church of Antler, ND. That resulted in a call to serve as their pastor. The next month Craig and Mary moved to Antler. He then started the CTS program at LBS in the fall of 2014.
Craig is from Dickinson, ND and a 1977 graduate of North Dakota State University. Craig graduated from LBS with a Certificate of Theological Studies in Lay Ministry.
Craig and his wife Mary have three grown sons and one grandson.
Darren Shaw
Darren is originally from Glenburn, ND. He came to LBS while attending Hope LC in Barnesville, MN. He has managed a Starbucks and worked for US Bank. He and his wife Heather have three children: Madison, Mason, and Ruby.
Darren did his undergraduate work at Brown Mackie College. He graduated from LBS with the Diploma in Christian Ministry. While completing his seminary education, Darren has been serving as pastor to the congregations of Blom Prairie LBC in Toronto, SD and Faith LBC in Hendricks, MN. He continues his ministry there.
Kevin Skaret
Kevin Skaret grew up at Bethany LBC in East Hartland, CT. He worked for his father’s wood floor refinishing and installation business. He served Praise Christian Fellowship, Barkhamsted, CT in youth ministry both as a volunteer and, from 2010, as their Youth Pastor. He credits Praise congregation for sending him to seminary and supporting him in many ways during his years at LBS.
Kevin and Beth are parents to: Faith, Micah, and Abigail. Kevin studied psychology and youth ministry at The King’s College in Briarcliff Manor, NY and finished a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Faith Evangelical College and Seminary in Tacoma, WA in 2011. Kevin graduates LBS with the Master of Divinity degree. He serves as pastor at Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Barnesville, MN and will continue in that calling.
Troy Tysdal
Troy graduated from LBS in 2010 with a Bachelor of Theology degree. Since that time he has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Faith Evangelical College and Seminary in Tacoma, WA. This past year Troy completed additional course work at LBS to upgrade his degree. He now graduates with the Master of Divinity degree.
Troy has a background in sales, production management, and graphic design. He served as Associate Pastor at Stavanger Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN from 2008-2012. He now serves as Director of Communications & Prayer for the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.
Troy and his wife Katie have two children: Brycen and Gavin.
John Zwiers
John earned degrees in mathematics and economics at the University of Minnesota–Morris. He came to Fergus Falls to take an administrative position with Lutheran Brethren Homes. He has worked in the long-term-care industry for nearly 23 years. Several years ago John suggested to the LB Homes Board that seminary studies would benefit him in his work in their ministry and they agreed. He has now graduated with the Master of Theological Studies degree.
John and Patti have three children: Zakary, Thomas, and Natalie. John will continue in his position as CEO of LB Homes.