Ruth authored Grace Notes, a book of meditations for women in the church and is a contributor to A New Song: Planted by Streams of Water, a woman’s bible study devotional published by Concordia Publishing House.

Main worship speaker

Rev. Dan Paavola

Dan Paavola grew up in west-central Minnesota on a dairy farm near New York Mills, Minnesota. Leaving the farm, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English with two minors, history and Phy. Ed., from Moorhead State University in 1979. He then received a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, in 1983. This was followed by a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, in 1984.

Following graduate school, he was pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Butternut, Wisconsin, from 1984-1996. Butternut is a town of 400 people in the far north woods of Wisconsin, though the church, St. Paul’s, had 650 members drawn from the surrounding towns and rural areas.

Following twelve years at Butternut, he came to Concordia University Wisconsin in 1996 as a professor in theology. He completed his Ph.D. through Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri in May, 2004. In 2006, he was awarded the Faculty Laureate award among the faculty of Concordia University Wisconsin. He also had the opportunity to write for and to be an associate editor of the Lutheran Study Bible published by Concordia Publishing House in 2009.

He and Holly, from Moorhead, Minnesota, were married in 1979 and have three children, Christy, born 1983, Stephen, born 1986, and Nicole, born 1990. His hobbies include motorcycling, driving their 1917 Model T Ford car, woodworking, and running marathons.

Sectional Presenters

Brad Alles teaches religion at Milwaukee Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska with a Bachelor’s degree in education, majoring in art and theology, and received his Master's degree in Christian education from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois. After teaching for 3 years at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas, he has spent the last 20 years at his alma mater, Milwaukee Lutheran. Known for his ability to breakdown Scripture so it is easily understood and applied, he is a frequent Bible study teacher at Milwaukee area churches, and also travels to state and national youth events. His passion for God’s Word comes through clearly in his teaching style. He, his wife, and their daughters live in Germantown, Wisconsin.

Terri Anderson is a Physical Education specialist at Elm Grove Lutheran School and recently celebrated 25 years in the teaching ministry. This past summer she completed her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. She also enjoys teaching Methods of Elementary Physical Education at Concordia University-Wisconsin and assists with the varsity girl’s basketball team at Milwaukee Lutheran. Terri’s mission is to help children develop healthy bodies that will be fit in service to God and others for His Kingdom-Fit 4 Him!

Dr. Bernard Bull is Assistant Professor of Education, Director of the M.S. in Education - Educational Technology, and Director of the Instructional Design Center at Concordia University Wisconsin. He completed his undergraduate studies at CUW with a B.A. in education, history, and theology. Upon graduation he spent the next eleven years serving in Lutheran middle and high schools. During his service in Lutheran schools he continued his studies and served in a variety of part-time capacities: youth director, director of outreach, instructional designer for corporate and higher education clients, and an educational consultant for nonprofit organizations. Bernard has a M.A. in curriculum and instruction, a Master of Liberal Studies, and a doctorate in instructional technology. Current research and scholarship interests include the philosophy and practice of Christian education, models of Lutheran education across cultures, social and spiritual implications of technology, project-based service learning, digital literacy and 21st century skills, and online learning.

Richard P. Cohrs is manager of District and Congregational Relations for Lutheran Hour Ministries, a position he has held since July 2008. In this position, Cohrs communicates the ministry resources and programs of the US Ministries Department to the district offices and congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Prior to joining Lutheran Hour Ministries, Cohrs was a principal and teacher at various institutions in Michigan, Texas and Illinois and was manager of North America volunteer services for Lutheran Hour Ministries. Cohrs earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College, River Forest, Ill. He was the recipient of the John E. Hermann Award for stewardship. Cohrs also holds membership in the Lutheran Education Association.

Tim Gieschen is the principal at St. John Lutheran in Plymouth. He has also served Lutheran High Schools in Sheboygan and Westland, MI as teacher, coach and Guidance Director. He is a graduate of Concordia River Forest and has an M.Ed in Instructional Technology from Cardinal Stritch University.

Steve Gruenwald is the Health and Wellness Educator of Concordia Plan Services of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He is also the editor of Better Health: a quarterly wellness newsletter published by Concordia Plan Services. Steve graduated with a BA in Lutheran Secondary Education from Concordia, Chicago, in 1984. For 12 years he taught English, speech and drama in Lutheran high schools before joining the Plans in 1996.

Dr. Linda Hensel is an Associate Professor and Special Education Department Chair in the School of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of education, working with students with and without disabilities in private and public settings. She enjoys bicycling, traveling, and hanging out with her grandchildren.

Rev. Mark Jeske, a Milwaukee native, has served as the senior pastor at St. Marcus Lutheran Church on Milwaukee’s near north side since 1980. During those earlier years of his long tenure there, he made a personal commitment not to abandon the inner city when racial tensions caused urban flight to accelerate. Prior to serving as the pastor at St. Marcus, Pastor Jeske spent a year in Colombia, South America, starting a mission church as part of his internship assignment while attending Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., for his theological post graduate education. He also spent two years teaching English, history, Old Testament, and geography at Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis.Pastor Jeske has been bringing the Word of God to viewers of Time of Grace since the program began airing in November of 2001. In addition, Pastor Jeske has written a Bible commentary (James, Peter, John, Jude) and more than two dozen daily devotional booklets. Pastor Jeske and his wife, Carol, an elementary school teacher, are blessed with four children; John, Sam, Liz, and Michael. They live on the east side of Milwaukee.

Mark L'Heureux is the Education Executive for the South Wisconsin District, overseeing school, youth and family ministries. Prior to serving in the district office, he was principal at Immanuel Lutheran in Loveland, Colorado and Central Lutheran, Newhall, Iowa. During his time in Iowa, Mark also served as the Education Executive for Iowa District East. Mark is a graduate of Concordia Seward and has an M.Ed in Education Administration. He and his wife Kathy have four wonderful children and reside in Germantown, Wisconsin.

Karen Lippert is the Director of Women’s Ministry at Divine Redeemer Lutheran in Hartland, WI. Karen is a graduate of Concordia University, Chicago. Her ministry began with 5 years of full-time teaching in Lutheran grade schools in both Minnesota & Wisconsin and then she enjoyed 10 years of part-time teaching in music. Karen’s passion is to help women to grow in the Word and in relationship with Jesus. She is privileged to serve the women of her church as well as others in her occasional role as a conference and retreat speaker. She is married to her best friend Jeff and they enjoy doing both music and couple’s ministry together. Their daughters, Rachel and Sarah, are in college.

Dr. Gary Locklair is professor and chair of computer science at Concordia University Wisconsin where he has served since 1986. He has been actively involved in the science of origins (cosmogony) for over 25 years. He teaches a science course at CUW on cosmogony. He serves on the board of directors for the Creation Research Society, the oldest international organization devoted to scientific research into the creation model.

Rev. John W. Oberdeck, M.S., M. Div., Ph.D. is Professor of Theology, Director for Lay Ministry, and Coordinator for Lay Studies at Concordia University Wisconsin. He is a 1979 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 1999. Oberdeck served parishes in central and southern Illinois from 1979 to 1989. From 1989 to 2002 Oberdeck served in the practical department on the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. In July of 2002 Oberdeck accepted the call to Concordia University Wisconsin. Besides his administrative duties, Oberdeck teaches courses in theology and youth ministry.

Rev. Guy Roberts is the associate pastor at St. John’s Lutheran in West Bend, WI. He oversees congregational education and discipleship. Pastor Guy graduated from Concordia University – Nebraska in 2000 with a BA in Theology and Specialization in Youth Ministry and a Certification to serve as Director of Christian Education. He served Our Redeemer Lutheran in Moorhead Minnesota working with youth, young adults, evangelism and campus ministry. He received an M. Div. from Concordia Seminary – St. Louis in the Spring of 2008. Guy has been married to his lovely wife Emily for 11 years and they have one son, Zane. In their free time as a family they like long walks on the beach, reading poetry and shooting furred and feathered creatures of all varieties.

Paul Snyder joined the staff of Concordia Plan Services (Worker Benefit Plans) in November of 1982. During his more than 28 years with the organization, he has held several positions including data entry clerk, retirement benefit processor, and supervisor of the monthly benefit team, overseeing the payment of all monthly retirement, disability, and death benefits. Paul has also served for many years as the project coordinator for the annual Personal Statement of Benefits that is sent out each spring to all full-time plan members. Among his primary duties as a Benefit Consultant, Paul is responsible for conducting pre-retirement workshops for full-time church workers throughout the Synod, as well as other types of educational workshops. Paul is a 1981 graduate of Concordia University Chicago (River Forest), with a major in speech and communications and a minor in history. He a life-long Lutheran, having grown up in a pastor’s family. Paul is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olivette, Missouri where he serves as the Director of Worship, organist, and handbell choir director. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Missouri District. When not at work, Paul enjoys travel, skiing, playing softball, Cardinal baseball games, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Ruth authored Grace Notes, a book of meditations for women in the church and is a contributor to A New Song: Planted by Streams of Water, a woman’s bible study devotional published by Concordia Publishing House.

Main worship speaker

Rev. Dan Paavola

Dan Paavola grew up in west-central Minnesota on a dairy farm near New York Mills, Minnesota. Leaving the farm, he earned a bachelor’s degree in English with two minors, history and Phy. Ed., from Moorhead State University in 1979. He then received a Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, in 1983. This was followed by a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey, in 1984.

Following graduate school, he was pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Butternut, Wisconsin, from 1984-1996. Butternut is a town of 400 people in the far north woods of Wisconsin, though the church, St. Paul’s, had 650 members drawn from the surrounding towns and rural areas.

Following twelve years at Butternut, he came to Concordia University Wisconsin in 1996 as a professor in theology. He completed his Ph.D. through Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri in May, 2004. In 2006, he was awarded the Faculty Laureate award among the faculty of Concordia University Wisconsin. He also had the opportunity to write for and to be an associate editor of the Lutheran Study Bible published by Concordia Publishing House in 2009.

He and Holly, from Moorhead, Minnesota, were married in 1979 and have three children, Christy, born 1983, Stephen, born 1986, and Nicole, born 1990. His hobbies include motorcycling, driving their 1917 Model T Ford car, woodworking, and running marathons.

Sectional Presenters

Brad Alles teaches religion at Milwaukee Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska with a Bachelor’s degree in education, majoring in art and theology, and received his Master's degree in Christian education from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois. After teaching for 3 years at Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas, he has spent the last 20 years at his alma mater, Milwaukee Lutheran. Known for his ability to breakdown Scripture so it is easily understood and applied, he is a frequent Bible study teacher at Milwaukee area churches, and also travels to state and national youth events. His passion for God’s Word comes through clearly in his teaching style. He, his wife, and their daughters live in Germantown, Wisconsin.

Terri Anderson is a Physical Education specialist at Elm Grove Lutheran School and recently celebrated 25 years in the teaching ministry. This past summer she completed her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. She also enjoys teaching Methods of Elementary Physical Education at Concordia University-Wisconsin and assists with the varsity girl’s basketball team at Milwaukee Lutheran. Terri’s mission is to help children develop healthy bodies that will be fit in service to God and others for His Kingdom-Fit 4 Him!

Dr. Bernard Bull is Assistant Professor of Education, Director of the M.S. in Education - Educational Technology, and Director of the Instructional Design Center at Concordia University Wisconsin. He completed his undergraduate studies at CUW with a B.A. in education, history, and theology. Upon graduation he spent the next eleven years serving in Lutheran middle and high schools. During his service in Lutheran schools he continued his studies and served in a variety of part-time capacities: youth director, director of outreach, instructional designer for corporate and higher education clients, and an educational consultant for nonprofit organizations. Bernard has a M.A. in curriculum and instruction, a Master of Liberal Studies, and a doctorate in instructional technology. Current research and scholarship interests include the philosophy and practice of Christian education, models of Lutheran education across cultures, social and spiritual implications of technology, project-based service learning, digital literacy and 21st century skills, and online learning.

Richard P. Cohrs is manager of District and Congregational Relations for Lutheran Hour Ministries, a position he has held since July 2008. In this position, Cohrs communicates the ministry resources and programs of the US Ministries Department to the district offices and congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Prior to joining Lutheran Hour Ministries, Cohrs was a principal and teacher at various institutions in Michigan, Texas and Illinois and was manager of North America volunteer services for Lutheran Hour Ministries. Cohrs earned a bachelor’s degree from Concordia College, River Forest, Ill. He was the recipient of the John E. Hermann Award for stewardship. Cohrs also holds membership in the Lutheran Education Association.

Tim Gieschen is the principal at St. John Lutheran in Plymouth. He has also served Lutheran High Schools in Sheboygan and Westland, MI as teacher, coach and Guidance Director. He is a graduate of Concordia River Forest and has an M.Ed in Instructional Technology from Cardinal Stritch University.

Steve Gruenwald is the Health and Wellness Educator of Concordia Plan Services of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He is also the editor of Better Health: a quarterly wellness newsletter published by Concordia Plan Services. Steve graduated with a BA in Lutheran Secondary Education from Concordia, Chicago, in 1984. For 12 years he taught English, speech and drama in Lutheran high schools before joining the Plans in 1996.

Dr. Linda Hensel is an Associate Professor and Special Education Department Chair in the School of Education at Concordia University Wisconsin. She has over 25 years of experience in the field of education, working with students with and without disabilities in private and public settings. She enjoys bicycling, traveling, and hanging out with her grandchildren.

Rev. Mark Jeske, a Milwaukee native, has served as the senior pastor at St. Marcus Lutheran Church on Milwaukee’s near north side since 1980. During those earlier years of his long tenure there, he made a personal commitment not to abandon the inner city when racial tensions caused urban flight to accelerate. Prior to serving as the pastor at St. Marcus, Pastor Jeske spent a year in Colombia, South America, starting a mission church as part of his internship assignment while attending Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., for his theological post graduate education. He also spent two years teaching English, history, Old Testament, and geography at Northwestern Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis.Pastor Jeske has been bringing the Word of God to viewers of Time of Grace since the program began airing in November of 2001. In addition, Pastor Jeske has written a Bible commentary (James, Peter, John, Jude) and more than two dozen daily devotional booklets. Pastor Jeske and his wife, Carol, an elementary school teacher, are blessed with four children; John, Sam, Liz, and Michael. They live on the east side of Milwaukee.

Mark L'Heureux is the Education Executive for the South Wisconsin District, overseeing school, youth and family ministries. Prior to serving in the district office, he was principal at Immanuel Lutheran in Loveland, Colorado and Central Lutheran, Newhall, Iowa. During his time in Iowa, Mark also served as the Education Executive for Iowa District East. Mark is a graduate of Concordia Seward and has an M.Ed in Education Administration. He and his wife Kathy have four wonderful children and reside in Germantown, Wisconsin.

Karen Lippert is the Director of Women’s Ministry at Divine Redeemer Lutheran in Hartland, WI. Karen is a graduate of Concordia University, Chicago. Her ministry began with 5 years of full-time teaching in Lutheran grade schools in both Minnesota & Wisconsin and then she enjoyed 10 years of part-time teaching in music. Karen’s passion is to help women to grow in the Word and in relationship with Jesus. She is privileged to serve the women of her church as well as others in her occasional role as a conference and retreat speaker. She is married to her best friend Jeff and they enjoy doing both music and couple’s ministry together. Their daughters, Rachel and Sarah, are in college.

Dr. Gary Locklair is professor and chair of computer science at Concordia University Wisconsin where he has served since 1986. He has been actively involved in the science of origins (cosmogony) for over 25 years. He teaches a science course at CUW on cosmogony. He serves on the board of directors for the Creation Research Society, the oldest international organization devoted to scientific research into the creation model.

Rev. John W. Oberdeck, M.S., M. Div., Ph.D. is Professor of Theology, Director for Lay Ministry, and Coordinator for Lay Studies at Concordia University Wisconsin. He is a 1979 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and received his Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Missouri – Columbia in 1999. Oberdeck served parishes in central and southern Illinois from 1979 to 1989. From 1989 to 2002 Oberdeck served in the practical department on the faculty of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. In July of 2002 Oberdeck accepted the call to Concordia University Wisconsin. Besides his administrative duties, Oberdeck teaches courses in theology and youth ministry.

Rev. Guy Roberts is the associate pastor at St. John’s Lutheran in West Bend, WI. He oversees congregational education and discipleship. Pastor Guy graduated from Concordia University – Nebraska in 2000 with a BA in Theology and Specialization in Youth Ministry and a Certification to serve as Director of Christian Education. He served Our Redeemer Lutheran in Moorhead Minnesota working with youth, young adults, evangelism and campus ministry. He received an M. Div. from Concordia Seminary – St. Louis in the Spring of 2008. Guy has been married to his lovely wife Emily for 11 years and they have one son, Zane. In their free time as a family they like long walks on the beach, reading poetry and shooting furred and feathered creatures of all varieties.

Paul Snyder joined the staff of Concordia Plan Services (Worker Benefit Plans) in November of 1982. During his more than 28 years with the organization, he has held several positions including data entry clerk, retirement benefit processor, and supervisor of the monthly benefit team, overseeing the payment of all monthly retirement, disability, and death benefits. Paul has also served for many years as the project coordinator for the annual Personal Statement of Benefits that is sent out each spring to all full-time plan members. Among his primary duties as a Benefit Consultant, Paul is responsible for conducting pre-retirement workshops for full-time church workers throughout the Synod, as well as other types of educational workshops. Paul is a 1981 graduate of Concordia University Chicago (River Forest), with a major in speech and communications and a minor in history. He a life-long Lutheran, having grown up in a pastor’s family. Paul is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olivette, Missouri where he serves as the Director of Worship, organist, and handbell choir director. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Missouri District. When not at work, Paul enjoys travel, skiing, playing softball, Cardinal baseball games, reading, and spending time with family and friends.