The Christus Mundo Award is given to an individual who demonstrates a commitment to Christian life, faith, and mission through many years of service to the church, community, and/or Concordia University Irvine.
Lonnie Karges has dedicated over 40 years to serving in Lutheran education and ministry. After attending Christ College Irvine from 1977-1980, where he met his wife Ingrid, Karges completed his bachelor’s degree in history and education at Concordia Teachers College in Seward, NE, graduating with a teaching degree and Director of Christian Education (DCE) certification in 1982.
Karges began his career as a DCE at Grace Lutheran in Storm Lake, IA, where he started a preschool and youth programs. He went on to serve at Our Savior's in Ridgecrest, CA, Trinity Lutheran in Whittier, CA, and Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent).
In 1990, Karges received a call to serve at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and School in Carson City, Nevada. Over the next 33 years, he held various roles, including 4th-8th grade teacher, athletic director, social studies chair, and confirmation instructor. In 2001, Karges became the principal of Bethlehem Lutheran, a position he held until his retirement in June 2023. During his tenure as principal, Karges continued to teach full-time, as well as serve as the athletic director, drama teacher, and coach for basketball, softball, flag football, track, and cross-country.
Karges and his wife Ingrid have four children, Caleb, Zachary, Joshua, and Melissa, all of whom graduated from Concordia University Irvine, and four grandchildren.
Karges considers the students, parents, and staff at Bethlehem Lutheran to be his greatest teachers, and he feels blessed to have been a part of their lives. His ministry has been a true testament to his dedication, compassion, and a model for sharing the love of Christ with the world.
Great Commission Award: Rev. Dr. Arthur Just
The Great Commission Award is bestowed on an individual who demonstrates a commitment to Christ’s Great Commission, recognizing noteworthy service to the church through missionary activity and evangelism, or through the support of missionary activity and evangelism.
Rev. Dr. Arthur Just is a Professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW) in Fort Wayne, IN, where he has taught since 1984. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and English literature from Union College in Schenectady, NY, and an M.Div. degree from CTSFW.
After graduating from seminary, Just was called as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Middletown, CT. During this time, he pursued further theological education at Yale Divinity School, where he received his Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) in New Testament and Liturgics. Just went on to receive his Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Durham in England.
Along with his teaching responsibilities at CTSFW, Just has served the seminary in a variety of leadership roles, including as the chairman of the Exegetical Theology department, dean of the Chapel, director of Deaconess Studies, and co-director of the Good Shepherd Institute of Pastoral Theology and Sacred Music. He has contributed significantly to global theological education of deaconesses and pastors in Europe, Russia, Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
Additionally, Just has written books and created video series for pastors, deaconesses, and laypeople on the topics of visitation of the sick and dying, as well as the theology and practice of liturgy and the Divine Service. He published commentaries the Gospel of Luke, and served as chairman of the Lectionary Committee for Lutheran Service Book for the Commission on Worship.
Just and his wife, Linda, have three children and nine grandchildren.