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Conference Schedule

Thursday, November 3, 2022

  • 7:30pm - 8:30pm: Registration
    Grimm Hall Breezeway
  • 8:30pm - 9:30pm: SHOUT! Tailgate
    CU Center Patio
  • 9:30pm - 10:30pm: SHOUT!
    CU Center

Friday, November 4, 2022

  • 7:00am - 8:00am: Sunrise Hike French Hill (optional)
    French Hill
  • 8:00am - 8:30pm: Continental breakfast
    Grimm Hall
  • 8:30am - 9:30am: Presidential Welcome & Keynote
    DeNault or CUC
  • 9:30am - 10:30am: Breakout Session #1
    Various locations
  • 10:30am - 11:00am: Chapel
    CUC
  • 11:00am - 2:00pm: Service Projects-Off Campus (boxed lunch)
    Various locations
  • 2:00pm - end of day: Depart for Free time
    Various choices

Saturday, November 5, 2022

  • Wear your BF t-shirt
  • 7:00am - 8:00am: Sunrise Hike French Hill (optional)
    French Hill
  • 8:00am - 8:30am: Continental breakfast
    CU Center
  • 8:30am - 9:30am: Devotion and Worship
    CU Center
  • 9:30am - 10:30am: Breakout Session #2
    Grimm Classrooms
  • 10:30am - 11:30am: Breakout Session #3
    Grimm Classrooms
  • 11:30am - 12:30pm: Group A, Lunch Caf; Group B, Exhibitors
    Caf/Grimm Hall 302
  • 12:30pm - 1:30pm: Group B, Lunch Caf; Group A, Exhibitors
    Caf/Grimm Hall 302
  • 1:30pm - 2:00pm: Group Photo (Disc Golf Instructions)
    Grass / Grimm Hall
  • 2:00pm - 4:30pm: Disk Golf Tournament (see map)
    Shot Gun Start
  • 4:30pm - 5:30pm: Reception
    BMC Alumni Plaza
  • 5:30pm - 6:30pm: Dinner
    BMC Alumni Plaza
  • 6:30pm - 7:30pm: Worship & Closing Chapel
    Good Shepherd Chapel

Key Note Speakers

Quinton Andreson

Reverend Quinton Anderson

Quinton Anderson graduated from Concordia University Irvine in 2000. His time as an undergraduate was shaped not only in the Pre-seminary program but participation as a Cross Country student athlete and two years as student body President. After teaching middle school for two years at Christ Lutheran, Costa Mesa he continued his education at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, graduating in 2006 and receiving his first pastoral call to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakewood Colorado. He came back to Concordia University to serve as campus pastor in 2009. In 2013 he moved on campus with his wife Summer (Concordia alum 2001) and kids (Kaden, Jonah, Hope) to help launch the new Living Learning Communities. In addition to serving as the campus pastor, Quinton also directs the Pre-Seminary and Pre-Deaconess programs. He is currently working towards completion of a Doctorate of Ministry from Talbot in Discipleship for the 21st Century.


Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas, Ph.D.

President, Concordia University Irvine

Dr. Michael A. Thomas, the President of Concordia University Irvine, has served at CUI since 2020. Dr. Thomas brings a passion for higher education to his tenure. His deep commitment to the Lutheran intellectual tradition, along with his extensive experience across multiple disciplines, including curriculum, faculty and staff development, governance, enrollment, and student life, have prepared him to lead Concordia into a new era.

Prior to coming to Concordia University Irvine, Dr. Thomas served as the Executive Director of the Lutheran Institute for Theology and Culture at Concordia University Portland (CUP). The Institute combined three academic departments (Religion, Music, and Art) with Campus Ministry, Church Relations, and the Center for Applied Lutheran Leadership. Previously, Dr. Thomas served as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Director of the Honors Program at CUP. As Professor of Religion and Ancient History, his academic interests include the history and literature of early Christianity, early Judaism, and the classical worlds of Greece, Rome, and the Ancient Near East. Dr. Thomas frequently leads tours of Italy, Greece, and Turkey with travelers in the summer.

Michael A. Thomas earned his B.A. at Concordia University Portland in 1993, his M.A. at the University of Washington in 1996, and his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia in 2008. View Curriculum Vitae.

Dr. Thomas and his wife Kim have 2 children. A son who finished his degree and is starting a career in Japan this summer. Along with a daughter who just completed high school in Oregon and is now adjusting to Southern California life style.


Michael Gibson

Reverend Doctor Michael Gibson

Prior to his election as President of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in June 2018, Mike served as pastor of Christ Lutheran Church and School from August 2006 to August, 2018, leading the congregation’s vision of supporting, equipping, and launching people into mission - locally and globally. He is a 1984 Master of Divinity graduate from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO and was awarded a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1996 from Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, CA, in organizational pathology and leadership. He also served as pastor at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Huntington Beach, CA (1984-1987) and Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Milpitas, CA (1987-2006).

Pastor Mike is engaged globally in China, Southeast Asia, and India. His missional passion includes helping the Body of Christ understand the shift of Christianity to the Global South and the beneficial influence that the Global South can bring to the church in the post-Christian Global North. His Personal Purpose Statement reflects this focus: “My purpose is to awaken within the Body of Christ a local and global perspective on the Mission of God and to influence organizational systems so as to free and empower them for mission fulfillment.”

Mike was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. He and Kathy were married in 1979. Kathy works at Concordia University Irvine as Assistant Director of Advancement Services. The Gibson’s have two adult sons, Andrew and Tim.


Enock Berus

Jean-Enock Berus

Jean-Enock Berus has been a Concordia University Irvine student since 2015 and is from Haiti. He graduated in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Theology. That same year, he entered the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center (CMC) to become a pastor. Currently Enock is a vicar at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Los Angeles under the Rev. Dr. S T Williams, Jr. Enock is in his last year of the CMC program and looking forward to graduation in May 2023 and becoming a pastor.


John Norton

Dr. John Norton

John Norton is a Professor of English and director of Concordia's Around-the-World Semester program (ATW). A global service-learning program, the ATW adventure has taken John, his family, and over 100 university students to 47 different countries in the last twelve years. The ATW program not only involves intense cultural, linguistic, and literary study, but its missional nature connects the team with churches, community leaders, and missionaries all around the world. John's most recent publication, Around the World Family: Stories of Adventure and Grace, is a compilation of short stories drawn from his experiences abroad. John and his wife Erica have been married for 24 years. They have three children, Jack (21), Naomi (18), and Sheffield (10).


Glenn Fluegge

Dr. Glenn Fluegge

My wife and I (along with our five kids) served as LCMS missionaries in Togo (1998-2009) and in South Africa (2009-2012). We then returned to the States where I currently serve as Director of the Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) at Concordia University Irvine and teach courses on theology, missions, and culture.


Steve Mueller

Dr. Steve Mueller

Dr. Steve Mueller is Vice President, Chief Mission Officer, and Professor of Theology at Concordia University Irvine. He also serves as assistant pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Irvine.

Click here for
Breakout Session schedule

Breakout Sessions, Speaker Bios

God's Mission Among the Navajo

Rev. Tim Norton, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Navajo, NM


For You 4 Life (and 4 Life through YOU too!)

Michelle Bauman, Director of Y4Life, Lutherans For Life


“The Gates of Hades will Not Prevail!” Mission as Spiritual Warfare

Dr. Jonathan Ruehs, Concordia University Irvine


The Nations Among Us

Rev. Nader Hanna, Salam Ministries


The Biblical Fullness of the Gospel

Dr. Mike Middendorf


Grace, Gospel, GO!!!

Pat Fick


What if My Family Doesn't Understand?

Emily Belvery, Mission of Christ Network


Engaging Across Cultures

Dr. Glenn Fluegge, Concordia Irvine


God, Who Am I and Why Am I Here?

Pastor Dominic Rivkin, Mission Executive, Pacific Southwest District


“Gentle and Guarded,” In the currents of compassion and tolerance. Equipping the church to respond with a pure Gospel in a culture of counterfeit gospels.

Pastor Brian Barlow, Resurrection Evangelical Lutheran Church


Fight Homelessness a Different Way with Charity on Wheels

Zach Southall


Bringing the Light of Christ to People who are Visually Impaired

Daniel Jenkins


Bridges to the Gospel

Rev. Mark Rabe, Courtney Zalmanoff, Matt Wasmund & Chelsea Irwin

Tim N.

Rev. Tim Norton

Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Navajo, NM

Rev. Tim Norton was born in Long Beach, CA. He is married to Heidi, and they have two children, Philip and Leslie. He served as a church planting missionary in Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, West Africa. He has been in Navajo, NM for 9 years.

Michelle B.

Michelle Bauman

Director of Y4Life, Lutherans For Life

Michelle Bauman joined the Lutherans for Life team on June 1, 2019, to serve as the Director of Y4Life. She communicates with high school and university students about life issues, addressing them from a Biblical perspective, and supports the building and maintaining of Y4Life Teams on high school and college campuses across the nation. When not presenting, writing, or creating social media posts for Y4Life, Michelle loves gardening, taking long walks, traveling, cooking, and spending quality time with her husband and sons.

Jonathan Ruehs

Rev. Dr. Jonathan Ruehs

Concordia University Irvine

Rev. Dr. Jonathan B. Ruehs has been in ministry for over 25 years, serving as both a DCE and an ordained pastor in parish and university settings. Besides his seminary degree, he has an MA in Christian apologetics and a PhD in missiology. His doctoral dissertation explored the “spooky side” of spiritual warfare in North America.

Nadar Hanna

Rev. Nader Hanna

Salam Ministries

Rev. Nader Hanna, Executive Director of Salam Ministries, lived and served the Lord in Egypt, Lebanon, Cyprus, and the USA. Nader is a trainer and a coach of cross-cultural Disciple Making Movements DMMs, and an evangelist to Middle Easterners and Muslims. Nader and his wife, Amy, have a 20 -year-old son, Hadi. Nader and Amy have been full time in ministry for the past 20 years producing and broadcasting Christian TV and radio programs to the Arab/Muslim world and leading outreaches, discipleship programs, and leadership trainings. Faith Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach CA, holds his call as the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, sending him to work with churches and communities in Southern California to help edify the Body of Christ and to do the work of mission.

Mike Middendorf

Dr. Mike Middendorf

Mike Middendorf is a Professor of Theology at Concordia, Irvine. He has published a two-volume commentary on Romans and co-authored Called by the Gospel, a New Testament textbook. He has also enjoyed working on an archaeology dig for three summers at Hippos, near the Sea of Galilee.

Pat Fick

Pat Fick

Pat Fick is a servant of Jesus who loves to travel and share Jesus with the world. She grew up on a farm in southern Nebraska, and has lived in MO, CA, and TX! She loves music, mission trips, dogs, exercise, baking, and backpacking. She currently serves on the Campus Ministry Team at Concordia Texas. Her favorite Scripture is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Emily Belvery

Emily Belvery

Emily was an overseas missionary in Asia for six years and is now an everyday missionary in Omaha, Nebraska. Together with her 1-yr-old, Nora, Emily works for Mission of Christ Network, recruiting new missionaries and building church partnerships.

glenn-fluegge

Dr. Glenn Fluegge

My wife and I (along with our five kids) served as LCMS missionaries in Togo (1998-2009) and in South Africa (2009-2012). We then returned to the States where I currently serve as Director of the Cross-cultural Ministry Center (CMC) at Concordia University Irvine and teach courses on theology, missions, and culture.

Zach Southall

Pastor Brian Barlow

Having been called out of a gender-broken identity, Rev. Brian Barlow has invested over 20 years in ministry to those who struggle with relational and sexual brokenness. His role as regional director for a para ministry in the Pacific Southwest offers a voice of hope to the gender-broken, pastors, church leaders, and parents of gay and transgender children. Brian Barlow and his wife have three boys ages 9, 7 & 3, and reside in Southern California. Brian is the Pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Quartz Hill, CA. In addition, Pastor Brian serves with many local and national ministry partners including the Campus Mission Coalition and LINC-LA. Brian offers a fresh and needed voice to those called to minister in a gender-confused culture.

Zach Southall

Zach Southall

Zach and his wife Michelle run Charity on Wheels which is a 501c(3) non-profit dedicated to fighting homelessness a different way. With a focus on Veterans, Seniors, and Single Mothers, their methodology begins with a hand-up, not a hand-out. We are committed to rebuilding lives in Jesus’ name, through their weekly, monthly, and seasonal outreach programs.

Daniel Jenkins

Daniel Jenkins

Daniel Jenkins graduated from Concordia University Irvine in 2006 with a degree in history/political science from the church-worker and education programs. While his intent was to become a Lutheran high school teacher, God had other plans for him and Daniel never served a day in a classroom. Instead, he has worked in different fields and industries before becoming part of the Christian non-profit world, first at Concordia College Alabama, and now at Lutheran Braille Workers where he serves as Interim President and Vice President Ministry Advancement.

Mark Rabe

Rev. Mark Rabe

Pastor Rabe served from 2015–2021 as an LCMS missionary and theological educator at Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Prior to that, he served as served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Albany, Ga.; taught at Atemo Bible College and Matongo Lutheran Theological College, Kenya; and served as pastor of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church, Oroville, Calif. He is a graduate of Concordia Seminary St. Louis and Concordia University, Portland, Oregon.

Emily Wilson

Emily Wilson
Dominic Rivkin Belvery

Pastor Dominic Rivkin

Rev. Dominic J. Rivkin serves as the Mission Executive for the Pacific Southwest District of the LCMS and is a trained Spiritual Director. As an urban missionary and church planter, Pastor Dominic focuses on supporting the congregations of our District in creating new ministries. This includes developing strategies and partnerships toward planting new, multi-cultural missions and equipping leaders for our diverse and growing region. His ongoing study has been in Ancient Christian Spirituality and the work of Dallas Willard, with a dissertation on Christian identity and purpose to follow. Dominic and his wife Cassie reside in Los Angeles, enjoying the excitement of the city as much as they love exploring the trails and mountains of Southern California.

Enock Berus

Jean-Enock Berus

Jean-Enock Berus has been a Concordia University Irvine since 2015 and is from Haiti. He graduated in 2019 with a bachelor's degree in Theology. That same year, he entered the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center (CMC) to become a pastor. Currently Enock is a vicar at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Los Angeles under the Rev. Dr. S T Williams, Jr. Enock is in his last year of the CMC program and looking forward to graduation in May 2023 and becoming a pastor.

Noks Shabalala

Noks Shabalala

Noks Shabalala is a theologian and an independent missionary whose passion is to spread the Word of God across the globe. Coming from a non-Christian background, becoming a believer for Noks stirred in her a passion for ministry before she could even know the 4 books of the Gospel. Since then she has been part of campus ministry at Concordia University Irvine as an undergraduate student. Has served as a Coordinator of Concordia Seminary Life Team (a Gospel centered ministry that equips seminarians and others to affirm life) and has also had the opportunity to serve as an independent missionary to China while teaching 6th and 7th Grade German and English at Shenzhen Foreign Languages Middle School. She has recently served as a Matron at Themba Boarding School in Mpumalanga where she focused on campus ministry and outreach. She is now holding a volunteer position as a Minister of Small Groups and Connections at Concordia University Irvine.

Noks has also been involved in various ministry and research opportunities that involved diversity and inclusion, Mental Illness/Trauma, Refugee ministry and spiritual care counseling.

She graduated from Concordia University Irvine in 2016 with a degree in Communication Studies and a Pre-Deaconess studies minor and later on earned her theological Masters Degree in Spiritual Care at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO in May 2019.

Serve Organizations

Lutheran Braille Workers

Lutheran Braille Workers

Assembling books of the Bibles or calendars for the visually impaired

On Campus

Lutheran Braille Workers is the world's largest non-profit producer of braille, specialized large print, and audio Christian materials. LBW has shipped over 14 million volumes and millions of other pamphlets, calendars, and other materials, in almost 40 languages to 164 countries. Millions of people have been reached with the Gospel message. Even more amazingly, thanks to the generosity of volunteers and donors, every single volume of material has been distribured free of charge. Founder Helene Loewe Koehler's vision of people who are blind or visually impaired receiving the Scripture free of charge continues to be realized, even now!

Orange County Rescue Mission

Orange County Rescue Mission

Preparing lunch or working in donation warehouse

Off Campus

The Orange County Rescue Mission exists to minister the love of Jesus Christ to the least, the last and the lost of the Orange County community through the provision of assistance in the areas of guidance, counseling, education, job training, shelter, food, clothing, health care and independent living communities.

Project Giving Light

Project Giving Light

Assembling birthday boxes for foster and homeless children

Off Campus

Project Giving Light's mission is to bring joy and light through birthday celebrations to both Orange County's foster and homeless children. They want every child to know they were made for a purpose, to speak hope, joy and blessings over them, and to infuse whatever space they call home with light and joy so that they begin to dream about more than just surviving. Most importantly, they want every child to know that God loves them, He sees them, they matter to Him, and they are not alone.

Mariner's Church

Mariner's Church

Food Pantry and Thrift Store

Off Campus

Mariner's is a large local church which has a thrift store and food pantry. The thrift store is designed to facilitate radical generosity in order to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the Orange County community. In their food pantry, they distribute bags of shelf stable food, fresh produce, protein, and dairy to families in need while making a personal connection to walk alongside them in their journey towards self-sufficiency. They seek to meet the tangible and physical needs of their recipients while introding them to Jesus, who is the true Bread of Life and Living Water.

Campus Map

Map of Concordia University Irvine

Free Time Options

Friday, November 4th:  2pm through the Evening

Disc Golf Map

Disk Golf Map

Hotel Information

Sonesta Irvine Hotel

17941 Von Karman
Irvine, CA
(949) 863-1999

Offers:

  • Indoor pool
  • Fitness center
  • Complimentary shuttle ride to-and-from John Wayne Airport
  • Complimentary High Speed Internet
  • Full Service Restaurant

Driving directions to Concordia University Irvine from the hotel (5.6 miles/11 minutes)

  • Take the 405 Freeway South
  • Take Jeffrey Rd. exit and turn right
  • Turn left on Ridgeline
  • Turn right on Concordia East

Emergency Information

For smaller issues or general questions, contact your school's faculty/staff member.

The Concordia University Irvine Main Campus Safety Number is (949) 214-3000.

The closest hospital is Hoag Hospital, 16200 Sand Canyon Ave., Irvine, CA 92618

The closest pharmacy is CVS, 17625 Harvard Ave., Irvine, CA 92614.

School Debrief

  • How is everyone feeling? It has been a busy weekend.
  • What was it like to worship with students from other Concordias?
  • How has this conference impacted your viewpoint of mission work and ministry?
  • How can we take what we learned here at Beautiful Feet back to our campus?
  • Do you have new ideas about how we can actively pray and go as laborers into His harvest?
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