Introducing the 2025-26 Faith Associates
There are lots of people on CUW’s campus who commit their time and energy to building up the fellowship of faith. Faith Associates are among those intentional builders.
The role of a Faith Associate is to help fellow students acclimate to Concordia and integrate into the vibrant faith community. These student faith leaders are selected and trained by CUW’s campus pastor at the start of each school year. They are assigned to one of CUW’s residence halls to live among peers and be the person who is there to have impromptu faith conversations, invite fellow residents to faith growth opportunities, or engage in prayer and Bible studies.
This year’s campus theme is Free to Serve from Galatians 5:13–14: ‘For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Let’s take a moment to get to know this year’s faith builders. Each one was asked to answer one of the following questions:
- What does Free to Serve mean to you?
- What does faith mean to you?
- Who in your life has exemplified faith?
- What does it mean to be an FA?
Quinn Miller (Wittenberg)
Major: Philosophy and Theological Languages
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Meaningful Bible verse: Ephesians 2:10
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.”
What does ‘Free to Serve’ mean to you? Free to Serve means to not make plans. Meaning set goals for your faith and ways to serve, yet never make plans because the Lord will set your feet on His path. Open all doors and trust His guiding hand not by your plans but through faith.
Seth Bode (Wittenberg)
Major: Theological Languages
Hometown: Hilton, New York
Meaningful Bible verse: Galatians 2:20
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
What does it mean to be an FA? Although I am just beginning in this role, an FA as I have seen is someone who is there for people. They are someone who has their mind towards Christ and is always seeking to share the hope of His promises with the other students around them.
Caleb Couser (Chemnitz)
Major: Secondary Education
Hometown: Fort Worth, Texas
Meaningful Bible verse: Colossians 1:18
“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have supremacy”
What does it mean to be an FA? This is my first year as a Faith Associate. I am excited for the opportunity to be God’s light to those in my dorm. I am excited for the opportunity to grow with my dorm, and help them grow in faith this upcoming year.
Colton Smith (Chemnitz)
Major: Business – Entrepreneurship
Hometown: Mattoon, Ill.
Meaningful Bible verse: John 3:30
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
What does Free to Serve mean to you? The term Free to Serve can take on several different meanings. Primarily, we are free to serve because of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, which have freed us from sin and death. I also think it involves looking at the servant position as a privilege rather than a responsibility, as we are free to serve God and our neighbors. The sacrifice that many have made for this country so that we are able to serve God freely is another important aspect of being ‘Free to Serve.’
Carolina Qualmann (Wartburg)
Major: Speech Pathology
Hometown: Crossville, Tenn.
Meaningful Bible verse: Psalm 23:6
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Who in your life has exemplified faith? My mom has impacted my faith by being a strong leader alongside my dad. She is an amazing teacher of God’s word and always trusts in God’s plan, even when it is difficult.
Paige Taylor (Augsburg)
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: New Palestine, Ind.
Meaningful Bible verse: 1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
What does Free to Serve mean to you? Free to Serve means that I have been set free by Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross. Through His death and resurrection, I am no longer bound by sin, death, or the power of the devil. This freedom came at a great cost and because of that, I should not use my freedom to live selfishly or continue in sin. Instead, I am called to use this freedom to love, forgive, and serve others wholeheartedly. I am called to live a life that reflects the worth of the sacrifice Jesus made for me. Though I can never be perfect or repay what He has done, I give Him my all—living each day in service to Him and to His creation.
Joshua Price (Heidelberg)
Major: Theology
Hometown: Shelby Township, Mich.
Meaningful Bible verse: 1 Timothy 1:15
“This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners’—and I am the worst of them.”
What does Free to Serve mean to you? Being Free to Serve comes from the fact that Christ died for my sins on the cross, to pay the debt I never could on my own. Now that I have been “set free from sin” (Rom. 6:22), I can choose to serve my neighbor in any capacity necessary. An example of this would be the role of an FA.
Ally Moreno (Chemnitz)
Major: Director of Church Ministries
Hometown: Norfolk, N.E.
Meaningful Bible verse: Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
What does Free to Serve mean to you? I got the privilege and honor to help choose the campus ministry theme, Free to Serve. This theme encompasses the Christian life, we are free because of what Jesus has done for us and now we get to serve others to show His love towards others to point more people toward Him.
Ellen Egger (Wartburg)
Major: Graphic Design and Philosophy
Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
Meaningful Bible verse: Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.”
What does Free to Serve mean to you? Christ’s death and resurrection have already won for me salvation. Because of His works, I no longer need to win salvation through my own good works. Free to Serve means that I can now serve and love others with Christ’s love without being worried about if I am doing enough or checking off the right boxes.
Mikayla Dolan (Wittenberg)
Major: Psychology and Social Work
Hometown: Appleton, Wis.
Meaningful Bible verse: Psalm 73:25-26
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Who in your life has exemplified faith? My dad has always exemplified faith in my life. He lives his faith by going above and beyond to serve others and always points people to Christ. Most of what I know about faith and service, I have learned from him and I am so thankful for it.
Ella Morse (Katharine)
Major: Biomedical Science
Hometown: Edgar, Wis.
Meaningful Bible verse: Habakkuk 3:17-18
“Though the fig tree does not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will joy in the God of my salvation.”
What does faith mean to you? To me, faith is a conviction to believe fully in and trust in God as provider, protector, creator, and savior. Doubts or difficulties in life only draw me closer to Him because of the all-knowing peace He provides. This can be found in God alone.
Courtney Bauer (Katharine)
Major: Social Work
Hometown: Byers, Colo.
Meaningful Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
What does it mean to be an FA? Being an FA is an incredible opportunity, as it means developing meaningful relationships with amazing fellow Falcons. This is my first year, and I can not wait to share Christ’s love with my girls! The opportunity to be a friend to talk to, and lean on in hard times, is a privilege.
Kelsie Gerhardt (Chemnitz)
Major: Director of Church Ministries
Hometown: Decatur, Ill.
Meaningful Bible verse: Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
Who in your life has exemplified faith? Someone in my life that has exemplified faith is the Director of Christian Education I had throughout high school. Even with all of life’s difficult things that were thrown at her, she still showed us what faith at work in someone’s life looked like.
Jane Michael (Wittenberg)
Major: Music Education
Hometown: Athens, Ga.
Meaningful Bible verse: 2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
What does Free to Serve mean to you? To me, our theme Free to Serve reflects that because of Christ’s sacrifice, our debt is paid, and we are free to live without insecurity. We are unashamed of the Gospel and can try to live like Christ. Although we fall short, we are clothed in Christ’s righteousness and His power is made perfect in our weakness. We don’t take advantage of this freedom and live in sin. We have freedom to put others before ourselves and follow our Lord who came not to be served, but to serve.
Faith Associates training at a glimpse
On Wednesday, August 13, the FAs gathered at Pastor Bakker’s residence for a walk (or bike ride), lunch, and book study on Dr. Stephen Saunder’s book, “Martin Luther on Mental Health.”
“We are off to a great start and look forward to fostering a Christ-centered community in our residence halls when the students arrive next week!” says Bakker.
Learn more
At CUW you can see and feel a Christian emphasis from how our professors teach in the classroom to how our athletes play on the field. We instill in our students that living a full Christian life is about more than worship. CUW is a Christian university, not because we’re perfect people, but because we’re forgiven sinners who gather together in Christ. Faith Associates have been a part of that community for a decade. These student leaders arrive early on campus to learn how to make meaningful connections with residents, use counseling tactics, and apply logistical skills under the instruction of Pastor Bakker. They love Jesus and cannot wait meet you!