Introducing the 2022-23 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 pastors 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.
Let’s take a moment to get to know a few of this year’s faith builders.
Joel Frizzle
Major: Finance major; economics minor
Hometown: Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, but my family has since moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Meaningful Bible verse: Philippians 4:6-7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? Mike Monsarrat, a youth minister at my former church. He helped me understand the personal nature of a relationship with Christ in that it’s not only an external appearance, but an internal rebirth from old to new man.
Joshua Barclay
Major: Broadfield secondary social studies education with a Lutheran Teacher Diploma; minoring in theatre and theology
Hometown: Saint Peters, Missouri
Meaningful Bible verse: Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? My mom. She homeschooled me up to 8th grade and helped teach the faith to me. She’s always been a role model for me to follow in my own faith leadership!
Macee Goehmann
Major: Broad field social studies – secondary education with a minor in theatre
Hometown: Ludington, Michigan
Meaningful Bible verse: John 10:10b
“I came so that they may have life and live it abundantly.”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? Sarah McKinley is always guiding me and showing me what it means to have patience, invest in others, be a nonjudgmental friend, take risks, and be a praiseworthy individual when life is messy.
Brian Frank
Major: Applied theology/theological languages double major
Hometown: Watertown, Wisconsin
Meaningful Bible verse: Joshua 1:9, which was given to me by Pastor Bergelin at confirmation, or Acts 4:12, which I’ve come to appreciate as a wholesome confession of faith in Christ.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? Pastor Douglas Bergelin has played a crucial role in my own faith development by answering countless questions that I have posed and by always being a source of support and a model of steadfast faith.
Micah Cumming
Major: Theological languages
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Meaningful Bible verse: Hebrews 12:1
“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? My Grandpa Cumming, a pastor, has been a very influential person for me. He brought faith to the forefront of reality for me and loved to talk with me and my family about whatever was on our mind.
Kaylee Helchen
Major: Rehabilitation science (pre-PT) and Spanish double major
Hometown: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
Meaningful Bible verse: Luke 15:11-31, especially verses 20-24 (The Parable of the Prodigal Son)
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? My roommates last year (Anna, Jill, Tia) have been wonderful faith leaders in my life. All three love the Lord with their whole hearts, and living with them as they went through the highs and lows of college taught me a lot about what it looks like to follow and worship Christ on the daily, in both the mountains and the valleys. (I love you guys!)
Grace Sugg
Major: Director of church ministries; theology major with a minor in church ministries and non-profit management
Hometown: Carlyle, Illinois
Meaningful Bible verse: John 16:33
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? London Kubisiak showed me that a woman of this age in this time and life could live a life that is so on fire for Christ all the time, every day. She helped me to realize that faith isn’t just for Sunday mornings.
Maddie Tom
Major: Early childhood and elementary Lutheran education
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Meaningful Bible verse: 1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? One of my middle school teachers who truly taught me what it meant to have a personal relationship with God. I learned that while community in Christ is essential, it is also important to depend on Him and talk to Him one-on-one frequently to strengthen faith in Christ alone and build trust.
Becka Prestwich
Major: Theology major in the Director of Church Ministries program
Hometown: Pocatello, Idaho
Meaningful Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11
“‘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.'”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? I have been blessed that my home church has two DCEs who have helped shape my faith. Ryan Strehlow was my youth leader in high school and showed me what caring leadership looks like. Kristina Parker, who runs children and women’s ministry at my home church, was the first person to explicitly tell me that I could have a career in ministry. She gave me space to explore what that could mean and encouraged me to grow. Both have modeled Christ to me and have provided many opportunities for me to grow in my faith.
Kaylee Frerking
Major: Occupational therapy
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Meaningful Bible verse: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? My grandma, who never hesitates to serve others and praises God even in the storms. Growing up, I learned so much about the love of Christ through her example.
Amy Eberth
Major: Nursing
Hometown: Basehor, Kansas
Meaningful Bible verse: Psalm 34
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
Who is a faith leader who has been especially influential in your life? Pastor Arnold, who baptized and confirmed me. He played a huge part in raising me in the faith.