Deaconess Kim Bueltmann accepted a new call to serve as a career missionary in Leipzig, Germany. Her last day at Concordia was June 30, 2017. Two familiar and cherished faces ended their time at Concordia University Wisconsin this summer: Deaconess Kim Bueltmann and Rev. Dr. John Oberdeck.
Bueltmann served as the director of campus ministry for a total of seven years before accepting a new call to be a career missionary through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Office of International Mission.
“It was a difficult decision,” said Bueltmann. “I love the people here and it’s hard to imagine myself elsewhere, but I know that this is where God is calling me.”
Bueltmann, who speaks fluent German and completed her two-year deaconess internship in Germany, will be carrying out her call with the SELK, an LCMS partner-church body, in Leipzig, Germany. Her primary role will be to provide outreach activities for the refugee population within the country. These activities will include teaching of faith basics and the catechism, German language classes, and music ministries.
Bueltmann hopes to depart for Germany in December. For more information about her journey, click here.
Rev. Dr. John Oberdeck, who has served 38 years in the ministry, also transitioned from CUW to pursue his next “call”: retirement. Oberdeck leaves behind a distinguished 15-year career teaching in the theology department and six years heading the lay ministry program.
I have been continuously surprised by the varied experiences in ministry and I learned to expect the surprises that God brings. Rev. Dr. John Oberdeck
“I have been continuously surprised by the varied experiences in ministry,” Oberdeck reminisced. “I was never planning on becoming a professor. The position sought me; the call came; and I learned to expect the surprises that God brings.”
Prior to his time at CUW, Oberdeck served more than 10 years as a parish pastor and 13 years as a faculty member at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Oberdeck’s last day was June 30, 2017. Missionaries blessed for service in seven countries, read the full story on the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod website.
— This story is written by Kali Thiel, director of university communications for Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. She may be reached at kali.thiel@cuw.edu or 262-243-2149.
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