The Academy – October 2019

The NALC is committed to the renewal of all our congregations, working to develop and deliver resources that challenge and open the NALC to the work of the Holy Spirit in our ministry and mission.

Bishop John Bradosky writes: “Instead of talking about the process of discipleship, we would like to examine the context of discipleship.  What is the nature of Christian community that nurtures people as faithful followers of Jesus, equips them to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus and provides for their growth and development as disciples of Jesus?  Following the amazing miracle of Pentecost, Peter’s bold preaching, explaining who Jesus is and what He has done for them and the transformation of more than 3,000 people who came to faith in Jesus we read these important words about the formation of the community that was able to sustain and grow the Church, the body of Christ.”*

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:42-47

Join us for October’s session of The Academy, as we wrestle with these deep questions.  Pastor Tony Ede will host Bishop Dan Selbo, the Rev. Dr. David Wendel, and the Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba on Tuesday, October 1st at 11:00 AM EDT.

We will continue to take the next steps in the vision Bishop Bradosky laid out for Life-To-Life Discipleship and mission, as well as dive headlong into Acts 2:42-47. The month of October will focus on the first key point found in Acts 2:42: “As the disciples devoted themselves to the teaching of Jesus, those in the church devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles.”  We will also wrestle with the very honest question: how many read and study Scripture daily?

To register for Panel Q & A Webinar or for more information, please visit: October 2019 Academy Webinar.

Host:

The Rev. Tony Ede graduated from Waldorf College, where he earned an associate of arts in electronic communications and a bachelor of arts in multimedia communications. Graduating from Luther Seminary in 2006, Tony worked as a graduate teaching assistant in the homiletics department, helping to teach classes on using media and technology in worship and preaching.  Pastor Ede has served at Bethany Lutheran Churches in the Danish Village of Kimballton, Iowa; as the teaching pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Webster City, Iowa; and currently serves as the senior pastor at First Evangelical Lutheran in Manchester, Iowa. As part of his commitment to lifelong learning, Tony earned an MBA in 2017 from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, with a concentration in organizational development. Following a long family tradition, Tony is a nationally certified firefighter and EMT and has used these skills to serve in the community, as well as in disaster response statewide. Tony was married to LeAnn at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Hampton, Iowa, on August 17th, 2002. They have three sons that keep them busy: Carver, Liam and Burke.

Panelists:

Bishop Dan Selbo graduated from San Jose State University in 1982 with a B.A. in Religious Studies, received my Masters of Divinity in 1986 from Luther Seminary, and earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Biblical Preaching in 2013, also from Luther Seminary. After serving St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in San Jose for twenty-five years, the Rev. Dr. Dan Selbo was elected at the 2019 NALC Convocation to serve as its next bishop.  Bishop Selbo also enjoys golfing, fishing, working in the yard and spending time with family and friends. Married for 33 years, he and his wife, Mary, have been blessed with four children and recently, with two grandchildren.

The Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba currently serves as Assistant to the Bishop for Mission for the North American Lutheran Church.  Ordained in 2001, Dr. Buba has served as a seminary professor, mission developer, senior pastor, vice president of the Southeastern Black Lutheran Pastors’ Conference, assistant to the bishop of Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod), director of African National Ministries, and president of the worldwide Union of Oromo Evangelical Churches. He was pastor of St. Stephen Evangelical Lutheran Church and the African/Oromo Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA. In addition to academic study and ordained ministry, Dr. Buba participates in multiple international ministries through speaking, leading revivals, leadership development conventions, and evangelical mission events.  Dr. Buba  is originally from Ethiopia and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and three children.  The activities of three young children keep his family’s free time quite busy, but he especially enjoys their time with Scouts, his home congregation: Word of God Lutheran Church – Peachtree City, and swimming.

The Rev. Dr. David Wendel graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication. He is a 1981 graduate of the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and served his internship at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, N.M. He served as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hobbs, N.M., before being called to Saint Luke’s in Colorado Springs in 1986. He earned a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from the Association of Chicago Theological Schools in 2001.  Pastor Wendel serves as the Assistant to the Bishop for Ministry and Ecumenism,  assisting congregations in finding pastors and assisting pastors in finding calls in NALC congregations. He also serves as the Bishop’s representative by responding to invitations, addressing concerns, representing the NALC and finding opportunities to foster and further the NALC’s ecumenical and inter-Lutheran commitments.   In 30 years of parish ministry, Pastor Wendel gained valuable hands-on experience that assists today in his work with many congregations in the NALC assisting with visioning, healing and renewal, especially focusing on pastor/parish relationships. Pastor Wendel and his wife, Susan Riches, make their home in Jacksonville, Florida.  They enjoy living close to the beach and spending as much time as they can with their two adult children and spouses, two grandsons, and two granddaughters.


*To access Bishop Bradosky’s quoted presentations, please visit: https://missions.nalcnetwork.com/nalc-launches-podcast/

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