PASTOR ED NUGENT
Pastor Ed is 39 years old and a graduate of the Lutheran Brethren Seminary. He began seminary in 1992 and served as a Youth Minister for 3 years prior to marrying his wife, Tanya, in the summer of 1995. After getting married Ed left full time ministry and worked in sales at ServiceMaster in Moorhead, Minnesota, before moving with his family to southwest Florida in 2001. In Florida, Ed managed a custom cabinet shop, returning to his roots in carpentry and woodworking, which he had done since he was a teen. In the summer of 2007 he moved back to Minnesota to complete his last year of seminary and return to full time ministry.
Pastor Ed says, "The time was right. I had prayed for many years that God would direct my desires and open the doors for me to return and finish my training for the ministry when the time was right. A mid-life change in careers was scary, and returning to school with a family is very different than it was when I was 22 and single, but God was and is faithful, and in His will is where I want to be."
Pastor Ed accepted the call to serve as the Pastor of Word of Life Lutheran Brethren Church in the spring of 2008 and began serving the church in July. He and Tanya live in Le Sueur and have 3 children: Nick (11), Zack (9) and Grace (3). Pastor Ed loves to hunt, fish and spend time with his family. He is an avid reader and poor golfer. His wife Tanya is an artist and full time mom.
Education: 2008 - Lutheran Brethren Seminary - Fergus Falls, MN
Master of Divinity
1991 - Messiah College - Grantham, PA
B.A. - History
Social Studies Education, Minor
PASTOR MARK JOHANNESEN
Associate Pastor
It's good to be part of the Le Sueur community. My family and I moved here this fall, and we are very excited to serve at Word of Life. Since 1998, I've had the privilege of serving at three other Lutheran Brethren churches in roles ranging from youth director/pastor to associate pastor and senior pastor. My ministry passions are teaching and preaching God's word, working with teenagers and encouraging people to use the gifts that God has given them to reach this world for Jesus.
I grew up in New Jersey, and shortly after high school I found myself attending college in Minnesota. I graduated in 1998 from Northwestern College in St. Paul with a degree in youth ministries and during my senior year began
serving on staff at a church in Eagan, Minnesota. While I was there, I graduated from the Lutheran Brethren Seminary, and shortly after that I met Wendy. In 2005, we were married in St. Paul. Shortly after getting married, we moved to Washington state, and in 2007 our daughter, Ella, was born.
I enjoy traveling, short term mission trips, playing and watching sports, fantasy sports, skiing, biking, 80's rock music, worship music, and a host of other things. I look forward to getting to know as many people as possible.
If you ever want to connect with me, feel free to give me a call at the church or on my cell phone. My office email is pastormark@wordoflifelbc.org, or you can look me up on Facebook.
MARY CARLSON
Church Secretary
Mary Carlson was born in Roseau, Minnesota, but raised in southern Brazil as a missionary kid. Mary says, "I am very thankful for the opportunity to get to know another culture."
Mary's parents, Gerhard and Thelma Harder, descendents of German Mennonites, were willing to send their children to another country to tell people how much Jesus loved those people through lives lived for Him.
Mary reflects that, "During those years, we would return to the USA every five years to visit relatives and the mission headquarters. We knew our grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins through photos. Of course, those very relatives had their questions and opinions and found much enjoyment teasing us out when we arrived. One cousin (four years my senior) decided to wash my face with snow when I attended the same public school as he did in Munich, North Dakota."
At 18 years of age, Mary traveled to the USA to study at a Bible school. "I wanted to return to Brazil as a missionary afterwards. Visas were not easy to receive anymore, and I knew the culture.
I met Jeff and his family in Bloomington, MN. His parents, Chuck and Bev Carlson, gave up their home and jobs, like my parents did, to go to share Jesus with the people in Puerto Rico.
Jeff and I were engaged in December 1978 and left in August 1979, for separate mission stations in separate countries. Jeff helped in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while I helped in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. I encountered many new opportunities and made numerous friends.
In July 1980, Jeff flew down to meet my parents and brothers as we finalized wedding arrangements. Our ceremony, a mixture of Portuguese-for the Brazilians--and English, so Jeff would understand his own wedding ceremony--was held in the church where I was raised. The people heard about Jesus and His forgiveness for their sins once more.
We graduated from Bible school in May 1981, and returned to Brazil in May 1982, after fulfilling the candidacy requirements for Bethany Fellowship missions."
"By the time we left Brazil in 1990, our three children had been born: Gloria, Jason, and Melissa. Gloria has many stories of her own to tell about those seven years there. Jason remembers Brazil and was able to recognize many places and things when we visited in 1997. Melissa was eight months old as we boarded the plane in 1990. We didn't know--BUT God did--that we would not return except to visit. That story and its details are too extensive to tell here. Feel free to ask someday. :)
Our children have since grown, and almost 18 years have passed. God has taught us, and me, many lessons to add to the collection belonging to Brazil's lessons.
I still love the Lord, and my heart's desire is that my life would be a shining light pointing people to Him who died for me and them so that we may live with Him now and forever.
God bless you. He loves you more than anyone can explain."