Brian & Kristen Konkol: June 2010

Bio

We serve with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (E.L.C.A.) Global Mission unit, currently residing in Pietermartizburg, South Africa, and serving as Country Co-Coordinators of the South Africa based Young Adults in Global Mission Program (Y.A.G.M.).

Brian...

After graduating from Amherst High School (Amherst, Wisconsin) in 1997, I enrolled at Viterbo University (La Crosse, WI). After four years on the men's basketball team and in pursuit of a Bachelors of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, I graduated from Viterbo in 2001 and immediately enrolled at Luther Theological Seminary (St. Paul, MN) in order to pursue a Master of Divinity degre, with the hopes of being ordained as a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The "turn" into international service came during my third year of theological study, when I was selected by the E.L.C.A. to serve in an international "Horizon" internship, and was placed in New Amsterdam, Guyana, with the Ebenezer Lutheran Parish. Following a wonderful internship year, and after graduating from Luther in May of 2005, and after official ordination into the ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in June of 2005, I was invited to return to Guyana as Long-Term Global Mission Personnel, serving with the Emmanuel Lutheran Parish of Skeldon within the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Guyana. While in Guyana from 2005-2007, in addition to serving as pastor of four congregation, I also served as Director of the Lutheran Camp and Retreat Centre (2005-2006), Lecturer at the Lutheran Lay Academy (2005-2007), Co-Host of "The Word for the World" television telecast (2005-2007), Advisor to the National Youth Commission (2005-2007), and also provided leadership and support in various other ministries within the community and wider church.

I currently serves in South Africa as Country Coordinator of the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which offers cross-cultural experiences for young adults throughout the United States. In addition to duties facilitating YAGM operations, I assist with teaching and preaching in local isiZulu-speaking Lutheran congregations, teaching at the Lutheran Theological Institute, and am a PhD candidate within the University of KwaZulu-Natal's School of Religion and Theology.

Kristen...

After graduating from Waupaca High School in 1995, I accepted a full-scholarship to play basketball at the University of Toledo (Toledo, Ohio). I graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree with an emphasis on Cardiac Rehabilitation, while also earning four letters on the highly successful women's basketball team. After graduation, I then pursued Post-Graduate studies at the University of Minnesota, where I earned a Masters of Arts in Kinesiology, with a minor in Complementary and Alternative Therapy and Healing Practices through Center for Spirituality and Healing. I then worked as a community health specialist and research associate with the University of Minnesota. I worked with a Susan B. Komen Foundation Grant working with breast cancer survivors, and also the National Institute of Heath Grant, working on a diabetes prevention study focusing on minority populations in the Twin Cities area. I enrolled with the United States Peace Corps in 2003, and was assigned to Guyana, where I served as a health volunteer and got involved in many aspects of the community, ranging from HIV/AIDS education and awareness, to sports teams, and primary education. In 2006, I moved to Skeldon, Guyana in order to serve as the Director of the Lutheran Camp and Retreat Centre, as well as serve in various other capacities, such as providing leadership in After-School Reading Programs, HIV/AIDS support groups, community outreach, and various other opportunities.

After leaving Guyana in December of 2007, I now reside in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa alongside Brian as Co-Coordinator of the Young Adults in Global Mission Program, am a Ph.D candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in the health sciences in Durban and assist with a variety of local soccer programs.

We were married on September 23, 2006 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Waupaca, Wisconsin.