Concordia welcomed its new campus pastor, Rev. Ryan Matthias, this week. A reception was held Wednesday to give the Concordia community an opportunity to meet the gentleman whose role will be to minister students, faculty and staff.
"I am excited to be here," said Matthias. "I love people, and I love the vigor of people when they hear and understand faith. It is great to be a part of that."
Matthias comes to Seward from Davenport, Iowa, where he was associate pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. He has additional experience as a youth worker and a counselor in a youth group home. He earned his Master of Divinity at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo., and his undergraduate degree at Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa.
"He loves students, creatively presents the Gospel and engages students as they experience challenges, joys, failures and frustrations," said Rev. Brian Friedrich, president of Concordia.
Matthias knows that much of his time will be spent experiencing life with the students and discussing everything from their spiritual walk to a new relationship.
"I see this as a place where I get to be involved in the lives of hundreds of missionaries since each of these students will take what they learn here out into the world. I want this to be a place where they learn about Christ and how to live out Christ."
Matthias is married to Sarah, and they have two children, Samuel and Sophia.