Martin (Marty) Kohlwey CO ’83 GR ’98 receives Concordia Nebraska Crest of Christ Award

Martin (Marty) Kohlwey CO ’83 GR ’98 recently received the Concordia Nebraska Crest of Christ Award, which honors individuals who humbly share and demonstrate the love and grace of Jesus Christ in their lives while serving public ministries and the work of the church-at-large.  

Kohlwey has a master of education degree in family life education and ministry and a bachelor of science degree in theology and physical education from Concordia University, Nebraska.  

“Dean Vieselmeyer and Wayne Rasmussen recruited me to play basketball and pursue a degree in the pastoral ministry or in secondary education,” he said. “Dean was my football coach at Milwaukee Lutheran and then took a call to Concordia Nebraska. I still have the postcard he sent me encouraging me to consider the university. Then Coach Rasmussen recruited me to play basketball, and after a wonderful visit during Spring Weekend, I decided to come to Seward.” 

My favorite thing about Concordia has always been the fact that the Holy Spirit is present and working at Concordia through His Word. The faculty and staff mentoring and sharing Jesus with students is wonderful but also the sharing of life together as the Body of Christ as we minister to each other.

Since 2016, Kohlwey has served as director of campus ministry, theology department head and worldviews/theology teacher at Lutheran High School in Parker, Colorado. He also oversees chapel, chapel groups, parent ministry, youth worship, missions and service. He is a presenter at conferences for youth and teachers speaking on topics like “Why Are You a Christian?”, “Parenting Adolescents” and “Thriving Parent Ministry.”  

Kohlwey served at Concordia Nebraska in a variety of roles from 1998-2016 including coordinator and instructor of the university’s first year experience class, instructor for methods of secondary religion and lifespan development, director of student activities and director of student life. Kohlwey also served as assistant men’s and assistant women’s basketball coach and head men’s basketball coach. He was the faculty advisor of the Multicultural Awareness Club and led Concordia’s all-campus devotions.  

Kohlwey also taught a variety of other courses at the college level and has organized and led basketball mission trips to Haiti, Panama and Mexico. He also facilitated, directed and assisted basketball camps at the high school and college level for more than 25 years.  

Prior to his service at the university, he served as religion department head, teacher, spiritual life director and head boys’ basketball coach at Lutheran High School in Rockford, Illinois.  

Kohlwey and his wife Sue ’03 have three children and eight grandchildren.  

“All of our kids and their spouses at some point attended Concordia Nebraska as an undergrad or graduate student and all were involved in sports at the university,” he said. “My favorite thing about Concordia has always been the fact that the Holy Spirit is present and working at Concordia through His Word. The faculty and staff mentoring and sharing Jesus with students is wonderful but also the sharing of life together as the Body of Christ as we minister to each other.” 

Stephanie (Mike GR ’14) Borst attended Concordia Nebraska from 2003-2004 and graduated from Concordia Irvine in 2007. Kirsten ’12 is married to Sam Huebner ’11. Micah ‘16 is married to Taylor (Wissing) Kohlwey, who attended Concordia Nebraska from 2012-2014 and graduated from College of St. Mary in 2016.  

“Lutheran Christian education focuses on what Jesus has done for us rather than what we do for Him,” he said. “This has led me to focus on four questions for most of my personal and professional life. Who am I? Why am I here? Is there Hope? What is truth? It is crucial that we know the answers to these questions and share the truth with a lost world. Jesus gives us incredibly loving answers. I struggled with what love was when I arrived as a student. Through the Holy Spirit working through His Word, my classes and professors, I realized the amazing grace the Father has for lost and broken sinners like me.” 

Each year, Concordia University, Nebraska recognizes select individuals with awards and honorary degrees at its commencement honors dinner in early May. The degrees and awards celebrate the contributions and service of these individuals to the Concordia Nebraska community, the church and the world.