Unsung Heroes
Story: Carrie (Krenning) Kober '97
Photos: Courtesy of Rachel (Gregg) Cross ’06, Daniel Meyer ’05, Zach Schnare ’08 and Kelly Shaver ’12
Many Concordia University, Nebraska alumni serve in humble, quiet vocations.
We love to read the stories of the people who rise above all odds and become someone known in this world. We eagerly share the news, “Yep, that was my friend from undergrad - the one with the many titles and degrees behind her name.” And yes, these are very proud moments for our university!
But what about that classmate that you wonder, whatever happened to him? Just because you have not seen his name in publications, at the awards banquet or on the traveling speaking circuit does not mean he is not serving God in great ways. Quietly, maybe; simply, maybe; but nonetheless still serving wherever and with whatever God has placed before him.
Who are some of these unsung heroes and how have they fulfilled their many vocations in simple, yet meaningful ways?
The Stay-At-Home Mom
Many of our Godly heroes are moms. Moms sacrifice a lot through their lives for the sake of their children as they faithfully raise them to be strong Christians. One of these moms is alumna Rachel (Gregg) Cross ’06. Rachel’s Concordia story starts as an 18-year-old committed to going to South Dakota State University to become an occupational therapist or teacher. Her pastor recommended she check out Concordia Nebraska. She visited and fell in love with the friendly campus. After graduation, Rachel’s first call was to be a Special Education Teacher with Lutheran Area Special Education (LACE) of St. Louis. She taught at St. Mark’s Lutheran School, Eureka, Missouri for three years in this position. After getting married to her husband, Bert, she accepted a call to teach kindergarten at Immanuel Lutheran School, Wentzville, Missouri. Four years later, when Bert and Rachel’s first child was born, Rachel felt a new calling and decided to be at home to raise Vivian (now 8). In the years that followed, Annalynne (6) and Alison (2) joined the growing family. Rachel has enjoyed spending her days doing the simple things with her three girls – reading, playing and watching them grow and learn.
The decision to be at home also opened many doors to serving others. Rachel’s priority is always being there for her family, but her time and talents have extended to her church and school, Good Shepherd Lutheran, Collinsville. She is known to be one of the “go-to people” when there is a need. Rachel often substitute teaches, reads with children who need extra help, volunteers at the school library, organizes events such as the annual Auction and Trivia Night and is part of a teacher appreciation group. Many will tell you from the Good Shepherd church and school community that Rachel was one of the first people to make them feel welcome. In all she does, Rachel sees her vocations centered around sharing the Gospel. She has a sign hanging in her house that says, “Do Small Things with Great Love.” This sign sums up what Rachel hopes to teach her children through both word and example in the everyday, simple callings of life.
The Christian Educator
Another alumnus who is working at the big and small things that God has called him to do is Daniel Meyer ’05. Although Daniel never imagined he would be going to school in the cornfields, it became an easy decision once he visited campus. He recalls the various blessings he received at Concordia that helped him fulfill the vocations he holds today.
The two most important vocations he holds, husband and father, are rooted in his time at Concordia. Daniel met his wife, Beth (Moline) Meyer ’06, his second year. Daniel and Beth share a passion for life and ministry and work as a team as they share the Gospel in their unique callings, Daniel as a DCE and Beth as a teacher. Their children, Caleb (12) and Elise (9) complete their family. Daniel fulfills his role of dad by Christian discipling, coaching and just doing life together. They enjoy their time camping and vacationing. It is through these small moments and experiences that Daniel lives out his call to lead his family in their Christian walk.
Daniel continues to lead others in faith through his call as the DCE at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Missouri. Daniel’s life as a DCE is not contained to the walls of a church. His ministry can vary from being in front of the church doing children’s messages to leading mission trips to just having conversations about life and faith with his students. Daniel is very active in serving youth and other youth leaders outside of his job at Christ Memorial. He has worked on several National and District Youth Gatherings as a planner and a speaker. He is part of his local DCE cluster group and serves on the National DCE Board of Directors.
Through all the big and small ways Daniel serves, he keeps Colossians 3:17 on his mind. He lives by and leads by these words, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
The Director
Zach Schnare ’08 would tell you that through his life there have been many callings that were not exactly his plan, but he has stepped forward in faith anyway. When Zach was thinking about college, he felt the pull all along to attend Concordia Nebraska. He even turned down a full ride elsewhere to follow in his parent’s footsteps and become a Bulldog.
His time at Concordia was halted quickly as he was deployed with the Nebraska National Guard after his first semester at Concordia. When his year’s deployment was over, Zach was back at Concordia pursuing a degree in music and pre-sem. His path changed again after taking Fundamentals of Art. He saw the doors open to a possible career in art education. His plans were still up in the air after marrying sweetheart, Dawn (Otten) Schnare ’08. They decided that Dawn would teach, and Zach would sell insurance, but God had different blessings in store for them as they welcomed their first child, Ella (now 14).
This change led Zach to accept a teaching call at Metro East Lutheran High School, Edwardsville, Illinois as an art teacher and drama director. He quickly made a name for himself with the school musicals he directed. The community came to expect the elaborate sets he built, like the grand staircase for The Sound of Music or the special box that opened and closed for Cinderella or the beautiful foliage he and his class grew for Into the Woods. He also started bringing in area elementary kids to be part of the productions when they performed Music Man.
Again, Zach was headed for a change 11 years after starting at Metro East Lutheran High School. In his struggle of balancing vocations, he and Dawn put their family first again. To provide better for their now family of 10, they decided Zach would find a new job as a car salesman so that Dawn could stay home with the kids. Keeping their family as the top priority has always been the driving force of Zach and Dawn’s decisions. Leaving behind the identity of teacher and director was difficult, but it also made Zach focus even more on the most important identity he has through Christ. Because of this identity, Zach has been able to step out in faith to do what God has set before him.
The Aaron
It is rare to find someone that is not seeking recognition in some way in life. But isn’t this the call of all Christians? Alumna Kelly (Thiessen) Shaver ’12, is a wonderful example of being the “Aaron” lifting up the hands of “Moses” in ministry. Through all her roles, she sees her serving as being behind the scenes.
Kelly loves to support and lift others up in their faith journey along the way. Her time at Concordia helped build this service-minded focus as she was immersed in the loving and caring community there. This model at Concordia has made her ask herself throughout the years, “How can I create community wherever I am?” These two focuses have permeated all of Kelly’s vocations through the years.
She started as a Spanish teacher at Rockford Lutheran, Illinois and soon moved into smaller roles after starting a family. Her goal of helping wherever the need was greatest has put her in the roles of supportive wife to husband Jordan Shaver ’12, stay at home mom to Nolan (4) and Micah (2), substitute teacher, tutor, secretary for church council, committee member for a moms group, and the list goes on.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
A verse Kelly remembers in her roles is from 1 Timothy 2:2-3: “that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior.” Kelly’s moto that “its’ OK to be ordinary” is not the philosophy of the world where everyone is trying to stand out and be noticed. But it’s a philosophy that serves the church and the neighbor well.
Kelly’s latest call to serve others is in the role of Concordia Nebraska Regional Ambassador for the Chicago and Wisconsin areas. She enjoys helping students see Concordia Nebraska as an option for their future. She continues to create community among these students and the Concordia Alumni in her area. This job comes naturally to Kelly as she always is promoting her alma mater anyway! As Kelly readily says yes to the calls God puts before her, she feels the partnership with fellow Christians throughout the world as each serves in their unique calling. This sense of working together as the body of Christ is what motivates her in all she does.