Deaconess Kristin Lewis to serve as Interim Campus Minister

May 2, 2018

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

I am pleased to inform you that Deaconess Kristin Barnett Lewis has agreed to serve as interim Campus Minister for the 2018–2019 academic year.

Deaconess Kristin has served as co-director of education and formation at the Lutheran Deaconess Association (LDA) since 2014 and is passionate about working with students as they explore their own stories, faith journeys, place in community, and vocations. In her role, she co-coordinates all aspects of the education and formation process, including monitoring the progress of students and the process of the formation design, recruitment, admissions, programming, and ministry placement opportunities.

As interim Campus Minister, Deaconess Kristin will work closely with University Pastor James Wetzstein and myself. Additionally, we are pleased to have the opportunity to invite female Valpo graduates back to campus to serve in a variety of roles as pastors and deaconesses to share their gifts throughout the year preaching, presiding, and teaching at Valpo.

In addition to her work with the LDA, Deaconess Kristin is an adjunct professor at Wartburg Seminary and in the theology department at Valpo. She teaches two courses at Valpo, Practicum in Ministry, which gives students the opportunity for hands-on ministry experience in a fieldwork setting, and Clinical Education in Ministry, which allows students to serve as a student chaplain in a hospital setting.

Deaconess Kristin is a compelling preacher and speaker for small and large groups, congregations, retreats, and workshops. Previously, she served the larger Valparaiso community as founder and board chair of Dayspring Women’s Center, a nonprofit organization that serves women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and as deaconess at Trinity Lutheran Church from 2008 to 2012.

She has also served on the Institute for Leadership and Service’s Calling and Purpose in Society (CAPS) Fellowship Advisory Committee and has worked with the Valparaiso Christian Ministerial Association, the Affordable Housing Coalition, the Homeless Women’s Coalition, the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative Committee, and the Valparaiso Mayor’s Substance Abuse Prevention Faith Based Task Force.

Deaconess Kristin was consecrated at the LDA in 2010. She holds a master of arts in ministry from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and a bachelor of arts in government and communications from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D.

Please join me in welcoming Deaconess Kristin and congratulating her on this new role as she begins her service July 1, 2018.

Blessings,

Pastor Brian T. Johnson
Assistant Vice President for Mission and Ministry