First Lutheran Staff

Position for Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministries

The Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministries must be a dynamic and energetic Christian who will model, facilitate and engage others in life long learning in the faith. He/she will coordinate, recruit and support various education programs including Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Summer Outdoor Ministry programs, festivals and special events, Sunday School outreach projects and faith formation programs for families. To apply, send cover letter and resume to First Luthean Church, attention Sunni Richardson, 1551 So. 70th st., Lincoln, NE 68506 or email to Sunni@flclincoln.org.

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Brian Maas, Pastor

Brian Maas has been Senior Pastor of First Lutheran since mid-2006. He is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Yale Divinity School and the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA. He is a native Nebraskan and has served parishes in Tekamah, NE and Kansas City, MO. He and his wife Debbie have two teenage children, Nathan and Rebecca. He enjoys family, reading, movies, humor, rich worship, good food, theology, John Deere, and (most of the time) a Golden Retriever named Barkley.

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Aaron Erdley, Associate Pastor

As the Associate Pastor at First Lutheran, Pastor Aaron works with ministries from confirmation through young adult. He is a husband and father of one girl, and has been blessed to serve here since August of 2007. He is passionate about the inclusion of youth and young adults into all aspects of church life and making connections between the generations.

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Harlan Heier, Pastor

Harlan Heier has been Visitation Pastor at First Lutheran since January, 2001. His main focus is calling on those unable to attend worship. Pastor Heier graduated from Central Lutheran Theological Seminary, Fremont, and was ordained in 1955. In 1978 he received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He has served as pastor of St. Mark's Lutheran, Verdon; St. John's Lutheran, Schuyler; First Lutheran, York; and Trinity Lutheran, Newman Grove. Pastor Heier and his wife, Shirley, joined First Lutheran in 1997. They have six children, 13 grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.

Bonita Johnsen, Worship & Music

Bonita Johnsen has been the Director of Music Ministry since 1985. She earned a Master of Music degree specializing in sacred music at UNL and has been an Associate in Ministry since1987. Bonita is the primary organist and choir/ensemble director for the congregation and oversees a number of very talented assistants and volunteers. She also works with the drama ministry and visual arts task force. She strives to involve as many members as possible in the various fine arts ministries. Bonita is married and has two grown daughters.

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Sunni Richardson, Ministry Coordinator

Sunni Richardson joined the staff at First Lutheran in January 2008. Sunni served at Nebraska Lutheran Outdoor Ministries for 17 years as the Director/Programs and worked 18 years in a variety of positions and locations with Camp Fire, Inc. She brings experience in developing faith based programs, human resources, volunteer management and helping others discern their call to serve. Sunni's favorite activities include gardening, photography, reading and watching things grow, especially God's children. She lives in Lincoln with her buddy, a black cocker named Koda, who likes playing ball and being outside with Sunni.

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Howard Cook

Howard "Hop" Cook, part-time custodian, is one of seven children. He grew up in Lincoln, where he raised four children. He is proud of five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He has been actively involved in sports his whole life and is an inductee in the Lincoln High Sports Hall of Fame. He says the three most inspirational people in his life are Jesus Christ, his father, and his coach.

Elva Mares, Secretary

Elva has been a member of First Lutheran for 50 years, became church secretary in 1974 and has worked part time for the last 11 years. Elva has 3 children and 3 grandchildren.

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Judy Batterman

Judy Batterman has been a member of First Lutheran since 1974. She recently came out of "retirement" to work part-time in the church office. Between them, Judy and her husband, Bob, have 5 grown children and 7 grandchildren. In her spare time, Judy likes to travel, garden and spend time spoiling the grandkids.

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Blaz Knezevic

Blaz Knevevic is a native of Croatia. He immigrated to the United States in 1998. Blaz is married to Tracy Mueller Knezevic, and they have two daughters, Vana, 5, and Daria, 2 1/2.

Blaz enjoys woodworking and cold-smoking meats, as well as crafting in a variety of materials. Blaz worked in the telecommunications industry in Bosnia for 10 years. He also worked in construction and maintenance in Germany before immigrating. Most recently, he was a maintenance technician for the Lied Center for Performing Arts at UNL.

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