Youth and Family News

"We are God's servant, working together; you are God's field, God's building."

1 Corinthians 3:9

On Sunday, October 29, I will begin serving with you as your Interim Youth Director. I look forward to meeting you, and to beginning our ministry together as we work through this period of transition.

My name is Kari Osmek, and I will be working with you for the next six months to help you uphold the current youth ministry program at Immanuel, while also working with ministry focus groups to help discover possibilities, work through changes, and plan for the future of the youth ministry program. I work for an organization called InterServe Ministries, whose theme verse is written above. InterServe Ministries guides congregations in a way that opens up and promotes a healthy and intentional time to focus on the goals and future growth opportunities within the youth and family ministry program in the congregation. We believe in a ministry style that is built from the congregation up. Young people, parents, and volunteers will have the opportunity to come together to dream about, create, and implement a viable, Christ-centered ministry here at Immanuel.

I have personally been involved in professional youth ministry for over 20 years. I have worked at various Bible camps, and as the youth director in my home congregation in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I then traveled with Youth Encounter on their North Central Band, before beginning my ministry at Wooddale Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park. I served at Wooddale for over 16 years as their Director of Youth Ministry and Christian Education, before moving into my first InterServe placement in Minnetonka.

My family and I have a home on 40 acres near Elk River (actually, in the tiny town of Nowthen). 40 acres may sound like lots of room to roam, but with 2 dogs, a cat, a hamster, a hunting husband (Darrell), and an almost-five-year-old (Drake), it can seem quite crowded for this only child! It is beautiful, though--it's nice to be able to sit on our deck and work while I look out at the lake.

I am very excited about embarking on this new journey together! We have a lot to do--already!!--so things will be moving along quickly. As we concentrate on the tasks before us, I am also aware that this is a difficult time for the youth and families of Immanuel as you grieve the loss of staff persons and struggle to move forward. I hope that I can be of some assistance in this process. Feel free to call or email me or to stop by the office if you have questions, ideas, or concerns--or just to introduce yourself! You can reach me at the church, on my cell phone at 763-772-7527, at home at 763-569-0076, or by email at kita64@msn.com.

Again, I look forward to meeting you on the 29th. I'm excited to see what God has in store for us!

'Cuz of Christ,

Kari Osmek, InterServe Ministries
Immanuel Interim Youth Director   †