MINNEAPOLIS, MN (August 24, 2012) – Kara Stromberg has joined the staff of the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church as director of Children and Family Ministry. She will assume her new responsibilities September 15.

“This is a newly developing position, and we are pleased to have a quality leader like Kara join our team,” said Superintendent Mark Stromberg (not related). “We are confident that she will help us live into our stated ministry priority of children, youth and family.”

Kara will work alongside Ginny Olson, director of youth ministry.

Kara brings extensive ministry experience. A native of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, she said she felt a call to ministry as a junior in high school. After graduating from Bethel University, she served as pastor to youth and families at Roseville Covenant Church in Roseville, Minnesota.

She graduated with a Master of Arts in Christian Education degree with an emphasis in youth ministry from Bethel Theological Seminary in 2005 and was ordained to Word and Service in the Covenant in 2010.

Kara recently worked as director of training at Youth Leadership. She currently teaches adjunct courses in mentored leadership development at Bethel Seminary and is a member of the Covenant’s speaker team.

Kara and her husband, Nate, along with their children, Ben and Greta, live in St. Paul and are active members of First Covenant Church there. Kara says her experience working as a staff minister, deacon, and volunteer has helped her understand the challenges and opportunities of working as part of ministry teams.

“I love working with staff ministers, parents and volunteers, helping them discover creative ways to bring faith into the home,” she said.

Kara said she believes a strong emphasis on children and families is the most important thing a local church can do to ensure the next generation has a strong faith center. “I’m passionate and concerned about young families as well as helping 5th and 6th graders transition into junior high.

“I look forward to working closely with Ginny Olson to equip and resource churches with this transition into youth ministry,” Kara added. “I’m also excited to continue to build on the good work Jon Kramka and the Children and Family Commission have begun.”