Olson will begin ministry at LCM after graduating from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa in May, and will celebrate their ordination as a minister of word and sacrament on June 7, 2026. 

Though they will be a new seminary graduate, they come with years of experience in both ministry and the non-profit sector. “Until recently, it was not possible for a first call candidate to be called directly into a campus ministry call. The Director for Campus Ministry for LCM ISU is a very unique position, and requires a unique candidate so I was eager for the LCM ISU Board to have the opportunity to discern and interview with this particular first call candidate for this position.” says Bishop Amy Current of the Southeastern Iowa Synod and advisory member to the LCM ISU Board. “AJ Olson not only has gifts that will continue to build on the momentum of the LCM restart, they also have the experience and passion that will contribute to furthering this mission at Iowa State.”

“When Bishop Current came to the board with this candidate, we were immediately excited about the prospect,” says LCM Board Chair Pr. Sonja Gerstenberger. “The search committee faithfully discerned together that AJ Olson was a great fit for the ministry and mission and the Board of Directors unanimously voted to extend the call.”

“I am excited to begin my call with LCM-Ames,” says Olson. “Stepping into this community feels like entering a place where the Spirit is already stirring, opening new possibilities for welcome, connection and growth with ISU students and beyond. I am grateful for the board’s faithful leadership and passion for the ministry we will do together. Guided by the Holy Spirit,” Olson continued, “I trust that we will continue to nurture a ministry where students can encounter grace and welcome, ask big questions and discover how God is moving in their lives.”

We give thanks that the Holy Spirit has been at work in this interim re-start time. We give thanks for the faithful discernment and work of the Board of Directors and for the faithful ministry of Pastor Uthe.  We are overjoyed that AJ Olson is ready to take over and lead LCM-Ames into its next chapter as an established ELCA student ministry at Iowa State University. 

The Board expresses its gratitude to you, our LCM-Ames alum and supporters.Alongside the support from the wider church through the ELCA LuMin Strategic Ministry Grant, your support makes this ministry restart possible. Thank you for your continued prayers and support for our new Director for Campus Ministry, AJ Olson and the LCM-Ames ministry. 

"We are thrilled to receive the Strategic Ministry grant," says Pr. Erika Uthe, Interim Redevelopment Pastor, "and are thankful the ELCA sees the value of supporting and growing the Lutheran witness at Iowa State University." Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State is one of four recipients of the ELCA Campus Ministry Strategic Grant across the country. "This grant gives Lutheran Campus Ministry the space to grow our network of students and alumni, discern the best re-start steps, and establish a long-term, sustainable ministry for the future," continued Pr. Uthe, "and we are deeply grateful for the support and partnership of the ELCA and the Lutheran Campus Ministry organization of the ELCA."

One of the reasons the ELCA selected Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State is the strong ecumenical relationships that have developed during the interim redevelopment. "With trends going toward ecumenical partnerships," said Rev. Emily Wiles, grant selection committee, "the committee was really excited about the possibilities and the model that Iowa State can provide for campus ministry."

As Lutheran Campus ministry looks to the future beyond interim redevelopment these strategic grant funds will help to provide an onramp to greater student and alumni engagement with the ministry. Because national trends are pointing toward an incremental decrease in annual partner funding from the denomination, this grant will both help to close the gap and provide much needed time as the ministry not only redevelops activity on campus, but also connections with former students and partners who are passionate about maintaining a Lutheran witness on campus. 

Redevelopment Reflectionsthis they will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. ~ John 13.35The students who have made LCM their faith home this year have begun to create and live in beautiful community. Fellowship between Bible Study and Holden Evening Prayer on Thursday evenings is now a must, and together the students continue to create the foundation of a strong presence on campus.

     A few weeks ago we discussed the steps we will take between now and the end of the semester, including having students sign the paperwork and become officers for a student club, an exciting move in the restart efforts of the ministry. We also discussed that my time as interim is coming to an end, a conversation that tugged at my heart,  as we have become a close-knit group over the year. 

These are all signs of the great love shown in community. At Bible study last week I posed the question, "How has your faith been impacted by God's steadfast love?" One student, Sophie, mentioned that this is the first time she has really felt like she belonged anywhere. Another student talked about the impact of LCM on their faith through their years at ISU. And yet another talked about mental health challenges and the support she has received through the LCM and Collegiate Methodist partnership.

This Maundy Thursday and into the Easter season, there are signs of love and resurrection which all continue to point to God's Spirit moving in and through this beautiful, new community. My prayer is that the same Spirit move in your lives as, together, we become for the world signs of God's gracious presence and love.

Peace,

Pr. Erika

Highlights from March Board Meeting

On Sunday, March 22 the Board held its monthly meeting. At the meeting the Board:

• Spent time hearing from Bishop Current who also supports LCM at the University of Iowa

• Discussed several property and maintenance items

• Approved and received the new logo, thanks to ISU student and LCM Board Member Hannah Benson

The LCM Board held its annual meeting on Sunday, September 21. The Board celebrates the diverse representation from all three of Iowa's Synods, and to make that representation possible, all meetings are held via Zoom, with the exception of retreats. That said, even through the miles the LCM Board is dedicated to the stewardship of the mission and vision of LCM.

• Executive Committee Elections
  Elected to the Executive Committee for the 25-26 year are:
  President – Sonja Gerstenberger (1st board term ends 2026)

Vice President – Ron Zelle (1st board term ends 2027)
Secretary – Janet Melby (1st board term ends 2026)
Treasurer – Barb Hamilton (2nd board term ends 2028)

• Annual Budget
  The annual budget was passed, including the budgeting for an additional six months of interim redevelopment pastor salary (eight months total for the fiscal year), and four months for a regularly called pastor
  The budget reflects a deficit as fundraising efforts ramp up in the next several months, with savings to cover should efforts fall short of expectations

• Honest Conversations: Building
  The building at 2126 Gable Lane needs extensive repairs. Engineering estimates put structural costs at $750K, with estimates at indoor updates close to another $750K
  Estimate tear down cost is around $1M
  Conversations with Ames real estate agents guess that $1M is around market value, though with the cost of demolition and/or development it might be lower
  Board wondered if there are any civil or structural engineers in the LCM network who might be willing to offer their wisdom/expertise on the situation

New Possibilities Emerge with Partnership
The Board is excited to announce a new partnership with Collegiate Methodist for the 25-26 school year.

Given the redevelopment phase of LCM, and the need to restart student organization status, there will be intentional sharing of ministry with The Wesley Foundation, a campus ministry of Collegiate Methodist Church. Pr. Erika was able to meet with Pr. Jena Finch Manchester, who is also newly assigned to Collegiate Methodist, but who has already begun a thriving student ministry. 

At FaithFest, the first ever festival specifically for faith groups, Pr. Erika joined Pr. Jena, and Pr. Lee, the senior pastor from Collegiate Methodist, to welcome students to the new school year. Throughout the school year, Pr. Erika and ELCA students will join in ministry with Pr. Jena at Collegiate Methodist for Bible studies, fellowship, and other ministry opportunities.

Students! Are you interested in joining a Bible Study this semester? Please fill out this form to let Pr. Jena and Pr. Erika know of your availability!

Alumni Spotlight:
Whether it was a trip to Tanzania with the Lutheran World Federation in 1977 or a caravan to Albuquerque in 2004 with the Lutheran Student Movement, Lutheran Campus Ministry left a life-long impact on father-son duo, Kent and Erik Olson. Though their career paths took different directions, both found welcome, community, and deep faith through the ministry of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State.

Now celebrating his 15th anniversary of ordination, Pr. Erik says, "I would not be a pastor without LCM. It framed so much about who I became as I was at college. Of all the formative things that I was connected to, nothing compared to Campus Ministry. I now am the board president of the Luther Center at the University of South Dakota and enjoy giving back to campus ministry." 

Likewise, as Kent reflects on his own time at Iowa State, LCM was not just about his time there as a student, but has shaped his faith in the years since, "LCM broadened my view of faith and worship. I developed both a local and world view of life, faith, and care for others." In fact, Kent wrote about this in a letter he tucked behind some paneling during a remodel project. In an act of the Holy Spirit, that same letter was found 30 years later, the same the year Erik was living in the apartment at ULC. 

These two generations stand on the shoulders the generations before who were passionate about sharing love and faith with students at ISU. As we look to the redevelopment of ministry we remember the lasting impact LCM has had. We give thanks for those who made this ministry possible, and for the life-long friendships that were forged in worship and around dinner tables.

Do you have a story you'd like to share? Let Pr. Erika know here: Share my story

Redevelopment Reflections
"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience..."
~ Colossians 1.9b-11

     This summer has flown by, and this month marks a full 3-months with Lutheran Campus Ministry. The redevelopment process includes so much behind-the-scenes work, I find myself encouraged by the prayer of Paul and Timothy as they spoke to the church in Colossae. "That you may have great endurance and patience." Every time I become impatient with the process, these words slow me down.
God has given us - me, the Board, and our growing network of supporters - wisdom and understanding. Why? So that we can live the life God has called us to, bearing fruit. 

This looks like taking the time, with endurance and patience, to build a strong foundation, so that in this particular ministry renovation, we are prepared for long-term, sustainable ministry which will serve generations more of students.

     There are so many questions the Board is called to discern, including:

• Is God calling LCM to future partnership? (Something we explore this year through partnership with Collegiate Methodist.)

• How can LCM best serve this generation of students? What sort of staffing structure is sustainable?

• What is the best way to reconnect with LCM alum and friends who are curious about what is going on?

• How is God calling us to steward our property? (If you don't know, the roof leaks! I say this tongue-in-cheek. I believe you all know the roof leaks. However, the property issues go much further than just a leaky roof and the feasibility of continuing to occupy the building at 2126 Gable Lane is in discernment.)

So, it does take endurance and discernment. There are no magic wands. There is (unfortunately) no large endowment available to take away the building woes. But. There is the call from God. We know we are called to provide a welcoming, grace-filled community in Jesus Christ. We know we are called to engage faith within every person who encounters LCM. We know we are called to empower life-giving relationships and share God's love through our words and our actions.

     I continue to be grateful to engage in this work and ministry, and I am thankful that we are surrounded by generations of faithful leaders who rely on God's grace for endurance and patience.

In Christ,

Pr. Erika

You may have seen that the Board recently announced it is excited to be working with Pr. Erika Uthe, the Interim Redevelopment Pastor for LCM. Her primary responsibilities include:

• leading the board in continued strategic discernment

• writing for grants and planning fundraising efforts

• fostering communication and relationship building planning for restart efforts

Pastor Uthe served as the Director of Evangelical Mission for the Southeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA, for 8 years, is an ISU and LCM alum, and serves a part-time call in Lisbon, Iowa. She brings skills and experience walking congregations through discernment, redevelopment, and renewal. 

The Board is excited for the gifts and experience Pastor Uthe brings and for her partnership as we take the next steps on behalf of LCM-Ames. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Pastor Uthe.

A note from Pastor Uthe:

“I am deeply grateful to enter into partnership with Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State during this time of redevelopment. As a student at Iowa State, LCM deeply shaped my own faith journey and I can definitively say that LCM is the reason I am a pastor (and Lutheran) today.

There are already a lot of moving pieces as the Board and I seek the best way forward for a sustainable ministry presence at Iowa State. I look forward to getting to know many of you over the next several months and invite your prayers for the ministry. We know that the Spirit continues to guide and shape each of us and the work we do, and we believe the Spirit continues to call us to provide a witness on the Iowa State campus. 

This summer I hope to collect and share stories of how LCM has impacted generations of students. 

Connect with Pr. Uthe: lutherancampusministryisu@gmail.com and stay tuned for more news, including the release of a new website.

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