The Lutheran Advantage
News from our Concordia Universities
| | Welcome to "The Lutheran Advantage," an e-journal of the latest news across the Concordia University System. | |
Brian L. Friedrich, President of
Concordia University, St. Paul
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To the Future, In the Context of the Christian Gospel
In meetings with friends and alumni of Concordia University, St. Paul, I'm often asked how CSP has maintained its growth trajectory and sustainability amid challenging times in higher education. My first response is to praise God for the abundant grace and generosity He has bestowed upon my alma mater for the past 132 years.
CSP has endured countless challenges throughout its history but persevered because our God has sustained us. We fix our eyes on Jesus today as we did through every trial. During the Great Depression, enrollment dropped by more than half, and CSP had to rely on food donations from faithful Christians to feed our remaining students. The LCMS's theological turmoil during the 1970s extended to all the Concordias and shook us at CSP, yet we remained steadfast in our confession. Recessions, pandemics, and demographic challenges have been regular pressures within higher education. Yet God continues to bless us more abundantly than we could ever imagine.
My second response to these conversations is to highlight CSP's good work over the decades to remain focused on our mission and strategic plans. In fact, except for a single word change when CSP moved from a college to a university, our mission statement has remained unchanged for more than 30 years:
“The mission of Concordia University, St. Paul, a university of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, is to prepare students for thoughtful and informed living, for dedicated service to God and humanity, for enlightened care of God’s creation, all within the context of the Christian Gospel.”
Leading an institution requires focus on its mission to avoid distractions and decisions that would otherwise lead astray. For CSP, this boils down to the bookends of our mission statement, namely students and the Christian Gospel.
Simply put, if we did not serve students, we would not exist. But we don’t want to just have students enrolled at CSP to boost our revenue or enrollment; we strive to prepare them for the vocations God has already called them and the ones to which he will call them.
Holding fast to our confession of the Christian faith as expressed in our beautiful Lutheran confession is key. It informs what we teach as well as how we teach. Tying vocation into each academic discipline transforms pursuing a degree into something more significant. Integrating theology into general education requirements introduces Jesus to students who do not yet know Him and deepens the understanding of students who already know Him.
CSP’s mission is just one facet of our strategic plan. Joined with our forward-looking vision statement and values-laden promise statement, our current strategic plan, aptly named Strategic Plan 2030 , charts our course for the next five years.
Built on CSP’s Christ-centered Lutheran identity and seeking to carry forward the accomplishments of prior strategic plans, our strategic plan is expressed through three primary goals (enrollment, curriculum, and graduation) and executed through countless tactics. A specific focus is also given to financial sustainability, which includes internal stewardship and external philanthropy.
My grandfather, Walter Friedrich, who attended CSP from 1911-1918, could not imagine CSP as what it is today: a thriving urban university that offers more than 100 academic programs and serves nearly 6,000 students in St. Paul, Portland, Denver, and online. Yet he would still recognize the Lutheran identity that is deeply rooted here and praise God for the crosses that dot our campus.
Challenges in higher education over the short- and long-term are certain. Even more certain is that God’s love for us in Jesus Christ endures forever. And so we plan and act in faith, stewarding the myriad gifts God has given to CSP and moving forward into the future within the context of the Christian Gospel.
| | | Concordia University Ann Arbor | |
CUAA DPT Students Collaborate with ALS of Michigan for Inaugural Caregiver Lab
The physical therapy students of Concordia University Ann Arbor became aware of a community need and stepped up to fill that need. On Saturday, March 22, 2025, the CUAA DPT students hosted their first ALS Caregiver Lab.
ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and formerly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurologic condition that causes a person to lose control of voluntary muscle movement over time. As the disease progresses, individuals lose the ability to walk, talk, swallow and breath. While there is currently no known cure, there are medical treatments now available to prolong survival, manage symptoms and reduce the rate of decline. Many types of healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, are involved in the care of individuals with ALS.
As movement specialists, physical therapists collaborate with individuals with ALS and their caregivers in a number of ways. Physical therapists provide intervention through exercise and education to assist individuals in maintaining mobility, flexibility, and function, managing pain and fatigue, and optimizing movement through the use of assistive devices. Physical therapists are also involved in helping keep caregivers healthy through education on and practice with using proper body mechanics when assisting their loved one and ensuring the caregiver also takes time to care for themselves.
The CUAA DPT students provided education to community members with ALS along with their caregivers on how to safely assist move from chairs to beds and how to employ self-care to avoid burnout among the caregivers. The event included both an informational session as well as opportunities for the community members to practice their new skills. “This event was so impactful in creating a connection between community and healthcare students while also filling a critical need for these families. The families who attended learned some new skills and the students involved became more cognizant about the impact of service among healthcare professionals” said Dr. Susie Steele, PT, PhD, DPT, PCS who assisted in facilitating the event.
To learn more about ALS, please visit the ALS of Michigan website at https://alsofmichigan.org/.
Learn more about the CUAA DPT Program
| | Concordia University Chicago | | |
Apologetics Boot Camp
Essential Information. WHO: Current and incoming CUC students who have faced questions—or have their own questions—about their faith, about the reliability of the Bible, about the truth of Jesus’ resurrection, and the interplay among faith, society, and science.
Learn More
Patriotic Pops Concert
The entire community is invited to the University Band's annual Patriotic Pops outdoor summer concert. This is a family-friendly event featuring pop hits, Broadway and movie favorites, and a patriotic sing-along. Don't miss this summer CUC tradition!
The University Band is conducted by Dr. Richard Fischer. Please bring your own chair and picnic supplies.
- Free admission
- Free parking - Parking structure on Bonnie Brae Place
| | Concordia University Irvine | |
PacWest Champs! CUI Men's Tennis Captures The Crown!
The Golden Eagles captured the first men's tennis PacWest Conference Championship in program history by defeating the defending champs from Azusa Pacific, 4-3. This is also the first PacWest title for any men's team at Concordia in the NCAA DII era. Adam Large clinched the win in a thrilling third set at the No. 3 singles position and then was promptly mobbed by his teammates as the celebration began. It was a fitting conclusion for a team that entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed and had been nationally-ranked for the majority of the season. Two of CUI's previous losses had come against APU, but as the saying goes, it's hard to beat a team three times.
Concordia struck first by claiming the doubles point, but it was not easy. Felix Veyhle and Max Mueller handled their business at the No. 1 court by a count of 6-3 and that helped offset APU's win at the No. 3 spot. After getting to 6-6, Spencer Cinco and Adam Kartzinel rejoiced after clinching a tight battle at the No. 2 doubles position, 7-6 (7-4). Those clutch performances by those two pairs put CUI in the driver's seat early and up 1-0 in the match. Concordia just needed to split the six singles matches to win and that's exactly what they did. Freshman Oleksandr Kolesnychenko continued his sneaky good spring with a 6-2, 6-2 victory at No. 6 singles. Then, Max Renz won 6-4, 6-2 at court No. 4 to put CUI up 3-2. After APU tied it at 3-3, it came down to Large against Miha Velicki of the Cougars. Large came up big by winning the initial set 6-2, but then Velicki drew even. Large forged ahead in the deciding third set and took a commanding 5-0 lead. He ultimately sealed the deal with a long rally that went his way for a 6-1 decision and the conference crown.
The CUI men's tennis team will enjoy this historic moment and prepare for more competition just around the corner. The Golden Eagles clinched the automatic berth to the upcoming NCAA Regional which will be held in May. The date, location and time are all still to be announced as well as who the Golden Eagles will face.
CLICK HERE for the full CUI men's tennis schedule
| | Concordia University, Nebraska | |
"Behold, the New"
Concordia University, Nebraska's DCE practicum class recently hosted "Behold, the New," a Christ-centered evening featuring a conference-style set of presentations from various members of the Concordia community and beyond. The event brought together students, faculty and community members to celebrate how God is making all things new. The gathering served as both a culmination of the students' practicum experience and a powerful reminder of God's renewing work in our lives and vocations.
Read more
| | Concordia University St. Paul | |
Retreat Held on Campus
Confessio 2025: A Retreat on the Lutheran Confessions was held on the campus of Concordia University, St. Paul, on Saturday, April 5. This year’s event, Christian Symbols: Liturgical Art and the Lutheran Confessions, featured speakers Edward Riojas and Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine. Nearly 90 people attended the event.
| | Concordia University Wisconsin | |
Concordia honors students, campus safety officers who helped save Humberto Barraza’s life
In a remarkable display of courage, three Concordia University Wisconsin students became real-life heroes last October when they administered life-saving CPR to a fellow student who had collapsed in his residence hall.
On March 12, the Concordia community came together to honor the heroic actions of students and celebrate CUW student Humberto Barraza’s miraculous survival and recovery.
In the media
Crews from CBS, TMJ4, and WISN came to the ceremony to capture the story of how the Concordia community rallied around one of their own.
· CBS58
· WTMJ
· WISN
Life-saving intervention
After experiencing some heart palpitations on the evening of Oct. 7, 2024, Barraza returned to his dorm room to rest. However, the situation turned dire when he collapsed suddenly and became unresponsive. CUW student Makayla Kabitzke, who was with him at the time, and one of his roommates, Aidan Batiansila, sprang into action and began to perform CPR. Two of CUW’s campus safety officers, along with another CUW student, Brooke Trendel, arrived on the scene soon after. Trendel, an athletic training major at CUW, is also a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) with the Southern Ozaukee Fire Department. The three of them continued CPR and applied a defibrillator to Barraza until city first responders arrived and transported him to a nearby hospital.
Barraza’s condition was critical. He flatlined three times throughout the evening. Yet, against all odds, he survived. He spent five days in a coma and remained in the hospital for a month. Doctors eventually diagnosed him with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that can cause an abnormally fast heart rate.
Healing in process
His recovery is ongoing, but Barraza has made significant progress. Though he still walks with a cane and experiences some memory loss due to the trauma, he is expected to make a full recovery. He plans to return to Concordia this fall to complete his bachelor’s degree in secondary education. He plans to now graduate in spring 2027.
“I’m overwhelmed by the number of people from Concordia who have reached out to me and told me they are praying for me,” says Barraza. “It’s not lost on me what a gift it is that I’m alive.”
The Concordia community gathered on Wednesday, March 12, for a special ceremony celebrating Barraza’s ongoing recovery and honoring those who helped to save his life. The event highlighted the bravery of students Batiansila, Trendel, and Kabitzke, as well as CUW Campus Safety Officers Emmitt Smith and Rick Aamodt.
“I have a son who is in college, so this hits hard knowing that Humberto is about his age,” Smith says. “We treat all of the students here like they’re our kids.”
Campus Pastor Jonathan Bakker opened the ceremony with a prayer. CUW President Erik Ankerberg followed with heartfelt remarks. Barraza’s parents, both of whom are deaf, shared their gratitude through a translator, expressing deep appreciation for the outpouring of support their son received.
An outpouring of support
Throughout Barraza’s hospitalization, Concordia students, faculty, and staff continuously visited him, providing encouragement and hope during his recovery. Students also organized a fundraising event – “Bowling for Berto” – to help offset his medical costs.
“Whenever people tell me, ‘You saved his life,’ well, no, I think God really saved my friend’s life,” says Batiansila. “I’m just so thankful my friend is alive.”
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CUS Representatives at All LCMS District Conventions
The Concordia University System will have a representative at every LCMS District Convention in 2025. You will find President Hardy, Vice President Spittel, or one of the CUS Board members on the convention floor, at your meals, or sometimes at the podium to greet you. They would love to speak with you and answer any questions you may have about CUS.
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