It is my joy to serve my profession, my church and my community along side my service to Concordia University, both professionally and personally. At the bottom of this page you will find my Service Records for Concordia (downloadable and printable), which are divided into four different columns: Outreach, In-reach, Academic and Scholarship. I have adapted the following information to reflect my service to my profession, my church and my community.
As with my service to Concordia University, the activities I do are not out of any desire for recognition, rather they are a response to the gifts, talents and abilities God has given me. God has, perhaps foremost, given me a desire to be a helper, and I regularly seek opportunities to help others in whatever way I am able. Many of the activities listed below are a reflection of that desire, but none of them is singularly my own effort, rather the Holy Spirit working through me. My biggest desire in service to others is simply to get out of God’s way and let Him use the talents He’s given me for His purposes. Sometimes I’m successful in getting out of His way, and sometimes I fail miserably, but as a forgiven and redeemed Child of God, I trust that even when I fail, God will use the broken pieces for good.
Service to the Education Profession
- I serve on the Church Work Recruitment Committee actively seeing to grow the profession of education by recruiting students to become teachers.
- I was a leader in the development of, and continue to organize, the Sending Service for our professional Lutheran Teacher graduates as they go out to serve in their Calling as teachers in schools.
- I was the leader in development, organization, implementation, and hosting the inaugural Great Plains Lutheran Educators Conference, and am already planning for its triennial return in the Fall of 2026.
- I am in regular attendance and participation at the Association of Lutheran Secondary Schools conference, working to grow the profession of secondary education and serving as an ambassador for Concordia University.
- I have attended and presented at the Lutheran Education Association National Convocation, providing professional development to fellow educators, and serving as an ambassador for Concordia University.
- I have attended and presented at the Best Practices in Ministry Conference, providing professional development to fellow professional and lay church leaders, and serving as an ambassador for Concordia University.
- I attend, develop and host (when at CUNE), the Heartland Summit ALSS conference as a professional development experience for secondary administrators and educators.
- I serve the Nebraska Department of Education as an advisor for reviewing education programs for Nebraska universities in accreditation years (Folio Reviewer)
- I serve the Lutheran school community as an advocate for recruitment of professional Lutheran teachers..
- I have served the Nebraska Department of Education on an ad hoc committee to review qualifications for Science Teacher certification in Nebraska.
- I serve the Lutheran school community as an accreditation team member for National Lutheran School Accreditation. (NLSA Certificate of Training)
- I serve on the Board of Trustees of Saint Paul Lutheran High School, Concordia, Missouri, and have served on the Education Board of St. John Lutheran School, Seward, Nebraska.
Service to my Church
- I regularly attend worship services at St. John, participating in worship and the sacraments with my fellow believers in Jesus.
- I participate in pop-up choirs and special music events as invited by the music director at St. John Lutheran Church.
- I have served on the St. John Concordia Student Ministry Board, organizing and implementing events for the Concordia students among us.
- I served as a member of the St. John Lutheran School Education Board.
- I have regularly volunteered to help lead events benefiting students and the youth of St. John, including: helping to coordinate the Pure Freedom and Renewal Girls’ Retreats; coordinating the Food Booth for the Seward Jr. Women’s Craft Fair,; and coordinating the Middle Grades Ash Wednesday Supper.
Service to my Community (local and the LCMS at large)
- I am in regular communication with administrators from local Lutheran and Public schools recruiting new teacher candidates, and providing professional development information and opportunities to those schools.
- I visit many schools for Dual Credit supervision as an ambassador for Concordia University.
- I regularly organize faculty/staff social gatherings in cooperation with a local community business.
- I organize meals for Concordia University athletes over breaks.
- I regularly contribute to community food banks, donate and shop local thrift stores, all benefitting those in my community.
- I serve the Lutheran school community as an advocate for recruitment of professional church workers.
- I serve the Lutheran school community as an accreditation team member for National Lutheran School Accreditation. (NLSA Certificate of Training)
Service Record for Dr. Beth Pester 2023-2024
Service Record for Dr. Beth Pester 2022-2023
Service Record for Dr. Beth Pester 2021-2022
Service Record for Dr. Beth Pester 2020-2021
Service Record for Dr. Beth Pester 2019-2020
