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Voting Council Members

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Director – LoRi Morrissey:

My Via de Cristo weekend was #575 in 2012, and I worship at People of Hope Lutheran Church in Rochester. I have served on 15 weekends since, and was the Rectora of IGNITE’s first weekend in the fall of 2019. I have served on the Southern Minnesota VdC Site-Selection subcommittee for the past few years, attended three National Lutheran Secretariat Annual Gatherings, and have been a part of IGNITE’s Kindling Committee. 

I have experience serving other non-profits as I was on the board of directors for Rainbow School, a Christian Preschool, where I also served as the board president, as well as my churches, school PTAs, and youth sports organizations.  Besides Via de Cristo, I enjoy spending time with my family, including helping coach Kasey & Cooper’s softball and basketball teams and cheering at my daughter’s hockey games.  GLY&SDI

Director Elect – Carol Reedstrom:

Upon retiring some twelve years ago, it did not take exceedingly long to figure out that “retirement” was much like every other job I had had in life. The only difference was…I did not have to go through an application and interview process!

In the beginning, I was raised on a farm in south-central Minnesota, about 6 miles southwest of Mankato, with three brothers and one sister. My father was a dairy farmer and my mother taught piano and organ lessons out of our home. My siblings and I always had a dog and lots of cats to play with, but some of my best memories are the hours spent riding my horse throughout the countryside.

My family faithfully attended the First United Methodist Church, Lake Crystal, MN. And being the child of the church’s organist, I was not allowed to miss Sunday of  Worship or Sunday School unless I had a fever! It is pretty special for me to share that my siblings and I were baptized and confirmed in the same Methodist Church as our father. Along with partaking in church youth activities, my sibling and I were also active in the Judson Peg-Away 4-H club where we earned several trips to the Minnesota State Fair.

In the spring of 1971, I graduated from Lake Crystal High School, Lake Crystal MN. That fall I attended the University of Minnesota, St. Paul majoring in Family Social Science. As life would have it, my post-secondary school studies would be interrupted by a number of life changing learning opportunities: #1. Spring of my freshman year I studied at Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley GA (which at the time had an all-Black population) While passing all my classes, this experience turned out to be more of a sociological education than academic one.  #2. Spring of my sophomore year I was chosen to be a Page for the Minnesota House of Representatives. This experience led into the next couple of years working full-time as receptionist for the MN House of Representatives as well #3. After which my formal studies were further interrupted by love, marriage, children and moving nine times before settling down on my husband’s family farm that was homesteaded by his great grandfather in 1884.

I am proud of my 47^th year marriage to Dave Reedstrom (my high school sweetheart!). I am proud of our three children and four grandchildren. And looking back, I can honestly say that I am equally proud of how, without question, we freely accepted God’s blessed gift of our daughter with Down syndrome. Loving, protecting, teaching and raising  her clearly taught our family how everyone brings their own unique strengths, gifts and talents into our world. I pray that my years spent advocating for people with disabilities and their families among various medical, educational and social service communities has improved the quality of life for more than just this family.

Secretary – Deb Alt:

God works in mysterious ways.  I have always instinctively known since I was a very young child that God was there protecting me.  He has never left my side even during the lowest and most painful times in my life. He is alive.  He will always love us.  He will give us peace and He will provide for us.  AND… He will always answer!  Those are some pretty amazing promises from our Lord and Savior!

Finance Chair – Matt Morrissey

My Via de Cristo weekend was weekend #576 in Northfield back in 2012 and have been active ever since serving on a number of weekends and was blessed to rector weekend #656 in 2017 in Albert Lea.  I was part of the Kindling Committee that helped get the Ignite flame going and am looking forward to helping it continue for years to come.  I worship at People of Hope in Rochester where I currently serve as a volunteer worship leader, Leaning Time teacher and am currently serving on church council as the Treasurer.  

Spiritual Director – Kelly Heidi:

Spiritual Director – Dave Reedstrom:

On January 21, 1953, I was born in Anchorage, Alaska, where my father served during the Korean Conflict. They brought me home to Rapidan, Minnesota, when I was about a year old. I grew up in Lake Crystal as the oldest of five siblings. Ironically, I moved my family back to Rapidan, where my children were the fifth generation raised on land that my great grandfather homesteaded in 1884.

I grew up in Lake Crystal, MN graduating from LC High School in 1971 and attended the University of Minnesota, St. Paul Campus from where I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Soil Science in 1975. I began my career with the U.S. Federal Government in 1974 as a soil scientist. In 1982, I switched careers within USDA into the field of Human Resources Management. Staying in Human Resources, work for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs in St. Paul, Minnesota, and USDA, Food and Inspection Service, in Minneapolis, Minnesota and retired in 2008 after 34 ½ years of service. I didn’t really retire because I joined with a friend to establish Disability Planning Specialists where we provide information and support to parents and families on the need to protect any governmental benefits for their loved ones with a disability.

I completely changed my mind about retirement when, in 2019, I became a student at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, expecting to graduate this spring. While attending seminary, I have been serving as Vicar at Calvary Lutheran Church, in Rapidan, MN, since 2019, where, after graduation and ordination, I hope to be Calvary’s Pastor.

I’ve been married to Carol, my high school sweetheart and best friend for over 46 years, father of three children, Vicki, and Drew, live in Mankato, and Kyle lives in North Mankato with his wife Jessica with their four beautiful children. Jess, who has spent the last five years battling metastatic breast cancer, and Kyle are the strongest people I know. Other than my family, the second love of my life was my vineyard, where for 15 years, I sold grapes commercially to Morgan Creek and Indian Island Wineries.

I began my Via De Cristo life in November 2008 with weekend #514 at Zion Lutheran Church, Lake Crystal, MN. Ierved as Rector in November 2011 for weekend #570, New Ulm, MN and for Co-ed Weekend #600, November 2013, in Waseca, Minnesota. I have served on various teams for fourteen different weekends from 2009 to 2019.

Communications Chair – *OPEN*

Leadership and Development Chair – Melissa Wagner:

Melissa Wagner lives with Joe and two dogs named Cain and Abel on the farm she grew up on outside Lake Crystal, MN. They have three grown children who all live in Minneapolis and the world’s smartest, cutest grandson who was born in 2020.  Melissa became a Cursillista at Weekend #390 at Community Lutheran in Geneva, MN in 2002. She has been active in Via de Cristo ever since. She was an overall Rectora in 2013 and served as the Southern Director and helped support the formation of the Ignite Secretariat. In her free time, she is a Licensed Social Worker and works as a Special Education Coordinator serving area school districts around the St. Peter area. 

Operations Chair – Joe Wagner:

My wife Melissa and I live on a farm outside Lake Crystal where we raised our three children who are now grown and off on their own. I work as the Building and Grounds Supervisor for the Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School District. God met me where I was at when I came to weekend #429 in March 2004. The weekend changed the direction of my life. Since then, I have served on more than 25 VdC weekends in whatever capacity needed, primarily music, as I was inspired to learn to play the guitar after my weekend. I have also served on the State Council in Operations when the trailer was still being shared with the North and Metro. I will continue to serve in any area needed to promote this ministry.

Outreach Chair – Jen Radke Coudron:

Site Selection Chair – Shawn Corder:

I have been a member of the 1st Presbyterian Church of Redwood Falls since 1995 and also a member of the church choir since then. I do volunteer work at Ruby’s Pantry for the past 5+ years, and I’m an Assistant Scout Master for the past 3+ years here in Redwood. We recently acquired 2 teenage brothers that are now living with us, so I’m getting acquainted with my 2 new Goliath’s, so the tally is up to 8 children. I am self-employed for 18 years doing I.T. stuff that most folks don’t understand, and really enjoy campfires with grilling dinner outside. My weekend was in 2013 and I’ve served on 8 teams, including Assistant Rector in the kitchen and Assistant Rector in the rollo room.