Our First Staff Showcase

Chris Brune • November 11, 2024

Staff Showcase: Chris Brune

Together, the leadership team discussed ways for the congregation to get to know a little more about our staff and lay leaders. A fruit of this discussion is the new Staff Showcase in which all staff members have the opportunity to share a little bit about themselves so you get to know who they are and how they serve. We're delighted to start first with our Day School Principal, Chris Brune, and next week we will feature our Preschool Director, Barb Christian. We will continue to share other Showcases throughout the coming months as they submit them. Enjoy!

It's Not About You.

by Chris Brune

I will be honest with you all, writing a staff bio or highlight is not in my comfort zone. A mentor when I was much younger instilled in me that, in ministry, it is not about you, it's about God. That lesson has stuck at the forefront of my brain over my years in ministry. As a sinful being riddled with original sin and much more, even my best attempts are coming from that, a sinful person. Thanks be to God that He works through sinful people to spread the good news of His life giving gospel. My entire path in ministry has been in spite of myself and all about God.

Coming out of college I wanted to coach football and teaching was the best way to do that. So God guided me to Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School here in Fort Wayne coaching middle school football and teaching middle school math and religion. Very quickly I thought I wanted to coach at a higher level. After a year I found myself at my alma mater, our Concordia Lutheran High School, coaching football and teaching AP World History and World History. After a few years, I thought it was my goal to become a head football coach. That dream became a reality when I was issued a Call to become the head football coach, teacher and assistant AD at Concordia Lutheran Schools in Omaha NE. During our trip there, God made it evidently clear to Brittany and I, Omaha was not where God wanted us. It was a few weeks after that trip and call deliberation that I received the Call to become principal here at St. Peter’s. After watching my dad be a principal for 44 years, principal was a job I had sworn I would never do… but it's not about me.

God will guide you where He wants you because truly, it is not about you. I no longer look and say, this is what I want, I rather look and ask what does God want? This mentor's comment of ‘It is not about you’ is now a pillar of how I approach leadership here at St. Peter’s. I am here to care for God’s people how He would desire. All we do should go back to Him, His word and His will for our lives. God bless us as we aim to align our hearts with His will for our lives in life and ministry together!

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Fieldworkers: Preparing Future Pastors

By Pastor Adam McDowell • July 27, 2026

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August Happenings

By Amy Widener • July 27, 2026

August Opportunities for Fellowship & Learning (In alphabetical order) Altar Guild Annual Potluck Meeting Wednesday, August 19th @ 6:00 pm in the Cornerstone Room If you're one of the ladies in our Altar Guild thank you. Be sure to join us for our annual potluck supper with a meeting following. Bible Studies (click for details) New Sunday series continues, but summer plans for weekday studies will be ending soon. Stay tuned for dates of when those will start to meet regularly again. Christian Education Weekend (Backpack Blessing) During all worship services August 8-9th Rededicate our faculty and staff to their teaching ministry as well as rededicate ourselves as a congregation to praying for them, encouraging them, and supporting the work God has given us to do together. Students may also get their backpack blessing tag for this school year. School starts August 12th! At the 10:30 AM service, we will also install Janet Bahr as our assistant principal and Dianna Bultemeier as a called teacher of St. Peter's. Please join us for a reception honoring Janet and Dianna on the church's front porch following this service. Confirmation Kick-Off Sunday, August 9th during the Bible Study hour @ 9:15 am in the Sanctuary Parents and students (7th & 8th graders) of our day school and public school will meet to prep for the upcoming year with Pastor McDowell. Plan to attend and remember the Confirmation Site on The Hub will be updated soon with everything you need to know as far as expectations, handbook, assignments, deadlines, and event dates. Collections/Fundraiser (ongoing) The Compassionate Care Collection is prepping hygiene kits for the Lutheran World Relief: The LWR collection will be through July and August--details can be found on the LWR.org/kits site or HERE . Needed are: light weight bath sized towels (between 20" x 40" to 27" x52"), bath-size soap bars in original wrapper, adult toothbrush, sturdy comb, metal nail clippers--all items must be new and NOT have religious symbols or patriotic decoration. Special Monthly Offering: This month we collect for our Preschool which is so appreciated by the faculty and students. You'll also see their annual Giving Tree displayed in the Ministry Center soon. Take a letter of the alphabet off the tree and bring back the supply listed. Stay tuned for a video from our Preschool Director, Barb Christian, next week about these two opportunities to support our Preschool. Drums Alive Drums will take a break in August and come back in September with an updated schedule. Stay tuned! Monday Night Worship Summer Monday night worship ends August 31st. The following Monday is Labor Day and the church offices and schools will be closed. Senior Saints Monday, August 10th @ 11:30 am in the Cornerstone Room REGISTER HERE for this month's Lunch N' Learn featuring our own Tina Acosta who does amazing work through Turnstone. Turnstone is a place unlike any other and anyone who knows about it only has good things to say. If you'd like to know another reason Fort Wayne is such a great place to be, come listen as Tina will offer an overview of Turnstone and their services. Serving in the Church Offering your talents or acts of service is often something we all want to do, but not always sure where to start. Opportunities present themselves, but it's hard to remember them all or keep track of something that called to you at one point. The Serve tab in the Realm Connect app continues to add areas that are open and looking for someone just like you. Log in on your computer or through the app on your phone and scroll through the Roles to see if one is a good fit for you. Remember, signing up doesn't commit you to it, but does share that you'd like to be contacted about it. Sisters in Christ: Simple Quilting Craft Saturday, August 15th starting at 10 am in the Cornerstone Room REGISTER HERE FREE Regret never learning how to sew? Or haven’t picked up a needle and thread in a long time? Do not miss this opportunity to learn from ladies who’ve been sewing since 2nd grade! It’s nearly a lost art, but we’re bringing it back with Linda Thiele, Debbie Haenftling, Carol Nahrwold, and Jan Bultemeier who have curated a perfect practice project to teach you sewing and the basics of quilting in the form of a pot holder or trivet. Coordinate colors with your kitchen! It’s made for beginners, but any sewing ability is welcome. There’s so much knowledge combined in this room, if you have a question about anything related to needle and thread, they can answer it! We also gather the last Wednesday each month (July 29th this week and August 26th) at 5:00 pm Kekionga Craft Co, 7328 Maysville Rd. Come & go. Enjoy a little fellowship, prayer idea, and grab something to eat if you’d like. Young Adults Second Sundays, August 9th starting at 6 pm @ Pastor Nate's house Hosted by Ben & Gwyn Corley, we'll have dinner together, games, and devotion. Bring a friend and fellowship with us. REMEMBER August 9th is also the last day to sign up for Combat Ops Laser Tag. REGISTER HERE. You can pay later, but sign up today! Don't miss out! Get on the text thread to be sent reminders and invites. Text 'stpfw' to 94000 and follow the prompts.