Hello. My name is Nancy Peterson; I worship at Augustana Lutheran Church in West St.  Paul, MN. I made my Via de Cristo weekend in August 1992 in St. Paul, MN, going through the last co-ed singles weekend that Minnesota hosted. I grew up on the Canadian border by International Falls, MN and attended a small country church, Bethany Lutheran, where my roots in Christ were seeded and nurtured. While in junior high and high school I served as church organist and taught Sunday School.

My career has been centered in the services to persons with disabilities field where I worked in and ran group homes and day habilitation programs. Since 1996 I have been employed at ARRM, a private, not for profit trade association for providers of services to individuals with varying disabilities. Organizing all of our events – from small workshops to 3 day conferences with 1600 in attendance has been the core of my responsibilities. I enjoy working with people and building relationships and have recently also taken over the member services responsibilities of ARRM. It has been a pleasure to work with and share my faith with many people in this field of human services. Mission work has always interested me and as such, the support of colleagues was a blessing when I was able to do mission work in Tanzania, East Africa in 2000 and 2004. The subtle ways God puts the people you need into your life at the time you need them continues to amaze me.

After working a number of VdC teams, I was elected to the state council in Minnesota, attending my first NLSAM at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 2006. I cherish the many friends I have made through this blessed ministry and look forward to working with and for you – and for Christ - during my time as Executive Director. It is a daunting task ahead of us as we shape this position but never before have I felt such a strong sign from Christ that He is in charge and He clearly has a plan for the future of Via de Cristo and related Christian renewal movements. It is but for us to be still and listen – knowing the God is leading us.

Thank you for the honor of serving as your first Executive Director. God will lead us in this ministry if we but keep the main thing the main thing and stop to hear His voice. Please pray for your Executive Board as we pray for you, your secretariats and weekends. May the Lord grant each of us His grace and love to share with others.

Peace,

Nancy Peterson