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The Kuriakos Board of Directors, and all of us at Kuriakos, are extending a warm welcome to Rev. Kristian Wold as he joins our community in a new role. We look forward to the ministry we will do together.
 
Kristian is married to Karen who is a friend and supporter of camp, and they have a son Arik, who has also been an engaged member of the Kuriakos community.

While Kuriakos has always been the work of all of us, we benefit greatly from the pastoral leadership and direction of our Executive Director. Kristian's experience in ministry, and in particular outdoor ministry, has him well-positioned to guide Kuriakos' philosophy and growth.
 
"Lutheran outdoor ministry has played a key role in my journey of faith and my formation as a leader in the church. I grew up going to camp and was nurtured in faith and community in that context. As a university student I spent my summers working at camp under the mentorship of wise pastors, and began to discover in myself gifts for leadership in the church. As a pastor of the past twenty years I have valued camp as a place of retreat for congregants in the summer as I offered services as a resource pastor, and a vital component of my confirmation programs.

"As a place “set apart”, camp ministry has always played a vital role in the wider church of supporting congregations in their work. Starting my new role as Executive Director of Kuriakos, I look forward to contributing in a new way to a ministry that has played such an important role in my life.

"This announcement is accompanied by a mixture of feelings: gratitude for the congregation of Hope and the privilege of serving as pastor these past ten years; sadness that the time to part directions has come and the things I will miss out on as Hope continues its own journey; excitement at the new challenge and opportunity in front of me as I step in to a role in outdoor ministry with Kuriakos; and confidence about being in the right place at the right time—in a place and style of ministry that has been so important to me over the years."
 
Rev. Art will continue to serve during this period of transition. We are thankful for his many (9+!) years of talented leadership, and for his contributions to the strong present and exciting future of Kuriakos.
In particular, he will oversee Kristian's orientation to the ED role, while continuing to guide our finances and seeing us through our ongoing Above & Beyond Capital Campaign.
 
The Board would also like extend thanks and congratulations to the members of the Search Committee (Barb Stolee, Leah Christiansen, Maureen Buchanan-Chell, Ron Bjorge, Dave Christiansen). Your efforts in guiding the search process have been instrumental in preparing the next season of our community's life together.
 
To the people of Hope Lutheran Church (Calgary), we are grateful for the opportunity to work with your pastor. We recognize that this transition for Kuriakos also represents a new period at Hope (of hope??). May you discover the joy of possibilities in your own search for leadership, and may we continue to work together as (even closer) partners in ministry.