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Joel Wahlers '86 reflects on incredible 39-year church work career

Seward, NE (01/08/2026) — Joel Wahlers '86 grew up in Portland, Oregon, just a block away from Concordia University-Portland. So how did he end up at Concordia University, Nebraska?

"I wanted to go farther away from my home for college," he explained. "I was interested in secondary education, and Concordia Portland did not have a complete program developed yet. They had just achieved four-year status. My father was a professor and administrator at Concordia Portland and although I loved my dad, I wanted to be my own person."

Wahlers' brother and sister - Mark '78 and Mimi '80- graduated from Concordia Nebraska prior to his attending the university.

Wahlers has a bachelor's degree in secondary education with emphases in history and physical education from Concordia Nebraska. He has a master of education in educational administration from the University of North Texas.

He said his time at Concordia Nebraska was special.

"I especially liked the community we had on campus. Being in a small town, Concordia did a great job of providing the opportunities on campus to come together and develop that community as well as allowing the development of close relationships," he said. "Also, there was a strong emphasis on church work as a vocation, and many of my friends and classmates were in church work programs."

Wahlers said he had professors at the university with a variety of approaches and personalities that really helped him grow as a student, Christian leader and person.

"Some provided great examples that became models for me, while others pushed me to become a better student. All of them were tremendous models of dedication to Lutheran education and church work," he said. "I grew in so many ways at Concordia, especially in my spiritual development as a person. Not only did professors provide models of Christian virtue, but so many of my classmates became examples for me, so that when I left Concordia, I felt I had a mature spiritual purpose for my teaching and ministry. Experiencing so much time on campus with other students was key for my growth and preparation. That is not always something you have at a college in a larger urban area."

His time at Concordia Nebraska also served to strengthen his faith in Jesus Christ.

"I grew significantly in my faith at Concordia," he said. "I had outstanding professors, coaches and fellow students who were examples and models for me of what it means to be a man of faith and church worker. Additionally, I was able to serve on the college's Spiritual Life Council, which allowed me to be purposeful in sharing my faith and Christian leadership on campus. I am convinced that the Holy Spirit worked through so many aspects on my time at Concordia to help mold me into the church worker and Christian individual He intended me to be."

Wahlers said he has had an incredible journey in church work over the past 39 years.

"Most of it, I would never have predicted," he said. "My first call was as fourth grade teacher and athletic director at Zion Lutheran School in Dallas, Texas."

He served at Zion for eight years. In his last two years there, he also served as assistant principal. He then took a call to Faith Lutheran School in Whittier, California, as principal, serving for three years before accepting a call to serve as principal at Peace Lutheran School in Bremerton, Washington, where he served for five years. He then accepted a call to serve as principal at St. John's Lutheran School in Napa, California, serving there for 17 years. In 2020, he accepted his current call to serve as the District Education Executive for the California Nevada Hawaii District of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

"In my current role, I provide support and resources for district preschools, elementary schools and high schools," he said. "This includes providing training and professional development opportunities for administrators and teachers in the district and also overseeing the accreditation of our schools. In the past two years, I have also been providing governance help and board training for church and school boards. This past year, I have been helping to provide some leadership for our church worker wellness efforts."

Wahlers said his days are filled with planning for upcoming events, organization of programs and contacting or visiting schools throughout the district.

"I feel most fulfilled when school administrators need my advice or council on something they are dealing with," he said. "It is always a great feeling to share my experience as well as being able to connect individuals with others in our district or synod that can help meet their need."

Wahlers and his wife Dawn have been married for 28 years. Dawn is a former LCMS commissioned minister and teacher who now works as a job coach for adults with developmental disabilities. They have one son Matthew '22 who is in his third year of teaching high school history, government and geography at Sierra Lutheran High School in Carson City, Nevada. He also coaches golf for the school.

When he's not working or spending time with family, you'll find Wahlers running, golfing, hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Mountains.

"I want to just emphasize what a blessing Concordia Nebraska has been to myself and my family. It was an incredible and formative time that I still get nostalgic about. It was also such a blessing for my son. He was at Concordia during the dark days of COVID, and we were so pleased as parents just how well Concordia handled that situation," he said. "They did a great job of keeping students safe and healthy with also keeping students in person in their regular classes as much as possible. Their communication with parents was outstanding. It demonstrated to me what an incredible community Concordia is for students."

About Concordia University, Nebraska

Concordia University, Nebraska, founded in 1894, is a fully accredited, coeducational university of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod located in Seward, Nebraska, which currently serves more than 1,700 students. Concordia offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in an excellent academic and Christ-centered community that equips men and women for lives of learning, service and leadership in the church and world. For more information, visit cune.edu.

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