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Senior DCE student Candace Fulfs presents at LCMS Youth Gathering

Seward, NE (10/16/2025) — Senior Cadence Fulfs of Plattsmouth, Nebraska, is preparing to serve as a Director of Christian Education (DCE) through her Christian education leadership and theology studies at Concordia University, Nebraska. She sings in the university's Cantamus Women's Choir and is a member of the cheer team.

"I chose to study at Concordia Nebraska because of the Christ-centered community that is evident throughout campus. When I visited it was very clear that this community is more like a family that all grow alongside each other as children of God," she said. "Concordia is different from other universities because of the values that drive the campus. Each individual is not only seen but personally known and cared for. This is a unique place to truly experience the love given to us by Christ through other people."

Fulfs chose to study at the university because she wanted to stay close to home and wanted a university that offered an outstanding theological education.

"This drew me to Concordia as my best option, however once I visited, I knew this was the place God was calling me towards," she said. "My favorite thing about my Concordia experience so far is the community I have built. I have met some of my closest friends here, as well as connected to people who I now look up to as role models in my life and faith. It is such a God thing to meet people who have become permanent impacts on my life, that continuously show me Him and what is looks like to live in His love every day. Concordia is preparing me for my future vocation as a DCE by giving me hands on experience and a community of mentors to help walk alongside me and develop my skills."

Fulfs said her professors provide outstanding support and encouragement, challenging her to connect what she is learning and doing in the classroom to her everyday life and future vocation.

"They support, encourage and challenge me to really think through what God's calling is for me both personally and professionally," she said. "Concordia helps to develop my faith not only because of the various ministry opportunities offered on campus, but because of the countless people willing to walk alongside me in my faith development. Faith is such an open and important topic on campus and the opportunities to grow in that are vast."

Outside of school, Fulfs loves to travel and also enjoys crafting. Following graduation, Fulfs hopes to serve in ministry as a DCE. She is especially interested in missions and outreach work, but looks forward to serving wherever God places her, serving in the world sharing Jesus with people and walking alongside them in their faith journeys.

This summer, Fulfs was given the opportunity to speak at the LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans. Held every three years since 1980, the LCMS Youth Gathering provides thousands of youth and adults the opportunity to come together as a community of God's people to be encouraged in their walk with Jesus Christ and learn about the Christian faith and their Lutheran identity. This event is organized by LCMS Youth Ministry .

"I had the opportunity to present a youth session called 'Get A Clue.' This session was all about cultural discernment," she explained. "Essentially, how do we as God's people respond to and live in today's culture? How do we discern clues of how the world is telling us to live our lives versus how do we discern "clues" of how God and His Word are telling us to live our lives? We defined cultural discernment, looked at Biblical examples and wrestled through some real-life situations that many of us face, such as the use of technology and dating, and how we are called to respond to them."

The presentation was born out of a project for one of Fulfs DCE classes at Concordia.

"We were tasked with reading the book 'Faith For Exiles' by David Kinnaman and Mark Matlock and creating a resource for a church based on our assigned chapter. My chapter was about cultural discernment," she said. "I created a one-day event for a church youth group over cultural discernment and presented it in class. After my presentation my professor, Amy Hubach, approached me and suggested that we submit this project to the Youth Gathering as a session. When she initially suggested it, it seemed like an amazing opportunity but didn't set in as something that could actually happen. But God worked through the process and led us all the way to New Orleans presenting this project together."

She said the presenting to hundreds of youth at the event was a surreal blessing that she will not soon forget.

"It was eye opening and honestly awe inspiring to see God work through what started as a school project, and hand it over to others and see how He worked in their lives with it," she said. "The conversations that I had with people before and after my sessions were evident of this. And I couldn't be more grateful that God worked through me in this way, and that I had the honor of representing Him at the Gathering."

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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