KFUO, School Ministry welcome new staff

Pictured from left to right are Alan Freeman, associate director of LCMS School Ministry; the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS president; and the Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio. Freeman and Griebenaw were installed into their positions during daily chapel on Feb. 10 at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

On Feb. 10, two new staff members were installed during daily chapel at the LCMS International Center (IC) in St. Louis:

Alan Freeman, associate director of LCMS School Ministry; and

The Rev. Doug Griebenaw, mission advocate for KFUO Radio.

Freeman comes to the IC from the LCMS Missouri District, where he worked with 111 schools as education executive. Previously, he served as headmaster of Concordia Preparatory School in Towson, Md. He has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb.; a master’s degree in education administration and supervision from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis.; an education specialist degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in Kearney, Neb.; and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.

Freeman and his wife, Kristin — who serves in Life Ministry at the IC — have two children, Holly and Samuel, both of whom graduated from Lutheran High School of St. Charles County in St. Peters, Mo. After his installation, Freeman said, “I look forward to working with the LCMS School Ministry team and collaborating with all members of the Office of National Mission to joyously support and serve church workers and school ministries as they spread the Gospel message and train the next generation of Christian leaders.”

Griebenaw has a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Denver. Before becoming a pastor, he worked for 10 years in nonprofit development and fundraising and served with the United States Navy Reserve as an aviation electrician’s mate, receiving an honorable discharge in 2010. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, graduating in 2016. His first call was to Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in El Centro, Calif.

Griebenaw and his wife, Holly, a graphic designer, have two sons, Sam and Leo. Griebenaw said that, as he made the change from a parish setting to the IC, “I was worried that the feeling of family that a congregation and pastor develop would be absent in the office setting. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the IC still has a strong ‘family’ feel — a loving group of people, gathered by the same Gospel and united in the same mission: to serve Christ’s Body and proclaim salvation in His name to a world desperately in need of Christ’s healing love! It is a rich blessing to be among such wonderful saints in the service of Christ’s church.”

The Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS president, preached for the service on 2 Peter 1:16: “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” Referencing the Synod’s 1973–1974 controversy over the inerrancy of Scripture, Harrison said, “We almost lost our soul, but the Lord was merciful.”

Turning to Freeman and Griebenaw, Harrison said, “Scripture is Jesus’ own Word to us. We cannot take it for granted or neglect it in this building. Jesus Himself believed Scripture came directly from God and had the authority of God. Jesus lived under that authority.

“We believe only what Jesus believed about the Bible. It must be our constant guide and consolation. You will have trials and frustrations. But no matter what you face, there is nothing to fear. You have Christ and His Word. The Lord provides all you need for your task.”

Posted March 3, 2022