Planter

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Kirsten Wagenius was appointed in Spring 2009 to plant a new ministry to graduate students and faculty on the campus of St. Cloud State University.

We have a passion for transforming students and faculty, renewing the campus, and developing world-changers through faith in Jesus Christ.

Grad & Faculty Ministry staff, Kirsten

As an alumna of St. Cloud State’s Herberger College of Business, Kirsten’s journey to chapter planter began through student leadership of the InterVarsity chapter. The issues of integration, vocation & calling into ministry led her to an MBA+ Master of theology dual masters’ program at North Park University & Theological Seminary in Chicago.

Over the last fifteen years, God has provided opportunities for Kirsten to serve national, regional and local ministries in areas of leadership formation, development of new resources, small group ministry, strategic planning, and communications. Projects include the Season to GROW initiative for local churches and church cohorts, long-range planning for Minnehaha Academy, regional communications for a denominational judicatory ministry, and shaping the spiritual formation of three elementary-age children in partnership with her husband of twelve wonderful years. On campus, she works to renew the campus with faithful communities of faculty and students, catalyst for the Ethics360 week across area campuses, and innovating a multi-site faculty symposium across the country.

This, built upon a story yet unfolding, Kirsten is grateful for the gift of faith at an early age that was nurtured by family, church, and community members that invested knowledge and care throughout formational ministries, life transitions, first years of college & grad school, starting her career and then family. A deep love of scripture, church, and prayer has emerged, as well as a growing love of Imago Dei in each person and the implications of extending love in practical & political ways, in addition to consistent invitations to new and healthy relationship with God and others.

She is also a licensed minister and received a commission to ministries of administration and leadership through the Evangelical Covenant Church in 2002.

InterVarsity’s Charge to GFM Staff

InterVarsity Grad & Faculty staff are tasked with the following for each local chapter, in pursuit of the four commitments (spiritual formation, community, evangelism & service, and integration of faith, learning & practice):

• Be a campus staff person that is a maturing disciple of Jesus Christ by growing in love for God, God’s Word, God’s people of every ethnicity & culture, and God’s purposes in the world
• Engage in campus ministry that develops witnessing communities of graduate students and faculty through leading & developing students and faculty to be a redeeming influence on campus; fostering pastoral conversations; deepening understandings of God and God’s Word; working to reconcile communities of faith; modeling and equipping for prayer and faithful witness; promoting integration of faith and vocation as whole people of God; planning and training with students and faculty; creating opportunity for collegial relationships in Christ
• Partner with co-located InterVarsity staff, and the national network of InterVarsity staff and departments
• Conduct administration of the ministry accounting for legal, budgetary, reporting, and chapter standing requirements
• Develop sustainable funds, prayer, and partners for ongoing ministry including alumni; cultivate supportive relationships and represent InterVarsity in the broader Christian context

Portfolio

• A guide to “Seeing the Word” together (Wagenius and Washington, 2012)