Who We Are : St Mark Lutheran Church

SENIOR PASTOR

Reverend Eric L. Jay – “Pastor Jay”

A Southern California native, Pastor Jay graduated with a Master’s in Theology and Culture as a student of St Louis Seminary via the Cross Cultural Ministry Pastoral Certification Program (CMC) located at Concordia University in Irvine, California. The CMC focuses uniquely on equipping pastors to infiltrate strategic urban settings as church planters. Pastor Jay spent the the last 2 years of his seminary training and the first 3 years of ministry as pastor of The Gathering; a church plant of which Pastor Jay was founder. Simultaneously, Pastor Jay served briefly as the Interim Pastor at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Westminster, California. In 2012 he accepted the call to serve as sole pastor of St John’s Lutheran Church in El Segundo, Ca, and served there for 5 years before accepting the call to St. Mark in August 2017.

Pastor Jay and his wife Sarah met at and graduated from the Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music (Chapman University in Orange, Ca) with degrees in Music Performance. God has blessed them with three children: their daughter Elizabeth and sons Jesse and Hezekiah.

ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Reverend Josue Dieudonne – “Pastor D”

Pastor Josué Dieudonné serves as Associate Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska. Originally from Haiti, he brings with him a rich background of faithful service, pastoral care, and dedication to Christ’s ministry.

Pastor Dieudonné was ordained as a Lutheran pastor in August 2008 after completing his theological degree at the Concordia Theological Seminary of Haiti. He also holds a master’s degree in education from Concordia University of Nebraska, with a major in curriculum & instruction.

He served for 15 years with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti. During that time, he ministered as Associate Pastor at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church for five years and later as Parish Pastor at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Léogâne for ten years. Pastor Dieudonné has also been blessed to serve congregations in the Nebraska District through pulpit supply. His ministry is marked by a deep commitment to preaching the Gospel, serving communities, and walking alongside individuals and families in faith.

Pastor Dieudonné and his wife, Elise, have been married for 16 and a half years. They are blessed with three children: Sebastien (14), Sara (12), and Arthur (9).

CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR; SCHOOL SECRETARY

Beth Kelly

Beth was born and raised in Canton, IL where she lived until moving to Omaha a year ago. Her son and daughter-in-law, Seth and Ashley, settled in Omaha after Seth left the Navy a few years ago. She wanted to be out here before any grandchildren arrived! In Canton Beth worked as the church office manager at First Baptist Church. Beth worked as a Legal Assistant upon first arriving in Omaha, but started at St. Mark’s at the first of the year. She has been involved with children and youth ministry since she was in high school and most other areas at her former church. In her spare time Beth enjoys spending time with Seth and Ashley, gardening, walking – anything that gets her outdoors!

PRESCHOOL & CHILDCARE CENTER DIRECTOR

Julie Kyriss

I graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and K–12 Art Education. I later earned an Early Childhood Endorsement through Peru State College.

My husband Mark and I live in Bellevue and have been married for 40 years. We have two married children and two grandsons.

My teaching career began in Copperas Cove, Texas, where I taught first grade for three years. I then moved to Germany and directed a Department of Defense Co-op Preschool before relocating to Nebraska in 2000. After teaching preschool and kindergarten in Bellevue, I served as an in-home visitor for Parents as Teachers Heroes at Home on Offutt Air Force Base. I am now in my 14th year at St. Mark Preschool and Childcare as the Center Director and lead teacher for the 3-year-old class. I love being an early childhood educator and am grateful for the opportunity to share the love of Jesus with young children every day.

SCHOOL TEACHER (Kindergarten)

Jesse Ristvedt

Mrs. Jesse Ristvedt was raised in Scribner, NE where she was raised in the faith and attended a K-12 school. As a high school student, she discovered a love of teaching during several years of experience in the teacher’s aid program under an excellent mentor in a Kindergarten classroom. She graduated with a BA in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Kindergarten from Midland Lutheran College in 1998. Jesse has worked for Bennington School District, St. Bernard in Omaha, The Wider Lutheran School Association, and Omaha Public Schools. Of her twenty-five years of experience, fifteen have been in Kindergarten.

She is excited to return to Lutheran education and bring her experience to the kindergarteners of St. Mark Lutheran School!

In her spare time, Jesse enjoys gardening, making music with her family and congregation, and serving on the board of the historical museum in her hometown. Jesse is married to Phillip and they have one son, Nolan.

SCHOOL TEACHER (1st Grade)

Dawn Clark

Dawn Godemann lived in Nebraska for much of her childhood. She considers Madison, NE her hometown. She now will call Omaha, NE home. She attended Lutheran elementary schools in Arlington and Madison, Madison Public High School, and Concordia University, Seward, NE. She also received her Masters Degree in Education with Early Childhood from CUNE. Her late father Dennis, and her mom Linda were also Lutheran school teachers.

Dawn has been teaching for 25 years. All were in Lutheran Schools. She has served at 3 schools: Immanuel Lutheran, Columbus, NE, Grace Lutheran, Sandy, UT, and St. Peter Lutheran, Lodi, CA. She has taught grades 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade. She is very excited to begin her ministry at St. Mark Lutheran Church and help build a brand new school.

Dawn enjoys spending time at home with her 4 cats, as well as mission trips, walking, gardening, and flowers.

SCHOOL TEACHER (2nd & 3rd Grade)

Megan Morgan

As a member and musician at St. Mark Church since 2017, it is my joy and privilege to extend my talents to the school. I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and have nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher and administrator. My teaching background includes music, reading, and English as a Second Language. I am married and have 3 children. My passions are piano-playing, gardening, crafts, photography, selling real estate with my husband, and of course, teaching! I look forward to forming long-lasting relationships with students, families, and staff while sharing the word and goodness of God!

SCHOOL TEACHER (4th Grade)

Tami Keunning

Tami Kuenning grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and moved to Mead during her high school years. A graduate of Mead High School, she married her high school sweetheart, Bruce, and together they will celebrate 46 years of marriage this year.

For 12 years, Tami shared her love of the arts as a dance teacher while raising four children with Bruce. She later served as a paraprofessional with Omaha Public Schools for 10 years while pursuing her degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska.

Throughout her teaching career, Tami has taught kindergarten through fourth grades. She is excited to begin her 14th year of teaching at St. Mark’s Lutheran School.

Outside the classroom, Tami enjoys homemaking and spending time with her family, especially her four children, their spouses, and nine grandchildren. She is passionate about helping children become curious, lifelong learners and guiding them to encounter Jesus Christ in their everyday lives.

SCHOOL TEACHER

Mphatso Smith

Mphatso was born in Malawi, Africa, where she lived until she was adopted by her parents, who had traveled there on a mission trip. She was raised in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and attended Concordia schools from fourth through twelfth grade.

From a young age, Mphatso knew she wanted to work with children and pursue a career in education. She earned her degrees in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Concordia University, Nebraska, along with her Lutheran Teacher Diploma.

Mphatso began her teaching career in St. Louis, where she spent several years teaching in two-year-old and four-year-old classrooms. She is excited to be part of the St. Mark community and looks forward to building meaningful relationships with the students and families she serves.

In her free time, Mphatso enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and fiancé. She loves exploring God’s creation through hiking and other outdoor activities, as well as painting, reading, and playing board games.

FACILITY & OPERATIONS MANAGER

Jason Conell

Jason was born in Hays, KS where he attended school and spent the first 25 years of his life. He then moved to Wichita, KS for 6 years and finally moved to Omaha after his parents and only sibling relocated there. Jason attended Fort Hays State University and Wichita State University.

Jason has worked in several different and widely varying fields from managing a small airline station in his hometown, to construction, to sales, to convenience store management. Jason joined the staff at St. Mark in August of 2022. He has been an LCMS Lutheran since grade-school, though he will be the first to admit he missed some Sundays here and there.

Jason enjoys spending time with his parents, Dan and Jane, his brother and sister-in-law, Andrew and Kaylea. He also enjoys seeing his extended family which gratefully happens often. His hobbies include woodworking, weightlifting and binge-watching history documentaries on YouTube.

FACILITY TECHNICIAN

Daren Clark

Daren has built a career working “hands-on” in a variety of building, maintenance and construction projects. There is a lot of ministry that happens on a daily basis here at St. Mark, and it simply wouldn’t be possible without the behind the scenes hard work of facility maintenance, repair and development. Daren came aboard full time at the end of 2019 after 4 years of working part-time here at St. Mark.

ORGANIST

Glenda Bock
402-391-6148

I am a life time LCMS Lutheran, having been baptized and confirmed in southeast Nebraska. I graduated from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln with a B. A. in Social Work and Psychology, which is also where I met my husband, Rod. I worked for a brief time in Lincoln as a Medical Social Worker, but then we moved to Midland, Michigan, St.Louis, Missouri, and Kansas City, Missouri before settling in Omaha. We have three children, four grandchildren, and will be married 54 years this December. Down time finds me gardening, reading, sewing and doing some volunteering. This September I will have been playing organ, both full time and part time, for 35 years, giving Rod an opportunity to sit alone with our children in church through all their growing up years. I’ve been substituting for churches around Omaha, as well as accompanying the choir and subbing at St. Mark since 2006. A couple of years ago l thought I was fully retired, but then came the opportunity to play full time for St. Mark, and I have come to recognize this as another door that God opened for me. I love playing the wonderful organ here, and having the chance to share my love for the Word in the Church’s music. A piece sung by the choir, quoting I Corinthians 2:9, has taught me about God’s guidance in my life “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him. ” I guess I’ll save retirement for a later date!