I’m Karen Kogler, administrator of this site. My passion is enjoying God’s gifts and using them for his purposes. I’m convinced God’s kingdom will thrive as we, the church, help each other use our God-given gifts as we follow his call. That’s healthy church volunteerism. That’s equipping saints to serve.

I created this website to encourage and equip all gatherings of people who follow Jesus to be better stewards of their people’s time and talent. We can all equip each other to better serve Jesus.

This site contains my thoughts, tools I’ve created or found, and stories of what equipping looks like at various churches, including my own. I love conversations about serving, so use comments to share your thoughts, knowledge and experience.

In Dec. 2024 I retired from my position as Director of Equipping at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Illinois, where I had served since 2007. A lifelong member of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), I’ve enjoyed participating in many congregations as a volunteer and as professional staff and support staff. I’ve spoken on church volunteerism at a variety of conferences and at volunteer administrators network meetings; led online webinars for Wheat Ridge ministries and the LCMS Southeast District. I’ve written on church volunteerism for Lutheran Witness, e-Volunteerism; and written devotional material for Hope-Full Living and Portals of Prayer.

Background

• Director of Equipping at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Illinois, 2007 to 2024.
• Earned a CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) credential, an international professional certification in the field of volunteer resources management.
• M.A. in Theology, Concordia University, Irvine, CA; B.A. in Education, Concordia University, River Forest, IL.
• Served as Director of Volunteer Ministries, Christ the King Lutheran Church, Southgate, Michigan, 1993 to 2002.
• Completed all three levels of training at Marlene Wilson’s Volunteer Management program at the Univ. of Colorado, Boulder.
• Began leading workshops and writing professionally while in Southgate.
• 2002 to 2004, as a volunteer, I led an Equipping Volunteers for Ministry team in my home congregation, Christ Lutheran, Costa Mesa, while employed by the Center for U.S. Missions in Irvine.
• Before beginning in church volunteerism in 1993, I served as Lutheran parochial school teacher and church office administrative assistant.
• My husband is a retired church musician who served churches in Missouri, Michigan, California, and Illinois. We are blessed with two adult sons.