PRESIDENT - The Rev. Dr. Philip Kuehnert

127 Shoal Creek Williamsburg, VA 23188

Field Associate - The Open Arms Institute

Dr. Kuehnert previously pastored Ascension Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA during the period when Ascension inaugurated the first Open Arms Christian Child Development Center. At the same time, the congregation sponsored the planting of a new mission with an Open Arms ministry at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alpharetta, Georgia.  Pastor Kuehnert then accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church in Fairbanks, Alaska. This congregation also inaugurated a large Open Arms center on a second site in January of 2000, and soon enrolled 200 children.  In 2005 the congregation erected a new sanctuary on the same new site and relocated the entire ministry at that time. Dr. Kuehnert has since moved to Virginia, and serves as a Field Associate for the Open Arms Institute.

SECRETARY - Mrs. Michelle Anderson

12885 Maple St. Wichita, KS 67235

Business Manager - Open Arms Child Development Center, Ascension Lutheran Church

Michelle has been a member of the staff of the Open Arms center at Ascension Lutheran Church in Wichita since its founding. She has served as the Assistant Director, and most recently as the Business Manager. She brings to the board a wealth of experience regarding the inauguration and operation of a successful center. This center serves as the core of Ascension’s satellite ministry. Ascension conducts worship services and other congregational activities at this site, in addition to their home site at 842 N. Tyler Road in Wichita..

TREASURER - Mr. Ross Stroh

1333 S. Kirkwood Road St. Louis, MO 63122

Director of Mission Finance - LCMS World Mission

Ross Stroh has an accounting degree from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana as well as a Master’s Degree in International Business from Webster University in St. Louis, MO.  In 1991 he began serving as an LCMS missionary in Panama.  Two years later he moved to the finance department of LCMS World Mission in St. Louis. 

Mrs. Suzi Herbert

209 Meadow Creek Drive Hayesville, NC 28904

Consultant in Education and Not-For-Profit Management

Former member of the Georgia state legislature, and of the administrative staff of Griffin/Spalding schools in Griffin, Georgia, Mrs. Herbert is now serving as an educational consultant in a variety of roles. She and her husband, Dr. Paul Herbert, participated in the development of early models of the Open Arms concept in the Atlanta, Georgia area.

The Rev. Dr. Yohannes Mengsteab

1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122-7295

Director of New Mission Development for the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Department of National Missions

Dr. Mengsteab served as a church planter and parish pastor in the Washington D. C. area before assuming his position with the LCMS. His focus is on the planting and revitalization of congregations, primarily in North America, as part of the LCMS Ablaze! movement, with the goal of seeing 2000 congregations planted by 2017.

Rev. Jeff Miller

1333 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122-7295

Senior Vice President - Ministry Resources of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund for the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

After serving as a parish pastor in Kansas and southern Minnesota, Rev. Miller successfully planted a new mission congregation near the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Subsequently he was called to the position of Missions Executive for the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod and served for a number of years. In his current position, he resources and supports LCEF District Vice Presidents in the 28 LCEF districts. He also assists in providing demographic services to the LCMS and its congregations.

Rev. Jewelyn Miller

21011 Brittany Circle Elkhorn, NE 68022

Open Arms Management Consultant, and Asst. Preschool Director at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Omaha, NE.

Jewelyn was a manager of an elder care facility. Then she assumed the responsibility as founding director of the Open Arms center at Ascension Lutheran church In Wichita, KS. She guided that center to success with an enrollment up to 165 children until her husband took another position requiring a move for the family. In addition to her current position, Jewelyn serves as a consultant for the Open Arms Institute, and is working with congregations in several states.

Rev. Dr. Robert Scudieri

400 S 14th St., Ste 916 St. Louis, MO 63103

Field Associate for the Open Arms Institute, and Mission Equipping Pastor - Faith Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida

Dr. Scudieri has served as a parish pastor, during which he led a congregation to establish a childcare center. Next he held the position of Missions Executive for the English District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, and was responsible for planting new congregations on a nation-wide basis. Then as the head of North American Missions for the Department of World Mission of the LCMS, his duties called for him to provide leadership for church planting and mission outreach in all the 35 districts of the LCMS.

At the present time, in addition to his service at Faith Lutheran Church in Naples, Florida, Dr. Scudieri is one of two Field Associates for the Open Arms Institute, and serves as a contact person for us in the Florida-Georgia District and in the Missouri District. As such, he helps pastors and congregations explore the potential for a child development ministry, and provides guidance for the process.

Mr. Richard Weniger

1700 NE Knott St., Portland, OR 97212

Director of Education Services for the Northwest District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

Mr. Weniger is a graduate of Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, with a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from there as well. He was a teacher and administrator of Lutheran schools in Missouri, Utah, and Oregon. He also served as Director of Operations for Concordia University Foundation, Portland, OR; Executive Director of Urban Education Ministry, Bronxville, NY, and Executive Director of Portland Lutheran School. In his current position, Mr. Weniger consults and coaches ministry leaders of the congregations of the Northwest District - LCMS in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska, as well as in Hong Kong and other location in the far east.

Mr. Martin Barlau

2229 Scotch Pine Ct., Loveland, CO 80538

Executive Director of the Open Arms Institute

Dr. Barlau is a graduate of Concordia University – Seward, Nebraska, with a Master’s Degree in Elementary Curriculum from Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska. He was a teacher and administrator in Lutheran elementary schools in Nebraska and Colorado for 30 years. From 1987 to 2000 he served as the Missions Executive for the Rocky Mountain District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. During that time the District saw the start of 21 new ministries in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. He was responsible there also for the areas of Stewardship, Human Care Ministry, and Campus Ministry.

As the first Executive Director of the Open Arms Institute, Dr. Barlau has been responsible for the development of services, for planning and conducting conferences, and for ongoing consultations with clients and prospects. The Institute has seen the startup of from two to five new centers each year.

Beginning in 2009, the Institute has been transitioning toward a closer relationship with the congregations it serves, and has recently assumed responsibility for the startup and management of Open Arms programs at the request of congregations. This has become possible with the assistance of two Field Associates with experience as parish pastors, and also several consultants with experience as directors and supervisors.