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TO HONOR AND COMMEND REVEREND DOCTOR KAI MARK NILSEN FOR TWENTY-FIVE YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND THE GAHANNA COMMUNITY.
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WHEREAS, since 2005, Kai Nilsen has served as lead pastor at Peace after having joined the staff in 1993. Throughout his career, Kai’s ministry has been motivated by a core conviction that Jesus didn’t come so we could create great churches. Jesus came so that we could help create a better world-one which reflects God’s goodness, compassion, justice, and love; and
WHEREAS, in 2009, Kai completed his Doctor of Ministry degree through Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California. Dr. Nilsen graduated from Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota in 1985, where he met his wife Patty. He graduated from Luther Seminary in 1989 and was then called to serve Trinity Lutheran Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Kai published his first solo book, Renew Your Life: Discovering the Wellspring of God’s Energy in the fall of 2015. In it he describes the seven ways that God has been renewing life from the very beginning (Genesis 1:1-2:3) through the creative energies of Grace, Possibility, Paradox, The Natural World, Relationships, Fruitful Work and Rest; and
WHEREAS, beyond his work at Peace, Kai is on the Ministry Team for Renovaré, as a teacher in the Renovare’ Institute for Spiritual Formation. Also, he is a leader in the Gahanna Ministerial Association.
WHEREAS, through his work with the Gahanna Ministerial Association, he worked closely with a group of community leaders to re-envision and expand the ministry of Gahanna Residents in Need. To propel the launch of GRIN’s expanded work, he led Peace Lutheran’s efforts to subsidize GRIN’s first years of their new lease payment and the Executive Director’s salary. Peace has now also become a significant contributor to the emerging ministry, Neighborhood Bridges; and
WHEREAS, in reflecting on his 25 years of ministry at Peace, one of the things he is most proud of is Peace’s contribution to the Gahanna community, primarily through the faithful and committed service of its members. Gahanna and Northeast Columbus are better communities because of the work of Peace Lutheran members; and
WHEREAS, all of Patty and Kai’s children have or will graduate from the Gahanna Jefferson Public Schools. For all the work he has done in the community, he feels his best work and the work for which he is most proud, is being a dad to his kids.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, COUNTY OF FRANKLIN, STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That this Council hereby honors and commends Reverend Doctor Kai Mark Nilsen of Peace Lutheran Church for his service to the Gahanna community.
Section 2. That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately after passage by this Council.