Everyday Authors
Mr. Jeremy Bakken - Mr. Bakken served as Administrative Assitant for the WELS Commission on Youth Discipleship (CYD) from October 2006 - August 2009. He managed the LivingBold Web site and was Assistant Executive Producer for the Everyday Video Series. Prior to working for CYD, Mr. Bakken served as Store Manager and Internet Administrator for Beihoff Music Corp. of Milwaukee, WI. He graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2004 with a B.S. in Music Composition and Mathematics. Currently, Mr. Bakken is working toward a Master of Music in Composition at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Mr. Bakken is an active composer, arranger, and musician (www.jsbakken.com) and attends Shepherd Lutheran Church in Albuquerque, NM. Scripts authored: Debt, Guilt, Honor Your Parents, Overcoming, Resolution, Treasures
Rev. Jeffrey Bonack - Rev. Bonack is Worship Pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Muskego, WI, where he has served since 1996. He graduated from the former Northwestern College in 1991 with a B.A. and from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1996 with an M.A. in Divinity. Of this project, Rev. Bonack shares, "I think it's awesome how Jesus was so creative in how he taught divine truth. This project seemed to be following his lead...and that's exciting to be a part of. I pray that God bless the Everyday project and, in his grace, use these efforts to touch the hearts of young people all over the nation and the world!" Scripts authored: Confession, Guilt Police
Mr. Kory Henkel - Mr. Henkel serves as Youth Minister for Bloomington Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN. He was born and raised in the Twin Cities area. Mr. Henkel attended St. Croix Lutheran High School and Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato MN. Over the years, his ministry has taken him to Miami FL, Chicago IL, Detroit MI, Nashville TN, Raleigh NC, Birmingham AL, Milwaukee WI, Toronto ON and Jackson Hole WY. He had the privilege of teaching English for a year at Peking University in Beijing, China. Scripts authored: Communication, Foolish Fear
Mr. Daniel Lippert - Dan Lippert was born in Arizona and spent his first year at East Fork Mission on the White Mountain Indian Reservation. He was raised in Oshkosh, WI, graduated from Winnebago Lutheran Academy, spent one year at Wisconsin Lutheran College and graduated from Martin Luther College. Dan has taught a total of thirteen years at Redeemer, Tucson, AZ, First Lutheran, Green Bay, WI and St Paul, Lake Mills, WI where he currently teaches sixth grade and is the athletic director. He and his wife Nicki live in a renovated church in Jefferson, WI with daughter Jordan. He has written sports articles for The Red Zone Report Web site and is presently in the process of drafting a children’s book. Scripts authored: Employee of the Month
Mrs. Mary Lippert - Mrs. Lippert received A.A. from Bethany Lutheran College (Evangelical Luthern Synod - Mankato, MN) and taught in WELS Christian day schools for four years. She welcomes this opportunity to write scripts that cast everyday teen situations in the framework of the Christian faith. Over the years she has written several playlets for chapel devotions and Christian retreats. She has also collaborated on music two musicals: The Greatest Show of All (for WELS Parish Services) and David (for Wisconsin Lutheran College). Mrs. Lippert has written over 200 Christian songs, several of which have appeared in VBS courses and Christ-Light (TM). Learn more at www.faithsings.com. Mrs. Lippert is a member at Grace Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, WI. Scripts authored: Ho-Hum, The Lie, Taking Out the Trash
Prof. Jan Mary Nelson-Gompper - Prof. Nelson-Gompper is the Director of Theatre at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) in Milwaukee, WI, where she has taught for the past 15 years. She earned a B.A. from Dr. Martin Lutheran College in New Ulm, MN, and a M.F.A. in Acting from Mankato State University in Mankato, MN. In addition to teaching and directing for WLC, Prof. Nelson-Gompper maintains an active schedule as a local commercial acting talent, including radio and television spots for companies like Walgreens, Aurora Health Care, Honda Corporation, Thrivent, Nabisco/Seagrams, Fox 6 News, Fleet Farm, and more. She has co-written a full-length musical based on the life of King David and is currently collaborating on a second musical based on Oscar Wilde's play Lady Windemere's Fan. She attends St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Muskego, WI. Scripts authored: The Audition, Be on Your Guard, Big But Syndrome, The Breakup, Convicted, A Difficult Discussion, Down In My Heart, Faces of Hope, GPS for Life, Honor Your Temple, The Invitation, It Takes Practice, Least of These, Look Who's Watching, Loss for Words, Lunch Hour, Plagiarism, The Potter, A Problem With Optimism, Rejoice In Your Sadness, Telephone Game
Dr. Joel A. Nelson - Dr. Nelson served as Administrator for the WELS Commission on Youth Discipleship from 2002-2009 and was Executive Producer for the Everyday Video Series. He received his B.A. in Education from Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, in 1978. In 1996 he was awarded an M.A. in Family Studies from Concordia Univeristy in Mequon, WI, and in 2005 was awarded an Ed.D. in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Dr. Nelson served as principal and 7th-8th grade teacher at St. Andrew Lutheran School in Chicago, IL, from 1978-1983. In 1983, he accepted a call to start Our Redeemer Lutheran School in Santa Barbara, CA, and served as principal and teacher of all eight grades until 1990. He then accepted a call to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Muskego, WI, to be that congregation's first Family Minister and the second staff minister called in the WELS. He served at St. Paul's until 1999 when he accepted a call to be the Associate Administrator for the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) Commission on Parish Schools. He served in this position until moving to the Administrator position for CYD in 2002. In 2009, Dr. Nelson accepted a call to be principal of Garden Homes Lutheran School in Milwaukee, WI, where he is also a member. Scripts authored: Be Prepared
Mrs. Naomi Tiefel - Mrs. Tiefel serves as an Admissions counselor for Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) of Milwaukee, WI. She graduated from WLC in 2005 with a B.A. in Communications and minor in Theatre. Mrs. Tiefel was an active participant in the Theatre Arts Department at WLC during her years as a student there. She is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in downtown Milwaukee, WI. Scripts authored: Come Lord Jesus, Deny Deny Deny
Special topics course at Wisconsin Lutheran College - Students Ezekial Drews, John Gaidosh, Cassia Harder and Molly Miller participated in a special topics Theatre class on writing for screen at WLC and contributed several scripts, including: Anchored, Enunciation, Oil & Water, Scrapbook