#56: What Does the Birth of Jesus Mean to You?

Dr. Eun Strawser is a physician, pastor, author, and consultant who has pioneered innovative approaches to church leadership and community development. As a co-vocational founding pastor of a missional community-based church plant in Hawaii, she has multiplied from one community to twelve, serving over 650 people. She brings unique insights from her diverse background in medicine, ministry, and leadership development, having equipped over twenty-five missional community leaders and served on executive leadership teams for international organizations. Her work focuses on moving churches away from hierarchical leadership models toward shared, collaborative approaches that empower entire communities.

Pastor Jon Anderson serves as Director of Rural Ministry at Luther Seminary. He grew up on a dairy farm south of Belgrade, Minnesota (Between Willmar and Sauk Rapids). His ancestors came to this land in the late 1850s, and his family lives there to this day. His family farm is located on land that was the traditional homeland of the Dakota people.

In his early ministry he served at camps and congregations in Texas and Minnesota. He recently completed eighteen years of service as bishop in the Southwestern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. As Director of Rural Ministry he provides leadership in the area of Luther Seminary’s Small Town and Rural (STaR) Ministry.

Anderson earned his M.Div. from Luther Seminary (1985) and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Olaf College (1981). He loves to garden and play with his grandchildren. Planting seeds, growing plants and walking with people as they grow gives him joy.

Dr. Ramón Pastrano IV is a founder and board member of Twin Cities-based ImpactLives, Inc., and founder of ThirdSphere LLC, a center for transformational leadership in cultural competence, social innovation, and entrepreneurship.

Pastrano earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications/Media Studies from Briar Cliff University. His advanced degrees include a Master of Science in Management from the U.S. Naval Supply Corps School, a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Bethel Seminary, and a Doctorate in Global Contextual Leadership from Bethel University.

After 15 years as a surgical consultant and medical device specialist with Ethicon, Medtronic, and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Pastrano has received numerous awards, including the Doctor Act Award, presented by TRANS4M Council for Research and Innovation in Switzerland. This award is given in recognition for outstanding achievement in Social Innovation.

Pastrano has traveled extensively for leadership engagement and humanitarian efforts throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Supply Corps School, he also served as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Dr. Jennifer Hornyak Wojciechowski is an assistant professor of Church History at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and the associate editor of the journal Word & World. Her areas of scholarship include the history of Christianity, women’s history, American history, Christian mysticism, and the intersection of religion and social reform. She is the author of Women and the Christian Story: A Global History (2022), and Tending the Garden: A History of Christian Mysticism (February 2025).