At this moment in the life of the church, there is an urgent need to lift up real stories of young adults whose faith is curious, resilient, and alive.
Too often, prevailing narratives about today’s young adults, especially within the church, lean toward concern or critique. Many wonder and worry about the spiritual well-being of emerging generations, questioning their commitments or connection to the life of the church.
At Augustana University, however, a different story is unfolding. Young adults are living out a compelling and authentic narrative that affirms the church’s impact on their lives and provides a hopeful vision of a Christian faith that is flourishing.
The Sacred Discoveries initiative builds directly on Augustana’s Viking Bold strategic plan, and advances its vision to become one of America’s premier church-related universities where faith, learning, and public engagement are woven together to enrich the lives of students and the communities they serve.
Augustana University’s Buntrock Scholars will serve as lead storytellers for the initiative.
Strategic partners, The Moth Education Program and Mud Mile Communications will increase capacity to tell compelling stories and share them widely.
Congregations, ministry partners, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to apply for microgrants to support their own imaginative projects that surface and share authentic stories of Christian faith and flourishing among young adults.
And the God Pod, a state-of-the-art mobile media lab, will travel to congregations and communities, near and far, capturing vibrant stories of God’s spirit at work.
We believe that by sharing these authentic narratives of faith in the voices of young adults themselves, Sacred Discoveries will strengthen congregations, inspire teachers and learners, and help all who listen encounter the God who meets us in every season and chapter of life.
Funded by a generous $5M grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through their National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith & Life, this five-year Sacred Discoveries project begins in January 2026 and runs through 2030.
The Bible includes just one rare story of Jesus during the years of his life between infancy and adulthood, and only one Gospel takes the time and space to tell it.
In Luke, chapter 2, the Gospel writer recounts a 12-year-old Jesus attending the Passover festival in Jerusalem with his parents. Amid the crowds and busyness of the celebration, Mary and Joseph lose their son. After three days of frantic searching, they find Jesus in the temple, “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” Mary chastises him for causing his parents so much anxiety. Jesus’ response is calm and clear: “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”
Like Mary and Joseph, Christian congregations today are searching, sometimes frantically, for youth and young adults. “Where are all the young people?” they ask. Assumptions are made that when they are not in church physically, they are lost spiritually.
Young adults are not lost. Colleges and universities find them in droves, “sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” In their late teens and early twenties, many young adults find themselves exploring faith anew in college, guided more by curiosity than by creed.
Through the Sacred Discoveries initiative, Augustana University will tell authentic and compelling stories of the rich spiritual lives of these young people, from the profound ways that their childhood congregations shaped them, to the faithful questions they are asking of God and the church as they navigate the complexity of college.
Project Director
Pastor Ann is a proud graduate of Augustana and has served her alma mater since 2012. In addition to serving as senior university pastor and vice president for mission integration, Ann also acts as the Sacred Discoveries Project Director. Her previous calls include serving as associate pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls and participating in a 2-year pastoral residency program at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa. She is an alumna of the LECNA Fellows Program, certified diversity advocate and trained Braver Angels moderator. She also holds a certificate in interfaith leadership from Interfaith America. She is married to her husband, Kyle, and together they share in the adventure of raising two children, Arthur and Edith.
Project Manager
Jason Andera earned a Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of South Dakota in 1997. His career has included stops at Peace Lutheran Church as the director of communication, Midco Sports as on-air talent and South Dakota Public Broadcasting as a multimedia producer. With a passion for ministry and communication, these jobs have prepared him for his current role as a Sacred Discoveries Project Manager.
Project Manager
With an Ithaca College B.A. in Television/Radio and a heart for God, Jessica Anderson knows how to tell a great story and build a great community. From leading worship around a campfire as a Camp Director to shaping future leaders in Synodical and Congregational youth roles, she has spent her career in lay ministry traversing the country. Today, she’s bringing that high-energy leadership to her most unique role yet as a Sacred Discoveries Project Manager.
Program Administrator
Noah Gassman earned their Bachelors of Arts in English rhetoric and women’s studies from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2023. With a passion for community, he began his career in Augustana University’s Office of Student Affairs later that Fall. Today, he acts as the Sacred Discoveries Program Administrator.
The Augustana University God Pod wants to come to your community to capture and share stories of faith in your congregation, town, synod, or campus! Fill out the form below to request a visit. The God Pod will be available for scheduling beginning in August 2026.
Bringing the God Pod to your community gives Sacred Discoveries permission to share any stories that are collected.
Sacred Discoveries is collecting stories from anyone and everyone who has something to share about God’s work in their lives. Record your own short video response or offer a written reflection on one of our storytelling prompts.
By submitting this form, you acknowledge that Sacred Discoveries has the right to share and distribute your story.