PASTOR
Rev. Dr. Mark Hannemann has served Zion since June 2025 initially as Zion's Vacancy Pastor and now as a called Transitional Interim Pastor. He serves as President, Director of Advancement, and counselor for GracePoint Institute for Relational Health, a non-profit counseling ministry his son, Justin, and he founded in 2012. GracePoint has offices in Lincoln, Omaha, and Columbus, NE. GracePoint also serves students on the campuses of Concordia University, Lincoln Lutheran, and Concordia Schools of Omaha. GracePoint specializes in assessments, consultation, and counseling for church workers across the country. Since 2022, Hannemann has also served as Executive Director of Good Friend Ministries, providing retreats, spiritual direction, counseling, consultation, and coaching for pastors of the Michigan District of the LCMS, and their wives. The retreat facility is located on the Old Mission Peninsula, Traverse City, MI.
Pastor Hannemann is a 1980 graduate of Concordia University NE & Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO in 1984. In 1993 he received a Doctor of Ministry degree in pastoral counseling from Luther Seminary, St. Paul. MN. He has been a Licensed Mental Health Practitioner in Nebraska since 1995 and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Michigan since 2022. He is also a Certified Life Coach.
Pastor Hannemann's ministry experience includes serving as Senior Pastor of Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, Omaha, NE (2008-2022), Co-host of GracePoint Radio on KCRO, Omaha, NE (2012-2013), Executive Director of Windgate Christian Counseling, Wildwood, MO (2005-2008), Co-host of Life Revised, a weekly radio program for Lutheran Hour Ministries (2005-2006), Guest Speaker on the Lutheran Hour (2007), Senior Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, Lincoln, NE (1994-2005), Theology Instructor at Lincoln Lutheran High School, Lincoln, NE (1997-2005), Adjunct Faculty at Concordia University Nebraska (2001-2004), Associate Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Millington, MI (1989-1994), Dean of Chapel and Instructor of Religion at Minneapolis Lutheran High School, Edina, MN (1986-1989), Pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Gregory, SD (1984-1986), Vicar at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bay City, MI (1982-1983). He has been a resource for Church Planter Assessment Center for the Center for U.S. Missions & Cross-Cultural Ministry Center faculty (at Concordia University Irvine), Pastoral Leadership Institute, a trained Stephen Ministry Leader. He's led short-term mission trips to Belize & Guatemala, plus he's helped with disaster relief and crisis response at various locations.
He is married to his high school sweetheart, Sandy, and they have four children, Justin, Nathan, Aaron, and Kathryn, and fourteen grandchildren. They were married here at Zion on August 4, 1978. They, their four children, and their spouses are all graduates of Concordia University Nebraska. While trained in early childhood education at Concordia, Sandy is retired from a career in the title industry. She enjoys sewing, quilting, and gardening. Mark enjoys sports, outdoor activities, and spoiling the grandchildren. They live in rural Seward County and are members of St. John Lutheran Church in Seward.
DIRECTOR OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (DCE)
Ben Venteicher was called to serve as DCE at Zion in June 2023. He primarily works with our Children and Youth ministries, as well as Young Adults and Families. He loves hanging out with Middle school youth and teaches Confirmation (Midweek) classes, plus leads our High school hangouts on Wednesday nights. He hosts monthly Zion youth events for both Middle school and High school students. In the summer, he absolutely LOVES helping plan and being a part of Vacation Bible School (VBS).
Ben is blessed to be called dad by 5 great kids and married to an incredible woman of faith (Michelle). They are both Nebraska natives (Go Huskers), and they love all things LUTHERAN. Ben graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska with a degree in Education and was certified as a Director of Christian Education. (Go Bulldogs). He has served in the Air Force and the Nebraska Air National guard. He enjoys spending time at Camp Luther, Nebraska and being outdoors.
Naturally, his favorite book is the Bible and loves talking about JESUS! Jesus says in John 11:25-27, Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
I pray you are like Martha and can say, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."
If you have questions about the Christian faith, the Bible, Jesus, or just life stuff... come talk to Ben. He'd love to visit with you more!
CHURCH SECRETARY
Tysa Ostrander was brought onto our staff in April 2024 to do all the amazing behind the scenes office work. As a part-time church secretary, she manages and assembles the weekly bulletins and news inserts. She assembles and distributes our monthly newsletter and helps publicize upcoming activities through our Zion Facebook page. Plus many other tasks, such as digitizing our 150 years of church records! Previously she served as a church secretary in Fullerton NE.
She was born and raised in Kansas, but has been in here in the great state of Nebraska for 20 years, to include the last 5 years here at Zion. She and her family live in Henderson. She's married to the charming Kelby Ostrander (since 2007) and has 2 boys. She loves watching her boys play baseball and other sports. She loves to read and sing, plus she works with resin art in her free time.
Tysa's favorite Bible verses are: Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." She also draws encouragement from John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
