Dear LOM community,
The Board of Directors of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries is delighted to share that, following the unanimous recommendation of the Executive Director Search Committee, Nate Berkas has been appointed to serve as our next Executive Director. Nate will begin his role on January 1, 2026.
Nate brings extensive experience in outdoor ministry leadership, higher education advancement, and churchwide engagement. He currently serves as Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at Augsburg University, where he leads a comprehensive engagement and fundraising strategy that connects alumni, donors, and university stakeholders to core institutional priorities.
Before joining Augsburg, Nate served as Director of Wilderness Canoe Base with Lake Wapogasset Lutheran Bible Camp, where he oversaw year-round operations, expanded partnerships, supervised seasonal and year-round staff, and led a successful campaign that raised $400,000 to reduce debt and support infrastructure projects. Earlier in his career, Nate served with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America with ELCA Global Church Sponsorship and ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal, managing national fundraising and partnership initiatives in support of global mission, education, and healthcare programs.
Nate is pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Augsburg University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He continues his commitment to service through leadership with Luther Park Bible Camp, Global Refuge, and Big City Mountaineers.
“The Board is energized by Nate’s record of building relationships that advance mission and strengthen organizations,” said The Rev. Matthew D. O’Rear, President of the LOM Board of Directors. “His experience in outdoor ministry operations, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement positions LOM for a strong and vibrant future. We are grateful to the Search Committee for its faithful work and excited to welcome Nate into this role.”
“Nate’s leadership demonstrates a deep commitment to forming partnerships and cultivating generosity,” Rev. O’Rear added. “We look forward to the ways he will support LOM’s members and amplify the impact of outdoor ministry across our wider community.”
Don Johnson, who will retire from after serving for 10 serving as LOM executive director on December 31, commented, “I am so happy that Nate Berkas will be LOM’s next executive director. Nate has exactly the experience and skill set that LOM needs as we move into the future. In addition to that, I am very aware, from the time Nate served as the director for Wilderness Canoe Base, that he’s a great guy! Congratulations, Nate! Good days ahead for LOM!”
“Outdoor ministry has been an incredibly transformational part of my life,” Nate shared. “From an early age I came to understand that outdoor ministry is one of the most unique experiences that a person can have. It is a place where people of all ages are seen, cared for, and welcomed into the community exactly as they are. I feel honored and humbled to continue to support this work, and am eager to help in leading Lutheran Outdoor Ministries into the future.”
The LOM Board extends its gratitude to the Executive Director Search Committee and its chair, Anthony Briggs, for their thorough discernment, and to the many leaders and partners who engaged in the process.