Getting to know LCC’s new Associate Director – Family Ministries

Who is LCC’s new Associate Director – Family Ministries?

My name is Samantha Neeb. I grew up on a farm between Kitchener and Stratford, Ontario, in a house with six daughters; I’m the fourth. 

I have been fortunate in that not only have I gotten to explore a lot of Canada, but I have also lived in three different provinces (Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta) before adding a fourth with my move to Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

I enjoy reading, traveling, playing board games, and finding the best ice cream around. 

What path led you to serving the Church as a Director of Parish Services?

The long story is that my formation for this vocation started long before I realized it. I was baptized and confirmed at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wellesley, Ontario, and have spent my life in the church. 

I am blessed with parents (and extended family) that were active in the church while I was growing up and still today. My father continues to serve as an elder and my mother continues to serve as the Sunday School and Vacation Bible School superintendent. With these and other examples, it was natural for me to begin serving in the church at an early age. 

At this early age I thought about serving in the church full-time as a vocation but did not know what options were available to me. Years later I met a Director of Parish Services intern that was serving in the same circuit I was in, and I saw a possible avenue for me. At the time, though, the program was no longer offered, so it was not something I could pursue. 

A few years later, I saw a job posting in the InfoDigest newsletter for a Youth Director shared between two congregations in the Vancouver area. After being selected for the position and starting, that desire for training for the role I was working in came again and the program was available through Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton. 

In 2021, I began my educational formation with CLS while continuing to work as a Youth Director. During the 2023-24 school year, I moved to Edmonton to complete my class work, and in the 2024-25 school year I completed my internship. The internship was the final major component of the Graduate Diploma in Parish Services program, which led me to graduation and a first call in May 2025. 

Rev. Andre Schroth and Dcn. Samantha Neeb at her consecration at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wellesley, Ontario.

What is a Director of Parish Services, and how does this fit into the diaconate in Lutheran Church–Canada?

In Lutheran Church–Canada, there are two major categories in the diaconate: Lutheran teachers, who have been trained and certified to teach in Lutheran schools, and those who serve in congregations, most often known as Directors of Parish Services. 

A Director of Parish Services serves alongside a pastor, most often in a congregation. Deacons do not preach or administer the sacraments, but assist in many other ways, including Sunday School, youth, VBS, music, visitation, Bible Study, and more. 

Why was the new Associate Director – Family Ministries position created?

This position was created in response to Resolution 22.3.03, which was passed at the 2022 Synod Convention. The overture was submitted by the West Region RMMC. 

I have been told by one of the members who worked on the overture that the desire for this role was prompted by a few different things, including a strongly voiced desire to see a position like this coming from the leaders who participated in the 2019 National Youth Gathering youth leaders’ round table, and the loss of the ABC District Office’s Parish and School Services department, which left a void where there had formerly been support for youth and childrens’ ministry. 

What is “Family Ministries,” and how does it support the Office of the Holy Ministry and the life of the Church?

“Family Ministries” as suggested by this position title, encompasses family, children, youth, and young adult ministries within the church. Just as the office of deacon was established for the well-being of the Church and for providing assistance to the Office of the Holy Ministry and to congregations, so was this position. 

This position was created to help and support those in the Office of the Holy Ministry and those in other helping roles focusing on the families, children, youth and young adults in our church, outside of the Sunday morning service. 

Some of the key areas laid out in this position are equipping, connecting, supporting, collaborating, training, and developing resources. All of these areas help support the ministry of the Word amongst the younger generations of the church. 

What experience and gifts do you bring that will be especially helpful in this role?

I have been fortunate to volunteer and work in many different areas of family ministry, including Sunday School, VBS, a children’s evening program, children’s messages, pre-teen group, youth Bible study, youth group, Confirmation classes, youth and young adult retreats and gatherings, as well as one-day and multi-week family and congregational events. 

Serving in these ways has allowed me to experience a wide range of family ministry opportunities, as well as get to know various resources that I could share with anyone needing something new.   

I have also been fortunate to have lived in both the East and West regions, which has allowed me to develop relationships with a number of church workers and volunteers across the synod, which will help to build connections and create a network of those serving in or focusing on family ministries. 

Looking ahead, what specific goals or areas of focus do you hope to work on in your first few years?

Since this is a new position, I am still learning about all that it encompasses and understanding how it is accomplished. In order to do that, I need to gain a better understanding of what family ministry looks like across the synod and what the needs are. 

To do that, I will be dedicating some time to information gathering. This information gathering might include attending the regional pastors’ and deacons’ conferences, visiting congregations or circuits, and giving presentations or having roundtable-type discussions; joining in a week of VBS, a youth night, or a retreat; and having conversations over the phone, video, or in-person to learn more. 

After a period of information gathering and once the needs have been identified, I look forward to working with the members of synod to fill those needs. In the meantime, I look forward to working with the National Youth Gathering committee and supporting church workers, volunteers, and congregations across the synod. 

If you would like to connect and be part of the information gathering, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at sneeb@lutheranchurch.ca.

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