.jpg)
Our
STORY
Mission Nation Publishing, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was established in 2016 to help churches include new ethnic groups in their membership. We began by printing books, sharing stories of immigrants, who endured hardship and danger to become missionaries to America. These stories were meant to sensitize churches to the opportunities for reaching new immigrants. Since then we have evolved into a communications ministry that encourages and inspires diversity in the church using multimedia resources including print, audio, video and digital.
Our books are now printed in braille for the blind and visually impaired by Lutheran Braille Workers. Our missionary biography books are being used in classrooms in Lutheran schools to reach middle and high school students. Mission Nation books are also part of Christian book club discussions.
​
Our vision is to energize and equip churches to reach new ethnic groups in America with the gospel of Jesus. Mission Nation is unique in that it gives a voice and support to immigrant missionaries to America. Our mission is to increase multi-ethnic ministries and increase support for the missionaries.
MNP Staff
Celina Haupt
Celina serves as the director of Operations for Mission Nation Publishing. She uses her strengths of discernment and tenacity to help individuals and organizations reach their goals. As an educator and curriculum developer, she spearheaded the Families in Transition Team at Concordia Seminary St. Louis to provide support to spouses and families. She has been a guest speaker at Best Practices Heartland and Phoenix, LINC Bay Area Leadership Summit, KFUO's Faith and Family, and women's retreats across the United States. Celina's husband, Ben, serves as a professor at Concordia Seminary St. Louis. They have two sons. She and her family are avid travelers, theater nerds, foodies, Lego-maniacs, and video gamers.
Diane Marra
Diane Marra is the Website Designer, Brand & Social Media Marketing Manager for Mission Nation Publishing. She is retired from a career with extensive experience in business development, account management, marketing, and project management. Diane is a graphic designer and expert in Canva, website development in WIX & SquareSpace, as well as a videographer with FilmoraX. A mixed media faithartist, all her graphic creativity is about bringing glory to God in graphic design for her faith-based clients.
MNP Board Members
Robert Scudieri
Dr. Robert Scudieri, President and Publisher: a Lutheran pastor for thirty eight years, as a parish pastor, the Mission Executive for the English District and for eighteen years in his last call, the head of missions in North America for his denomination, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Many Korean, Indian, Chinese, Hispanic, African, Japanese, blind, deaf, Jewish, Pakistani and Hmong leaders and congregations owe their membership in the Synod to the work of Dr. Scudieri.
Janis McDaniels
Janis Mc Daniels: Member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. Current member of the LCMS Board for National Mission. Carolinas District LWML Public Relations Director.
Ben Haupt
Prof. Ben Haupt, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Dr. Benjamin Haupt is associate provost, assistant professor of Practical Theology and director of Library Services at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He oversees the Seminary’s recruitment and admissions team, and serves as a liaison to faculty and staff involved in accomplishing the Seminary’s enrollment goals related to its residential, distance and multiethnic Ministerial Formation programs and Advanced Studies programs. Haupt has been a faculty member since 2013.
Sarah Seying
Sarah Seying. Recent graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin with a major in Hospitality and Event Management and a minor in Missions. Now serves as Admissions Coordinator at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.” She is developing a podcast with Pres. Dan Gilbert titled, "This Could Work On A Mission Field."
Terrence Chan
Rev. Dr. Terry Chan serves as Pastor and Lead Missionary at Christ for All Nations Lutheran Church in San Francisco. The ministry is a merging of two traditional LCMS congregations into one multiethnic parish of multiple congregations and languages. He is the founder of the new LCMS Multi Asian Gathering, which is set to launch in May 2022 in conjunction with the Multiethnic Symposium at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Terry is passionate about developing multicultural leaders, multiethnic ministries, and a Multi Asian Mission Network!
Dan Gilbert
Ross Stroh
Ross Stroh, Treasurer - Executive Director of Accounting, The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Melissa Salomon
Melissa Salomon. Melissa is a missionary in SW California and Northern Mexico. She was instrumental in beginning the LWML's national "Heart to Heart" ministry that brings women from different immigrant groups to the LWML for leadership development.
Keith Haney
Rev. Keith Haney serves as Secretary. He serves the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Iowa District West as the Assistant to the President for Missions, Human Care, and Stewardship. He has been an ordained pastor for 27 years and has served multi-ethnic urban congregations in Detroit, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. Rev. Haney is the author of numerous devotionals, including One Nation Under God: Healing Racial Divides in America. He is also the author of the blog, The Light Breaks Through, where he writes on his study of God's Word. He is married to Miriam (Bickel) Haney and they have six children and one grandchild.
Nancy Graf Peters
Nancy Graf Peters serves on the Marketing Committee. Nancy works as an adult education instructor for bilingual GED classes. She served for many years as editor-in-chief of the Lutheran Women’s Quarterly Magazine for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the LCMS - Atlantic District and the Lutheran Care Center Nursing Home. Nancy acted as a Spanish translator on seven MOST Ministries mission trips to Latin America. Nancy and her husband, Richard, attend Our Savior Lutheran Church, Fishkill, New York, where she teaches Sunday school and is a lay reader.
Rev. Dan Gilbert, District President Ermeritus (retired) of the LCMS Northern Illinois District. Dan's focus while DP was "New Starts ... New Believers." His laser focus brought God's love and many new souls to Jesus by the power of the Gospel. In retirement Dan works part-time with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund to help churches increase mission capacity. He also serves as secretary for the Mission Nation Publishing board of directors and is on other boards of directors of both church and community organizations. According to Dan, “It always comes down to the same thing: more people hearing the Good News of Jesus; after all, that's how they come to faith in him.”