Stephen W. Johnson Mission Award

Established by an employee-led committee in 2021, the Stephen W. Johnson Mission Award recognizes employees who exemplify the values of Concordia’s mission through their everyday life. These individuals embody characteristics of compassion, patience, kindness and respect while selflessly serving others with a Christ-like heart. The award is Concordia’s highest employee honor, given in memory of the late Mr. Johnson who was a steward of compassion and spent countless hours supporting and preserving Concordia’s mission.

The Stephen W. Johnson Mission Award sets the standard for what it means to truly go above and beyond the call to serve those who entrust us with their care and our fellow community members in need. Concordia is blessed with an incredible staff who perform extraordinary acts of kindness throughout the year, both seen and unseen, and this is our organization’s way of saying “thank you” to those who selflessly serve the ideals of our mission each and every day.

Who was Stephen W. Johnson?

Stephen W. Johnson was a man of great faith, wisdom and character. He was also a servant leader who spent 19 years on the Concordia Lutheran Ministries Board of Directors, including 12 as chairman. On June 11, 2020, while still serving in his role as Chairman of the Board, Steve passed into glory. And while we mourn his home-going, we are comforted that his soul is now with Jesus.

Steve believed in mission first and he was dedicated to ensuring that our organization was fulfilling our calling to serve God’s people. His actions and words were always Christ-centered and mission-driven. To Steve, Concordia’s growth meant that we were fulfilling our mission successfully, and exposing more people to the love of God through the hands of our caregivers. In fact, one of his most memorable quotes was that “For-profit companies grow to deliver results to investors. But great nonprofits grow to expand and develop their mission.”

Award Nomination Criteria

The Stephen W. Johnson Mission Award will set the standard for what it means to truly go above and beyond the call to serve those who entrust us with their care and our fellow community members in need. Concordia is blessed with an incredible staff who perform extraordinary acts of kindness throughout the year, both seen and unseen, and this is our organization’s way of saying “thank you” to those who selflessly serve the ideals of our mission each and every day.

When nominating an individual for this award, please consider their dedication to Concordia’s mission and be prepared to provide examples of how they devote their time helping others inside and outside of Concordia’s walls. The following nomination is an excerpt from 2024 Stephen W. Johnson Mission Award winner Christine Gebhart to help guide your nomination: 

Christine influences my life daily through her own kindness. She shows me each day what it’s like to be a compassionate leader to her entire team. She shows me the way to touch others’ hearts by remembering details that end up being meaningful. She symbolizes what it’s like to be equal to every single person in this building. Through her example, I’ve learned how to be more compassionate and present with those around me.

She cares for those whom she serves and works with, she also spends her time giving to those in the community. She not only volunteers for Concordia focused fundraisers/mission focused activities but, she dedicates her time outside of work to serve though her faith. Her graciousness makes everyone around her feel valued.