The Rev. Koni Purscell is a missionary with Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church serving as Church and Community Worker with Church and Community Ministry, Elkhorn Valley District, of the Nebraska Annual Conference.

 

Reflecting on this ministry Koni says, “I remember missionaries coming to the country church my family belonged to when I was a child. They would show slides of places in Africa, Asia, or South America, and I would stare in wonder at the work they were doing. It fills me with awe to join that community serving the people in my own back yard.”

 

Koni’s back yard is the Northeast corner of Nebraska. “We work to respond to both direct needs, and systemic justice issues. Our priorities for the next two years include children, Volunteer in Mission, and emerging mission and justice issues, as they arise in this underserved rural area of Nebraska.”

 

Prior to this assignment, Koni served as a home-based mental health provider for families in Northeast Nebraska, Co-pastored with her husband at the Creighton-Center Parish (UMC-UCC) and pastored in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Fairbury, Elmwood and Unadilla, Nebraska.

 

Koni is married to Rev. Kenneth Purscell. They have two young adult daughters; Karli and Kendra, who are both pursuing their love for music!

 

Koni has a BA from Morningside College in Sioux City Iowa, an M. Div from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, and a M.A. in counseling from University of South Dakota.