Nyla Schoeld
Pastor Nyla has been serving First Lutheran Church in Brookings, South Dakota since 2003. She earned an Associate of Arts in Biblical Studies from Lutheran Bible Institute in Issaquah, Washington, in 1988 and then accepted a call to serve Youth For Christ in Denmark, where she served as an English Correspondent and Handler for Guest Speakers and Music Artists. In 1991 Nyla earned a basic business degree from Aarhus Business School, in Aarhus, Denmark, and she received a BA in Communications from Dana College in Blair NE in 1993. Nyla went on to attend Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN graduating in 1997 with an MA in Youth and Family Ministries, and completed her MDiv from Luther Seminary in 2000. Nyla and her husband David were ordained together in December of 2000. Nyla accepted a call as Associate Pastor to Christ Lutheran Church in Long Beach, CA prior to her call to First Lutheran.
Pastor Nyla has also completed Peer Ministry Training in 1997, Prepare & Enrich Counselor’s Training in 1999, and ALLY & Safe Zone Training – Ally for LGBTQIA+2S in 2019.
Mission work is near and dear to Pastor Nyla's heart. She was born and raised as an MK (missionary kid) in Cameroon, West Africa. She led Tanzania Mission Trips with First Lutheran Church in 2006 and 2008. And created partnerships with two pastors and two schools in Belize where she has led Belize Mission Trips annually since 2012. She participated in the first Ordination of Women in Cameroon with the South Dakota synod’s companion church, The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon, as a representative of the South Dakota Synod. And has participated in Bienvenidos A Brookings and Border Servant Corps.
Pastor Nyla currently serves on the Augustana University Board of Trustees (2019-present), and has served on the South Dakota Synod Youth and Family Ministry Team from 2004-2006, the ELCA Youth Gathering 2018 Planning Team from 2016-2018, and Community Youth Empowerment Programs.
Pastor Nyla and her husband, Pastor Dave, were married in 1994 and have four daughters – Kaija (23), Anya (19), Noelle (16), and Sophie (13). Dave enjoys reading, biking, and golfing. Nyla enjoys traveling, hiking, painting, and gardening.