Ulveling lands position on new Missouri panel
Governor appoints MBC family ministries specialist to Early Childhood Development Board
By Allen Palmeri
Senior Writer
March 21, 2006
JEFFERSON CITY – Joe Ulveling, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) family ministries specialist, has been appointed to the Coordinating Board for Early Childhood Development by Gov. Matt Blunt and confirmed by the Missouri State Senate.
Ulveling, founder of
1 For Life Ministries, emphasized that he is not going onto the board in his staff capacity with the MBC.
“I’m not nominated as an MBC representative,” Ulveling told The Pathway. “I’m nominated as an individual. Although I am an employee of the MBC, I’m there to represent the state and the interests of children.”
Ulveling said he is looking forward to being a part of a new board.
“I’m just thankful for the opportunity to serve,” he said. “It’s a new board, so they’re still trying to figure out what it’s all about.”
Representatives from the Governor’s Office originally approached David Clippard, MBC executive director, with the idea of having him serve on the board. Clippard chose to steer them in the direction of Ulveling, who prayed about it before the actual appointment.
“If we as Christians don’t stand up, and if we don’t take a stand in our society, then who’s going to?” Ulveling said.
The board is over childhood development and training involving government funds from birth to age 5, Ulveling said.
In his MBC role, Ulveling offers a variety of ministry services to families, including parents, singles, students and senior adults. In his 1 For Life role, he helps couples strengthen their marriage relationships by putting on “Hooked For Life” marriage conferences. Some of those conferences last year were held outside of Missouri in places like Iowa, North Carolina, Indiana and Alabama.
A Hooked For Life regional conference consists of a Friday evening session and a Saturday morning session. The goal of each conference is to create an atmosphere of openness and change, and to give practical, biblical instruction.