Kara Kardell has been serving in Catholic ministry since 2014, with experience in diocesan ministry, youth ministry, adult faith formation, and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA). She is co-founder of Draw Near, a ministry dedicated to helping people encounter the love of God through speaking, music, podcasts, and written resources and retreats (www.drawnear.me). Along with co-hosting the Draw Near Podcast, Kara helped establish Small Ember, a non-profit dedicated to helping lay people deepen their spirituality. Through apprenticeship and formation, it equips each person to live the Church’s mission in the unique way God has called them.
She holds bachelor’s degrees in Business and Communications, and a Master’s degree in Catholic Theology from the Augustine Institute. Her work emphasizes community, pastoral care, prayer, and the centrality of Scripture. Kara and her husband, Bruce, live in the Midwest, where they are raising their family and serving God.
