ALUMNI The Art of Influence and Encouragement By Timothy R. Puls
For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Rom. 12:4-8 (ESV)
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hen I lead Seminary Sundays at various congregations around The Lutheran Church— Missouri Synod, pastors often tell me that one of their fondest memories of attending CTS was when they received a gift of outside support for their educational goals. These gifts came from God’s people from all over the United States whom they had never Hostel ad It062014 5/15/14 10:21 as AM met. was notFLOW.qxd:Layout the amount of the1 gift that mattered much as the encouragement that the student received. How wonderfully encouraging such a gift is to students who are stretched thin financially. As alumni, you realize from your own experience how hard students must strive to balance study, work, fieldwork and time to serve their families while attending seminary. However, depending upon your personal situation now, you also recognize that you may be paying back your own student loans or have existing family expenses which do not give you the financial capacity to assist students now. St. Paul instructs that each of us has gifts, and there is something meaningful you can do. You interact and serve people who have the financial capacity to give very generously
to the needs of those studying for ministry. Have you encouraged anyone to consider giving to CTS? There are many ways to accomplish this. Perhaps you will suggest that your congregation make an annual mission pledge to CTS or encourage the ladies or men’s group or a small weekly Bible Study group to think about adopting a seminarian with mission dollars. Finally, talk Page 1 individually with certain members of your congregation who deeply value our seminaries because of your faithful ministry to them. Such encouragement, as I have witnessed, goes a very long way to moving God’s people to action. If people do not know there is a need, then they will not know to give. Your encouraging and asking, however, provide them a meaningful opportunity to give and find fruitful joy and lasting fulfillment in serving the needs of others. The Rev. Timothy R. Puls (Timothy.Puls@ctsfw.edu) serves as director of Alumni and Church Relations at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY–FORT WAYNE
Luther Hostel:
Godliness with Contentment Is Great Gain: Living Peacefully and Patiently in the Last Days
October 29–31, 2014 28
Presentations by CTS faculty, including President Lawrence Rast, Dr. Arthur Just and Dr. David Scaer
Attend classes with current students
Visit unique Fort Wayne attractions
Celebrate with a special Reformation Service with music by the CTS Kantorei
For more information and to register online go to www.ctsfw.edu/Lutherhostel or phone 260-452-2204. For the Life of the World