FALL 2013
In This Issue... Early Childhood Learning Center Dedication 1995 Luther Court New Ulm, MN 56073
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID ABERDEEN, SD PERMIT #200
Preseminary Language Study
Address Service Requested
A Return to Zambia
Why Us? By President Mark Zarling WLS ’80
the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers . . . (Deuteronomy 7:7-8).
That question popped into my mind on a late Tuesday morning. I was sitting in the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary auditorium as the annual symposium concluded. Why us?
Moses humbles the Israelites’ hearts. He reminds them that their status is due to God’s nature, not theirs. It is all about the LORD—his love, his faithfulness to his promises!
In celebration of the seminary’s 150th anniversary, this year’s theme was A Symposium on the Pastor and His Training. Three pastors, one also a new MLC board member, cogently and compellingly communicated how the “rubber hits the road” for the parish pastor. How does the seed of seminary training blossom into the flower of evangelical ministry? How are the skills imparted at an academic institution used by the Holy Spirit to transform hearts across the world? Why is it important for a pastor to be an exegete, a dogmatician, and a church historian?
Can we not be confident that the same LORD, the Savior Jesus, is with us? Such is his promise, for where two or three come together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Can we not be confident that God’s infinite grace remains the essence of his interaction with us? And [the LORD] passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin” (Exodus 34:6-7).
Those questions were wonderfully answered in the three papers and in the six reactions that followed, three from MLC professors. It was a joy to see former and current colleagues laboring together, a visual sermon of the unity God gives us in our worker training system. But why us? Why has God blessed a little synod called WELS with this unified ministerial education system? Why has he privileged us to proclaim the gospel of Jesus? Why us? Words of Moses came to mind. In Moses’ farewell sermon to God’s people in the Arabah, opposite Suph, he said: The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because
That passage led Professor August Pieper to write in The Glory of the LORD, “God is primarily and essentially not a God of wrath but exclusively a God of infinite grace.” Why us? Only because God is gracious. Only because God is faithful. As I drove back to New Ulm and thought about the training of pastors and teachers and staff ministers, I was humbled. God has assembled on our campuses amazing faculties. Amazing in their God-given gifts, true. Amazing in their Spirit-driven faithfulness, yes. But especially amazing? They all—by the Spirit’s power—confess the same confession. They all serve the same purpose: to glorify the Savior in words and lives, and to train more people to go and tell. Lord, preserve us from indolence and indifference. Protect us from apostasy and apathy. And as we consider another year of your grace at Martin Luther College, as we consider the anniversary of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, may we daily offer our prayers of gratitude for the undeserved goodness Jesus pours out upon such sinners as we. Why us? Sola Gratia. How humbled we need to be! See more on the seminary symposium papers and MLC professors’ reactions on page 22. On our cover: Rebecca Engelbrecht #13, with the second most kills in school history, helped lead the Knights to a successful 2013 season.
MLC InFocus is published by Martin Luther College Mission Advancement Office and is distributed free of charge to students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends. Owned and operated by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), Martin Luther College exists to serve the ministerial needs of the WELS. Comments are welcomed and should be directed to gaugerlf@mlc-wels.edu or Laurie Gauger, MLC InFocus, 1995 Luther Court, New Ulm MN 56073.
The alumni photos at the bottom of the pages are from the anniversary classes of MLC, NWC, and DMLC: ’39, ’44, ’49, ’54, ’59, ’64, ’69, ’74, ’79, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’99, ’04, and ’09. Thanks to Alumni Director Steve Balza DMLC ’93, who provided this random selection of alums.
InFocus Staff
Welcome, child of God! We’ve had many
weddings at Chapel of the Christ, and this fall we celebrated a baptism as well. During a regular morning chapel service in October, the campus family—and those worshiping with us via live-streaming—rejoiced as Pastor Timothy Smith WLS ’99 of St Paul-New Ulm baptized Jonah Herbert Mount. Sophomore Wolf Parsons (Hope-Spearfish SD) held Jonah as his parents Nick Mount (St. Paul-New Ulm) and Diana Mount, children Isabelle and Samuel, and Grandma Sherry looked on.
WRITER/EDITOR Laurie Gauger DMLC ’86 PHOTOGRAPHERS William Pekrul DMLC ’80 Kendra Korth MLC ’15 Jonathan Witte MLC ’17 PROOFREADER Rebecca Rehberger MLC ’15 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. Office of Mission Advancement VICE PRESIDENT Michael Otterstatter WLS ’94 PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR William Pekrul DMLC ’80 ALUMNI DIRECTOR Steve Balza DMLC ’93 College Administration PRESIDENT Mark Zarling WLS ’80 VP for ADMINISTRATION Steven Thiesfeldt DMLC ’74 VP for ACADEMICS David Wendler DMLC ’70 VP for STUDENT LIFE Jeffrey Schone WLS ’87
WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY 11831 N Seminary Dr s Mequon WI s 53092 s wls.wels.net s 262.242.8100
Founded in 1863, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary has trained more than 3,500 pastors to equip God’s people and reach the lost. Join us as we thank God for 150 years of blessings. •
Get a copy of Jars of Clay:The History of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. This book shares the story of the seminary’s 150 years and includes sections on each of the 12 presidents.
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Give your pastor or church library Heritage and Hope: Essays in Honor of the 150th Anniversary of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. These essays are written by seminary graduates.
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Contact the seminary to plan a campus visit.
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Consider a special gift for the seminary’s anniversary thank offering.
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Attend the 2014 district conventions to hear our professors preach and give updates on the seminary.
For a calendar of events or information, visit www.wls.wels.net/seminary/anniversary.
Aaron Glaeske NWC 1989 Houston TX
Shirley M Block NWC 1944 Watertown WI
VP for MISSION ADVANCEMENT Michael Otterstatter WLS ’94 Governing Board Chairman Michael Woldt WLS ’81 Vice Chairman Jonathan Kolander WLS ’91 Secretary Steven Rosenbaum DMLC ’86 Keith Bowe DMLC ’79 Jonathan Hahm DMLC ’71 Dale Krause Stephen Loehr Timothy Petermann Barry Price Duane Rodewald WLS ’89 Duane Schmeichel WLS ’91 Michael Seifert WLS ’03 William Steinbrenner Advisory: Charles Degner WLS ’79 Randy Matter Paul Prange WLS ’88 Mark Schroeder WLS ’81 Mark Zarling WLS ’80
Boyd H Krueger DMLC 1969 Wisconsin Rapids WI
Sarah J Nolte MLC 2004 St. Joseph MI
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here on the Focus on Ministry MLC welcomed Focus on Ministry visitors October 24-26 and October 31-November 2. The 270 high school students heard about the public ministry and all facets of college life, and attended either Homecoming events or the fall musical Into the Woods. The students came from WISCO (pictured), Fox Valley LHS, Lakeside LHS, Luther High, Luther Prep, Manitowoc LHS, Minnesota Valley LHS, and Rocky Mountain LHS. Smaller groups came from St. John’s-Antigua, Mt. Calvary-Menasha WI, Christ-Eagle River WI, and public schools in Alaska and the South Atlantic District.
MLC #3 in Nation Best Bang-for-the-Buck Colleges MLC earned the #3 slot in Washington Monthly’s 2013 “Best Bang-for-the-Buck” Baccalaureate Colleges. This ranking is based on colleges’ sticker prices, graduation rates, financial assistance for lower-income students, and loan default rates. In laymen’s terms, this means that MLC students pay a low price, graduate in huge numbers, and are employed after college, which allows them to pay back any college loans they have accrued. “This ranking is important to us,” said VP for Administration Steven Thiesfeldt, “because we never want financial obstacles to stand in the way of a student preparing for gospel ministry. In a country where college debt now outpaces credit card debt and some wonder whether a college degree is worth the cost, we can emphatically say, ‘Yes, MLC is worth it. As suggested by the poll, you get the best bang for your buck at MLC.’” We are thankful to all WELS congregations whose offerings help fund MLC. We are especially grateful to those donors who go further, giving special gifts to student grants and scholarships. These gifts allow us to provide a high-quality college education at a reasonable price.
Gospel Is Global Twenty-four international students from six countries— Antigua, Canada, China, Colombia, Saint Lucia, and South Korea—are attending MLC this year.
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William Fuhrmann DMLC 1949 Menomonie WI Martin Luther College
Ruth Engelhardt DMLC 1944 Elgin ND
Albert Lorenz NWC 1939 Milwaukee WI
Barbara C Sauer DMLC 1974 Glenview IL
Students Skype with Missionaries MLC students are Skyping with church leaders in Russia, Zambia, Nepal, and other countries this year. Junior Haley Roske (St. John-New Ulm MN) said about 40 students Skyped this fall with “Joshi” in Nepal. “Joshi told us how he was an outcast as a teenager, and how he was planning to commit suicide when a Christian shared John 3:16 with him,” Haley said. “He researched Christianity, found Luther’s Catechism, and then came into contact with a WELS missionary. “What surprised me most is that Nepal already has 15 church leaders, and they’re training 100 more,” she continued. “The evening made me feel really passionate about going to other countries and helping people who haven’t heard anything about Christ.” Haley is the student coordinator for MLC’s Daylight program and a member of the Service and Cross Cultural Learning Committee (SCCLC). Other student members of the SCCLC are Edili Gomerez Pichardo (Sure Foundation-Woodside NY) and Lucas Fricke (St. PaulMauston WI).
Aaron L Uitti NWC 1959 Eau Gallie FL
Words to Live By
Into the Woods
New signs adorn campus with Scripture passages chosen by Laura Nitz Becker DMLC ’77 and Michael Marquardt MLC ’99. Public Relations Director Bill Pekrul DMLC ’80 invited Facebook followers to submit passages for the signs. Two were chosen: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you” (Isaiah 43:1), submitted by Becker, and “The word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8), submitted by Marquardt.
Full-house audiences were bewitched by the MLC Forum’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods November 1-3. Forum is completely student-run, with club members choosing shows, selecting production staffs, and auditioning casts. This cast and production staff included students from 13 different high schools.
On-Campus Enrollment 714 Students 154 Preseminary 548 Education
Carl Boeder (St. John-New Ulm MN) and Michael Koester (Peace-Granger IN) sing one of the show’s many well-known songs, “Agony!”
7 Staff Ministry 5 Unclassified 49% Male 51% Female 55% From area Lutheran high schools 29% From prep schools 16% From public, private, and home schools
Rita Ganta DMLC 1964 Mandan ND
Production Staff for Into the Woods: Producer Rebecca Hussman (St. Paul-Hortonville WI), Director Jared Natsis (Trinity-Saline MI), Music Director Katie Kobs (Emanuel-Tawas City MI) Ass’t Producer Zachary Unke (St. Paul-Howards Grove WI)
Scott Monroe DMLC 1984 MasonMartin City IA Luther College
Barbara Seefeldt DMLC 1964 Theresa WI 5
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here on the MLC Ladies’ Auxiliary National Meeting
First Unconference at MLC
The Ladies’ Auxiliary has once again adopted an ambitious project list of unbudgeted items to serve various departments across the college. At their October 5, 2013, annual meeting, 100 attendees worshiped, received college updates, elected new officers, and chose projects for the year:
MLC hosted the first WELSTech Camp “unconference” Saturday, September 14. An unconference is a self-organizing event in which attendees themselves choose the topics for the day. The format ensures that the information shared meets attendees’ needs.
$1200 4710 2500 1550 475 180
Curriculum library materials Infant/Toddler playground equipment Furniture for Music Center lobby Equipment for digital commons Campus Seating Library archives film preservation
In addition, they fund $6,750 for standing projects: student scholarships, library support, and Daylight program. Officers are Laurie Millner (president), Maribeth Wong (second vice president), Karen Kohls (treasurer), and Pastor Daniel Reich (spiritual advisor). Pictured are members Laurie Millner, Elaine Steffan, and Dinah Spurgin
Topics chosen by the 101 attendees at the September event—all called workers, MLC students, and laypeople involved with ministry—included Google apps, Chrome books for the classroom, online Bible studies, social media, and web design. Sallie Draper, MLC webmaster and WELS technology trainer, said: “We’re excited about the technology opportunities that are available to us. People are willing to share their ideas and help others get started so we can share the good news with the tools God has given us.”
Convocations Inspire Students As part of their ministry training, MLC students hear quarterly convocation presentations from called workers, giving them a glimpse into the daily life of pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. The convocation tradition began at Northwestern College in 1980-81. We are grateful to the called workers who spoke first semester:
October 2, 2013
November 13, 2013
“Pastors and Teachers Working Together: Mutual Benefits and Encouragements”
“Technology in the WELS K-12 Classroom”
Pastor Mark Gabb and Teacher Kyle Bender (St. Paul-Beverly Hills FL, pictured)
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Alexandra E Chworowsky MLC 2009 Taipei, Taiwan Martin Luther College
Timothy P Mueller NWC 1979 Lusaka, Zambia
Teacher Ryan Rathje (Manitowoc LHS) “My Service in the South” Pastor Ben Kratz (Our Savior-Birmingham AL)
Rachel Krafft DMLC 1984 Greeley CO
Carl Leyrer NWC 1969 Milwaukee WI
International Organist Tom Bell Performs in Chapel of the Christ The fall schedule of internationally known organist Tom Bell included concerts at Gloucester Cathedral, Washington National Cathedral, and Martin Luther College. Mr. Bell’s connection to MLC was facilitated in part by Michael Barone, producer of the American Public Media radio program “Pipedreams,” which featured our 2010 Schantz organ in an October 2012 episode. In his October 8 concert at MLC, Bell played music by Bach (German), Williamson (Australian), Bliss and Sergeant (both English), Martin (American), and Alain (French). “I was very impressed,” said Dr. Wayne Wagner, MLC organ professor. “Much of the music was likely new to those who attended. Mr. Bell explored unique combinations of sound, some that we’ve never heard before.” The night following the concert, Bell gave a master class for five select MLC students: Lena Petermann
We Grant MRS Degrees Too—and Proud of It! Paul Boehlke DMLC ’61 and Jeanette Hemker Boehlke DMLC ’62 met at DMLC in 1960 and were married two years later (pictured left). “We were on the same Arbor Day team,” Paul said. “The library was built on top of the part we raked so that this cannot happen again.” According to a recent Facebook survey, the Boehlkes’ story is anything but unique. Turns out (Dr.) Martin Luther College is one of the best colleges in the nation for finding a spouse. We were ranked third best college for men to find wives and thirteenth best college for women to find husbands. Dozens of alumni told their campus courtship stories on the MLC Facebook page.
Deborah E Gunther DMLC 1989 Vassar MI
(St. Paul-Saginaw MI), Alyssa Stuebs (pictured with Bell to the right, Mt. Olive-Appleton WI), Ethan Brooks (St. MatthewJanesville WI), John Miller (St. Andrew-Milwaukee WI), and Lucas Krogmann (St. Paul-Ixonia WI). “He gave our students excellent ideas to think about and suggestions to improve their technique,” Wagner said. “He was also very complimentary about our campus and music program. He said he sometimes plays in well-known venues where either the organ or the acoustics aren’t actually very good. He said we had both: a top-class organ and a well-designed facility. Having 100 organ students in one place was also truly amazing to him, and he commended us for our commitment to providing organists for our church body.” Among them: Carrie Hennig Ungemach DMLC ’91: My husband, Joel Ungemach DMLC ’89, was my organ checker. He knocked on my practice room door and told me I probably shouldn’t wear mittens to practice! Jeremiah Gumm WLS ’05: My wife and I first met as members of the cast of Fiddler on the Roof in 1999. Melanie Hahm Schoeneck MLC ’97 Met Joshua Schoeneck MLC ’97 in Dean Woldt’s New Testament History class our first year in 1993. Married 16 years so far. Kathy Arndt Marten DMLC ‘71 I met my husband in the fall of 1967. We were both members of the collegiate council. We did not date until I asked him out for Sadie Hawkins. The rest is history. We were married 42 years in July. Chris Hintz MLC ’02 Yes, senior year. Phew, just made it.
Steven Bode NWC 1989 Prairie du Chien WI
Melissa K Reichly MLC 2004 Rawson OH Luther College Martin
Gregory Hein MLC 2009 Mandan ND 7
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Softball Team Earns National Recognition for GPA By Mike Gibbons, Sports Information Director The MLC softball team earned a 3.583 GPA in 2012-2013, enough to earn them the fourth highest GPA in NCAA Division III, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). Nine individual players qualified as NFCA Scholar Athletes with GPAs of 3.5 or better. The team’s spring semester 2013 GPA of 3.542 was also the highest in the UMAC, and seven individuals received Academic All-UMAC honors. “This accomplishment speaks volumes about these ladies’ top priority at MLC,” Coach Barb Leopold DMLC ’74 said. “People usually know how a team played, but they seldom realize the time and commitment the players put toward their schoolwork in addition to practices and games. I am very proud of this group of gifted student-athletes.”
MLC partnered with the Heart of New Ulm Project, New Ulm Medical Center, and New Ulm Park & Rec for the second annual Day of Play in September. Charles Galecki (Trinity-Waukesha, pictured) and about 100 other MLC students volunteered for the event designed to celebrate active play for families.
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Front row: Magdalen Schultz (St. John-Barre Mills WI), Madeline Scott (St. Stephen-Beaver Dam WI), Laura Miller (Holy Trinity-Des Moines WA), MacCartney Mendolla (St. Paul-Green Bay WI), Andrea Biedenbender (St. Paul-New Ulm MN), Karlie Kohlmeier (Immanuel-Manitowoc WI), Kate Wierzbicki (Peace-Hartford WI).
First National P.E. Conference
100 Students Volunteer to Play
Anna M Panning MLC 2009 Denton TX College Martin Luther
Back row: Coach Wendy Ristow DMLC ’82, Coach Karla Opperman MLC ’13, Morgan Kumbier (St. John-Watertown WI), Amanda Fogle (Christ-North St. Paul MN), Emily Waldek (Christ-Trumbull CT), Amber Krause (St. Luke-Watertown WI), Kathryn Marquardt (Garden Homes-Milwaukee), Gina Radue (Mt. Calvary-Waukesha WI), Sara Willems (Epiphany-Racine WI), Coach Barbara Leopold DMLC ’74.
Sixty physical education teachers attended the first WELS National Physical Education Conference, sponsored by MLC and held at Heidel House Resort in Green Lake, Wisconsin, September 26-27. Many leaders in physical education, including Dr. Tom McKenzie and National Teacher of the Year Robyn Bretzing, led presentations and active learning sessions under the theme “Learning to Move, Moving to Learn.” Described by participants as “awesome” and “so beneficial,” the conference was planned by MLC Professors Jack Gronholz DMLC ’68 and Rebecca Cox DMLC ’89, as well as Luther HS instructor Kari Rosenberg DMLC ’94, Kettle Moraine LHS instructor Todd Jahns, and Northland LHS instructor Ryan Wiechmann MLC ’98.
Chad M Czerwan MLC 1999 Kingsford MI
Melinda M Scharlemann MLC 1999 Waldorf MN
Rick Curia NWC 1974 Redwood City CA
Fall Sports Highlights Football: Quarterback Luke
By Sports Information Director Michael Gibbons
Men’s Golf: First-year golfer Josh Hansen (Goodview Trinity-Winona MN) finished second at the UMAC Men’s Golf Championship in Lake City MN and received All-UMAC honors. He shot rounds of 76, 77, and 73 for a total of 226. His final round 73 tied for the second lowest of the tournament. Hansen shot a 71 earlier in the season against Bethany Lutheran College, earning him UMAC Golf Player of the Week. That round tied for the lowest round in the conference this season.
Volleyball: Miranda Maasz (St. John-Sleepy Eye MN) and Rebecca Engelbrecht (Resurrection-Aurora IL) were honored for reaching statistical milestones. Engelbrecht (pictured on right) became the fourth player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills, joining Rachel Meyer ’06, Rachel Kramer ’01, and Lisa Gawrisch ’00. The two-time First Team All-UMAC player has since moved into second place in school history in kills, and was named UMAC Offensive Player of the Week six times this season. Maasz (pictured on left) became the third player in school history to reach 2,000 assists, joining Emily Buck ’06 and Emily Hahnke ’00. The junior setter has already moved into second place in school history in assists, and was honored as the UMAC Setter of the Week three times this season. The team has clinched a spot in the UMAC Postseason Tournament for the fourth straight season.
Mary L Johne DMLC 1979 Tsuchiura, Japan
Ervin Lux DMLC 1939 Saginaw MI
Rothe (St. Matthew-Oconomowoc WI) has led a high-powered offense to 29.9 points and 414.2 yards per game through eight games. Rothe was named UMAC Offensive Player of the Week twice, and he ranked tenth in the nation in the number of points he accounted for (154), thanks to 23 combined passing and rushing touchdowns and eight two-point conversions.
Women’s Soccer: The Knights raced out to a 9-3 start in the UMAC, the best conference start since 2002. They were led by senior Bethany Schultz (Trinity-Waukesha WI) and first-year Jenna Maurer (Good Shepherd-South Attleboro MA), who finished the month of September ranked first and second, respectively, in points and goals in the UMAC. Newcomer Alex Hastings (Mt. Calvary-Flagstaff AZ, pictured) scored seven goals in the first three weekends of conference play, while sophomore Casey Sauer (Messiah-Green Bay WI) was named UMAC Defensive Player of the Week in late September and contributed three goals on offense.
Soccer Milestone: With an assist at North Central on October 18, Bethany Schultz (Trinity-Waukesha WI) became the third women’s soccer player at MLC to reach 100 career points. Through 17 games this season, the senior midfielder leads the UMAC with 45 points—16 goals and 13 assists— which ranks second on the team and third in the conference. Schultz joins Katherine Valleskey ‘05 and Tami Schmidt ’03 as the only players to reach 100 for their careers at MLC.
Christine J Schultz DMLC 1969 Brownsville WI Luther College Martin
Gary Parker NWC 1964 Scottsdale9AZ
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M L C E A R LY C H I L D H O D edication - O ctober 2 6 , 2 0 1 3 MLC President Mark Zarling
Thanks
to generous donors like you, the new Martin Luther College Early Childhood Learning Center is a reality! The building is up, and the furniture is in place. The teachers stand at the ready, their smiles and open arms saying what our Lord said 2,000 years ago: “Let the children come!” And the little children do come—walking, skipping, giggling—into this new building and this new adventure. At this center, they are safe, happy, and loved. Their little hearts are nurtured, their minds stretched, and their imaginations inspired.
Infant/Toddler Room
Gathering Space
Most important of all, their spirits are nourished with the good news of Jesus. Every day the MLC WELS Director of Christian teachers and student Giving, Kurt Lueneberg teachers tell them Jesus loves them. He accepts them as they are. He forgives their sins, and he wants them to spend eternity with him. Every day they hear Jesus say, “Let the children come.” On behalf of the student teachers learning how best to nurture these little children, we thank you. On behalf of WELS congregations who call MLC graduates to nurture their little children, we thank you. And on behalf of the children themselves—so loved by Jesus— we thank you.
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Lead Teacher David Wendland MLC ‘11 shows visitors the center.
Professor Susan Haar teaches a music lesson.
OD LEARNING CENTER
EST. 2013
L et the C hildren Come!
Outdoor Play Area
Preschool Classroom Cathy Biedenbender DMLC ‘85 cares for an infant. Infant care is a vital aspect of early childhood licensure.
Vice President for Academics David Wendler hands the keys to Pastor Kurt Lueneburg.
ECLC Director Jennifer Mehlberg with a student.
MLC supporters worshiped with us at the ECLC dedication ceremony and then enjoyed an open house.
Student teacher Rachel Rosenow (Grace-Osceola WI) with some of the 51 children enrolled at the center.
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A Return to Zambia “Return” was the message of God’s Old Testament prophets after the exile in Babylon. That dynamic command also served as the working title of a continuing education course taught by Professor Paul Koelpin WLS ‘90 to 55 African pastors in Lusaka, Zambia, last summer. “I wanted to highlight post-exilic history and prophecy, while emphasizing the repentance aspect of the word ‘return,’” said Koelpin. “I guess you could say that the title also had another shading. My wife, Becca, who accompanied me on the trip, grew up as the child of a WELS missionary in Lusaka. For her it was sort of a ‘return’ home.” Martin Luther College professors assist the Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA) by supplying instructors for their weeklong summer continuing education series for active pastors. Koelpin followed Professor Daniel Balge WLS ’85, who taught in Zambia in 2011, and Pastor John Boeder WLS ’90, who taught in Malawi in 2012. Another MLC instructor will teach in Malawi in summer 2014.
Professor Paul Koelpin WLS ‘90 and Becca Fastenau Koelpin DMLC ’91 visited Good Shepherd Church in Lusaka, where Becca grew up.
“I do hope that this program will continue,” Koelpin said. “There is such a benefit for the prof to engage with another culture—to field questions about their concerns and issues. And what a privilege to share in the riches of the Word with fellow believers halfway around the world! I hope the African pastors profited as much as I did.” Koelpin taught three two-hour sessions each day, four hours in the morning on the “Return from Exile,” and two hours on a New Testament gospel topic each afternoon.
Becca’s father, Pastor Don Fastenau WLS ’65, was a missionary in Zambia for 12 years. Becca (right) is pictured here with her sisters, Andrea (left) and Laura (center), and her parents, Don and Clarice Panning Fastenau DMLC ’61.
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Martha M Klockziem DMLC 1989 Saginaw MICollege Martin Luther
Paul M Mueller NWC 1979 Owosso MI
Kathryn R Baur DMLC 1974 Edmonds WA
Joel P Ungemach DMLC 1989 Kenosha WI
Lutheran Church of Central Africa The first WELS missionaries came to Africa in 1945. Worship services were started in Lusaka in 1953. In 1992 the Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA) divided itself into two conferences –Malawi and Zambia. Several years later, the Bible Institute was placed in Lilongwe, Malawi, and the Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia. Professor Paul Koelpin (back row, second from left) taught continuing education courses to 55 national pastors in Zambia last summer.
He and his wife also had the opportunity to experience the worship life in Zambia. “We sang Christian Worship liturgy along with them and then listened to the choir sing in African harmonies in their native language. That was a treat,” Koelpin said. A trip to the “bush” helped give perspective to the rural setting of many African congregations. “I had a chance to see one of the pastors I had in class all week in his village. He was so pleased to show me his church building.”
LCCA-Zambia Members: 11,639 Established Congregations: 116 Preaching Stations: 34 National Pastors: 26
LCCA-Malawi Members: 38,506 Established Congregations: 114 National Pastors: 29 Expatriate Missionaries: 6
Koelpin returned to campus with renewed energy. “I’ve been encouraging my colleagues to consider the chance to see God’s Word at work in another part of the world. The expatriate missionaries took very good care of us. I can’t thank them enough for making our visit such a rich and rewarding experience.”
Hannah M Gumm MLC 2009 West Chicago IL
Henry Koch NWC 1984 Cleveland WI
Statistics from www.CELC.info
Julie A Boomsma MLC 1999 Huron SD
Ronald Semro NWC 1964 Princeton WI
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A 50-Year Blessing
College & Congregational
2013-2014 marks the 50th year WELS congregations and schools have partnered with D/MLC in the student teaching program. Professor Emeritus Howard Wessel, a former supervisor in the program, gives us the historical perspective on this milestone, and Professor Paul Tess, director of clinical experiences, explains how the program works today.
1964-65: A New Era Begins by Professor Emeritus Howard Wessel DMLC ’59 Prior to 1964 all DMLC students completed their two- or three-week “practice teaching” at St. Paul’s in New Ulm. The college staffed the “practice rooms” with college faculty while the student teachers did most of the actual teaching. No doubt the most unfortunate aspect of this arrangement was that students missed on-campus classes for two or three weeks and, after their teaching term, had to complete the backlog of daily work, papers, and tests—sometimes over summer vacation. In the early 1960s, the college undertook a major revision of the curriculum, including student teaching. The goal was to make student teaching a full-time, eight- or nine-week experience. Because St. Paul’s could not accommodate this expansion, the college looked to other areas well populated with WELS elementary schools: Appleton and Watertown, Wisconsin.
encouraging and evaluating student teachers and conferencing with the classroom supervisors. In 1968, Wessel took over the directorship from Schulz and served until 1999. Many faculty members served as college supervisors through the years, with the late Professor Gerhard Bauer serving the longest: 19 years. Until 1997, the college also continued to staff several classrooms at St. Paul’s in New Ulm, rooms in which two student teachers gained their experience every quarter. Without the willing cooperation of classroom supervisors, principals, and congregations—as well as hundreds of people who opened their homes to student teachers—the college could not have offered this meaningful student teaching experience. The whole campus family, past and present, recognizes the blessings God has provided through this wonderful partnership with cooperating congregations.
Professor Emeritus Dr. Arthur Schulz was the chief architect of the new program. During 1963 he, together with the late Professors George Heckmann and Erich Sievert, met with Appleton and Watertown area congregations to introduce the program. The congregations agreed to participate, and in 1964-65 the program was implemented. Forty-four seniors were assigned to 19 schools, Appleton in the first and third quarters and Watertown in the second and fourth quarters. Thirty-one teachers served as classroom supervisors. It’s interesting to note that four of those first supervisors (Robert Averbeck, Otto Schenk, George LaGrow, and Robert Stoltz) and two of the first student teachers (David Pelzl and Susan Haar) later served as D/MLC faculty. Dr. Arthur Schulz was the first acting director of student teaching, and the late Professor George Heckmann and Professor Emeritus Howard Wessel served as the first two college supervisors, traveling to the schools,
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Jody L Schmidt MLC 1999 New Ulm MN Martin Luther College
Dennis Kleist NWC 1974 Watertown WI
Leah Weber DMLC ‘67 (at the chalkboard) student taught in a St. Paul’s-New Ulm classroom under the supervision of Mrs. Erich Sievert (standing, left). Beginning in the late 60s, more and more students completed their student teaching outside New Ulm.
Carol J Lawrence DMLC 1969 Minneapolis MN
Joel R Fenske DMLC 1994 Jackson WI
Cooperation in Student Teaching
2013-14 The Blessings Continue By Professor Paul Tess DMLC ’74 Much has changed since the early years Professor Wessel described, though a nine- or ten-week student teaching experience in Lutheran schools remains the capstone of our teacher-training program. MLC education majors also experience 800 hours of EFEs (early field experiences), clinicals, and public school student teaching, which is required for Minnesota state licensure. Off-campus training experiences range far and wide. Seniors still student teach in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but also in Nebraska, Illinois, and South Dakota; and one-time grants enabled some to student teach as far away as Washington and Florida. College supervisors still visit students on site, but they have also visited distant students online through Skype. What hasn’t changed is that student teaching enables candidates to learn effective teacher behavior through observation and practice. They see the relationships that exist in Lutheran schools, the responsibilities of a teaching minister, and the entire life of a congregation. Not to be overlooked (and echoing Professor Wessel’s appreciation), the willing cooperation of congregations, supervising teachers, principals, and host families is the blessing that makes student teaching the strong program it is. I am also grateful for the pioneers who 50 years ago had a vision for student teaching as an invaluable training ground for future harvest workers.
Student Teaching By the Numbers 1964-1965 2013-2014
Classroom supervisors 31 140 Classroom Supervisors Part-time college 2 3 Full-time college supervisors supervisors Schools (elementary) 19 87 Schools (elementary, secondary, early childhood) Student teachers 44 135 Student teachers
Carol E Dietz DMLC 1979 Buena Park CA
Jackson R Thiesfeldt MLC 2004 Federal Way WA
SUPERVISING TEACHERS 1964-1965 School Year Supervisor
School
Current Location
(married name)
(all in Wisconsin)
*Deceased
Affeld, Marie
St. John-Juneau
*
Arndt, Rhoda
St. Paul-Lake Mills
South St. Paul MN
Averbeck, Robert
First German-Manitowoc
St. Paul MN
Behnke, Mildred
First German-Manitowoc
St. Paul Park MN
Bierwagen, Bertha (Kuether)
Martin Luther-Neenah
Neenah WI
Ewerdt, Ruth
St. Peter-Fond du Lac
*
Fuhrmann, Kathleen
Mt. Calvary-Kimberly
Little Chute WI
Gruenhagen, Henry
Faith-Fond du Lac
*
Hass, Lynn (Koslowski)
St. Matthew-Oconomowoc
Wauwatosa WI
Kempfert, Orville
Bethany-Hustisford
*
LaGrow, George
St. John-Juneau
*
Landvatter, Robert Grace-Oshkosh
*
Leinwander, Bernice
St. Paul-Appleton
*
Nass, Sylvia (Kock)
St. Stephen-Beaver Dam
Sun Prairie WI
Otto, Irma
St. Peter-Weyauwega
*
Roekle, Werner
Immanuel-Kewaunee
Freeland MI
Rupprecht, Lois (Mueller)
Trinity-Kaukauna
Marinette WI
Schenk, Otto
Grace-Oshkosh
New Ulm MN
Schmidt, Lucille (Huber)
St. Paul-Ft. Atkinson
Watertown WI
Schroeder, Judith
St. Paul-Appleton
*
Schultz, Ferdinand
St. John-Juneau
*
Sievert, Ada
St. Mark-Watertown
*
Sievert, Hertha
St. Mark-Watertown
*
Slattery, Joan (Lanphear)
Trinity-Brillion
Germantown WI
Stoltz, Robert
St. Peter-Fond du Lac
*
Tank, James
St. Stephen-Beaver Dam
Appleton WI
Theil, Verna
Bethany-Hustisford
*
Urban, Quintin
St. Peter-Fond du Lac
Waunakee WI
Wehausen, Edgar
St. Paul-Ft. Atkinson
*
Willhite, Robert
St. Paul-Algoma
Little Falls MN
Witt, Verna (Zarling)
Grace-Oshkosh
Oshkosh WI
John Martha C Juern Carne DMLC 1964 MLC 2004 Columbia MD Luther CollegeMorton Grove Martin 15IL
15
16
Seventh Annual Thalassa
Prize
The 2013 Thalassa Prize winner is Maria Reese MLC ‘99. She worked in Lilongwe, Malawi, from October 2012 to August 2013 as the administrator for the Lutheran Mobile Clinic (LMC) of the Central Africa Medical Mission. LMC travels to four villages around Lilongwe, providing basic health care to as many as 5000 patients each month. Thanks to the anonymous donor who funds this annual $1000 prize, Maria will receive $500, and the mission she has chosen, Central Africa Medical Mission, will also receive $500.
2013 Grand Prize Winner “Like a Mother” By Maria Reese DMLC ’99 - Malawi
They carry their children on their backs, leaving home before the sun has fully risen. Baskets, containing what they need for the day, rest on their heads. Some of these women travel on foot for hours to reach the clinic where they can receive much-needed care for their sick children. They seek medications, vaccinations, or the added nourishment their children require. Afterwards, they return home—the children on their backs, baskets on their heads. These mothers do not consider the care of their children a burden too great to bear. Sometimes, the everyday routines or the unexpected challenges of working in a foreign mission field make me question whether the work we are doing is worth the effort. Are we accomplishing anything? Will we see any of these people in heaven? Then I am reminded by these women and by the words of the Apostle Paul in 1Thessalonians 2:7-8, “But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” At Lutheran Mobile Clinic, not only do these mothers receive the care they need for their physical ailments or for those of their children, but they also hear the gospel message of the Great Physician who cures their spiritual ills. Is the work and effort worth it? Yes, it is! Every minute!
En Español, Por Favor Led by MLC Professor Paul Bases DMLC ’80, 34 students immersed themselves in Argentinian culture and language last summer. The students from MLC, Bethany Lutheran College, and Wisconsin Lutheran College—as well as two teachers and one pastor— signed pledges promising to speak only Spanish on the trip. “Learning the Spanish was good, but it was only a small part of it,” says Russell Scoggins (Holy Word-Austin TX). “When you spend multiple weeks in another part of the world, you have the opportunity to learn the culture. It’s easy to forget that there are other people all around the world with different cultures, customs, struggles, and joys. In the end, there is a world with billions of people—all in need of a Savior.” Martin Luther College
17
17
Brother to Brother By MLC Tutor Matthew Scharf WLS ’13 I was in my senior year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), and I didn’t know any of these guys. Unless one happened to be a younger sibling of a classmate or dating my little sister, I didn’t know them. But there they were, bounding off the bus that had left New Ulm early that morning. Some of my classmates and I were the “welcome wagon” to these men we hardly knew but still called our brothers. Twice each year the students and faculty of WLS formally welcome to campus their younger brothers in ministerial education from Martin Luther College. Junior preseminary students attend a portion of the annual Mission and Ministry seminar at the seminary in February. Senior preseminary students join the seminary
MLC student Tom Gorsalski at the seminary’s Mission & Ministry seminar.
18 18
Shawn B Riesop MLC 1999 Whiteriver Martin Luther AZ College
Gretchen Wackerfuss DMLC 1959 St. Paul MN
in late March for Eisodos, from a Greek word meaning “entrance.” At the Mission and Ministry seminar, students are blessed to hear presentations from almost all scopes of synod ministry, from home missions to world missions, from congregational counseling to church building. They are inundated with valuable information from presenters who have lived their topics. The Eisodos trip for seniors is an early welcome to the seminary for those who are nearing the end of their college studies. Participants walk away from this trip invigorated to finish their senior year strongly, on the verge of closing one chapter of ministerial education and opening another.
MLC students join seminary students and faculty, as well as WELS leaders, at the Mission and Ministry seminar.
Michael W Schneider MLC 2009 Salina KS
Cheryl Tabbert DMLC 1984 Helena MT
Seminary Students Welcome and Encourage MLC Preseminary Students The focus of these two trips is different, but their purpose is ultimately the same: to encourage pastor-track students to stay the course. I remember when I was an MLC student on these trips. Attending a seminar was educational, and receiving a detailed tour of the seminary was nice, but what I especially relished were the fellowship opportunities. I knew some of the seminary students who were a couple years ahead of me in school, but others I had never met. How would they react to having 40 strange college students on their campus? Would they ignore us and play the “cool senior” card? Not at all! In fact, the seminary students were more than ready to take us under their wing: showing us around campus, hanging out with us in the dorms, and inviting us to join in fellowship gatherings they hosted for us. These men, some of whom we had never met, treated us just like what they called us: their brothers.
When I became a seminary student, I wanted to do my part to make Mission and Ministry and Eisodos valuable experiences for our visitors from MLC. Following the example set for us, my fellow sem students and I reached out to these younger men we didn’t know. We showed them the ropes at the seminary, guided them to the right buildings for their seminars, gave them leads on jobs in the area (many of which are passed from sem guy to sem guy), showed the married guys places to rent, and hosted fellowship gatherings—with stellar entertainment! When Mission and Ministry and Eisodos had ended for another year, the buses rolled west back to New Ulm. But everyone involved walked away with a renewed sense of purpose, encouragement for our work, and joy in the unity we share not as strangers, but as brothers.
Spring brings SPaM Ball at MLC: a friendly softball game between seminary students and MLC preseminary students, all of them enrolled in SPaM: Studies in Pastoral Ministry.
The seminary arch is the gateway from preseminary training to seminary training for future WELS pastors.
Michael Turany NWC 1984 Phoenix AZ
Gilbert C Bunde NWC 1949 Watertown SD
Other connections: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary guys come to New Ulm every year for a Winter Carnival hockey match.
Caley J Durfey DMLC 1994 Bloomington IL Luther College Martin
Thomas Rohr NWC 1969 Phoenix AZ 19
19
Bible Translation Issue Proves Importance of Biblical By Professor Thomas Nass WLS ’82 MLC InFocus asked Professor Thomas Nass (pictured left), a member of the WELS Translation Evaluation Committee, to write about the importance of biblical language study for WELS pastors, study that begins at MLC. MLC played a modest role in the recent Bible translation discussion in WELS. Fourteen MLC faculty members actively participated in translation evaluations for the WELS Translation Evaluation Committee, which I was privileged to serve on. In addition, 40 MLC graduates were among the 102 WELS pastors who participated in the 2012 translation review. Perhaps this was MLC’s greatest contribution. MLC has given to our youngest generation of pastors the ability to work with the Scriptures in the original languages, a skill that was vital in our translation discussion.
College 1933 Northwestern Language Requirements HIGH SCHOOL
College 1971 Northwestern Language Requirements
CoLLEGE
HIGH SCHOOL
FR
SO
JR
SR
FR
SO
JR
SR
FR
SO
JR
SR
FR
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Latin
Greek
Greek
Greek
Greek
Hebrew Hebrew
College 1986 Northwestern Language Requirements HIGH SCHOOL FR Latin
SO Latin
JR
FR
SO
Greek
Greek
Martin Luther College
Greek
Greek
JR
HIGH SCHOOL SR
FR
SO
Latin
SR
Greek
Greek
Hebrew Hebrew
JR
CoLLEGE SR
Latin/German/ Spanish
JR
Martin Luther College 2001 Language Requirements
German German Latin or German
CoLLEGE SR
SO
German German German German
German German German German German German German German
20 20
CoLLEGE
Greek
Greek
Hebrew Hebrew
FR
SO
JR
SR
Greek
Greek
Latin/German/ Spanish Greek
Greek
Hebrew Hebrew
Language Study Without a doubt, differences of opinion surfaced in the synod-wide Bible translation discussion. Some WELS pastors and people preferred one English Bible translation and others another. Some encouraged the production of a WELS Bible translation, and others did not. But everyone agreed it is good that our pastors know Hebrew and Greek. It is good that all our pastors can evaluate English Bible translations on their own on the basis of the original languages as they preach and teach in their congregations. This is a service that MLC has been quietly providing for our church body ever since 1995. All preseminary students in the regular degree program at MLC are required to take four years of Greek and two years of Hebrew. Already at MLC they read portions of John’s Gospel, Acts, and 1 Corinthians in Greek, in addition to some 40 pages of the Hebrew Old Testament. When they arrive at the seminary, they are ready to go with in-depth study of the Scriptures on the basis of the original languages. This is a benefit that other denominational seminaries generally do not enjoy. With its emphasis on biblical languages, MLC is continuing the legacy of Northwestern College. As seen in the accompanying charts, requirements in Latin and German have been reduced over the years, but a commitment to provide four years of Greek and two years of Hebrew has been steadily maintained. It is a blessing from God that we have a strong preseminary training program, and it is a privilege for us at MLC to open up the Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament to a new generation of pastors. This training shows itself useful every day as WELS pastors preach and teach God’s Word, and it showed itself useful in a special way recently as WELS evaluated English Bible translations.
New Study Abroad Pilot Program In a new pilot, four MLC students will study in Germany or Peru next school year. The students will enroll for one semester at either Freie Universität Berlin in Berlin, Germany, or Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola in Lima, Peru. Professor Thomas Hunter DMLC ‘75, international coordinator, says the program will benefit students in several ways: “Students will have the opportunity to advance in their language skills, to experience another culture while living in that culture, to grow in confidence and independence, and to live their faith among those very different from themselves.” Of the students who apply, Professor Hunter will choose four based upon a minimum GPA, faculty recommendation, and a demonstrated ability to function well in another culture. Once they are accepted into MLC’s study abroad program, they must also be accepted by the university in Berlin or Lima. Primarily, the students will study foreign language—German or Spanish—but they will also take general education courses in English, which will transfer back to MLC. In addition, the universities offer off-campus excursions to fully immerse the students in the arts, history, and culture of the country. “They can worship with churches in our fellowship,” added Hunter, “the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Germany or the Peruvian Evangelical Lutheran Confessional Church, which partners with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). And they can worship daily with their MLC family through our chapel livestreaming.” The study abroad program is not to be confused with MLC Daylight International, in which MLC graduates teach overseas. Eighteen 2013 graduates opted for Daylight International upon their graduation last May, joining about 30 others who are teaching all over the world. Hunter anticipates robust growth in the new study abroad program. “I am fully confident that it will go well,” he said, “and more students will go abroad in the future. We are already looking at China and other countries as well.”
GERMANY
PERU
21
MLC Professors Speak at Seminary Symposium
Three MLC professors were invited to react to papers presented at the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Fall Symposium September 16-17. The papers explored the theme “The Pastor and His Seminary Training,” in commemoration of the seminary’s 150th anniversary. Each paper treated a discipline of the seminary’s curriculum that has remained foundational since 1863. Excerpts from the papers and the MLC professors’ reactions follow. WLS professors also reacted to the papers. All papers and reactions are available at wlsce.net/content/symposium-pastor-and-hisseminary-training. The Pastor as Exegete: Pastor Harland Goetzinger WLS ’01, pastor at St. Paul-Ottawa, Ontario, wrote: “Exegetical theology is a study of God drawn from a careful, word-for-word, and phrase-for-phrase examination of what he says in the original languages of his Word. . . . Sermon preparation is where our exegetical work comes into play most often. . . . It serves a dual function: a firm base for the preparation of God’s Word, and a regular reminder that this is God speaking.” In his reaction, MLC Professor Thomas Nass WLS ’82 said: “It is important to remember our pre-seminary training program that lays a foundation for exegesis, where students can cut their teeth in this discipline. . . . Throughout Northwestern’s history and throughout the first 18 years of pre-seminary training at MLC, students have studied four years of Greek and two years of Hebrew. . . . Our seminary professors do not need to fritter away their time teaching elementary Greek and Hebrew, but can dive into exegesis from day one. Here is a great blessing from our God. . . . What was self-evident to our forefathers in 1863 is still true: seminary and college go together.”
2222
Martin Luther College
The Pastor as Dogmatician: Pastor Michael J. Seifert WLS ’03, MLC governing board member and pastor at Living Hope-Midlothian VA, explained that the study of doctrine is vital today: “[Dogmatics classes] supply the pastor with the material he dispenses through his teaching, preaching, and counseling and also provide him with the strength to carry them out with a Christ-like heart and fervor.” In his reaction, MLC Professor Lyle Lange WLS ’69 stated that the study of doctrine is vital because it “is really all about Jesus. God has revealed doctrine to us in Scripture for our salvation. If we master the technical aspects of doctrine and eventually write a series of doctrinal tomes rivaling the dogmaticians of the 17th century, but remain distant from our Lord and his saving grace, we have accomplished nothing.” The Pastor as Church Historian: Pastor Bart Brauer WLS ’99, pastor at Spirit of Life-Byron Center MI, wrote: “Every church body has a history, and every congregation within that church body has a history. Pastors, especially pastors new to a location, are wise to learn about it. If we ignore the local history, we may very well end up making mistakes that we could have avoided. If we have a lack of historical knowledge, we may be tempted to become judgmental.” In his reaction, MLC Professor Keith Wessel WLS ’91 wrote: “God in his wisdom has only permitted us—at best—to partially understand the higher ways of his divine governance, and most of the time our analysis of history is done looking through glass darkly. But, most importantly, he has enabled us by his Holy Spirit to see and understand the pivotal event in all human history—the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Cheer for Old Northwestern” A new
historical sign commemorating Northwestern College was dedicated July 31, 2013, by over 100 pastors attending the Synod Convention (pictured). Researched and written by Pastor Jonathan Balge WLS ’87, the sign gives a brief history of the college, including notes on the Kaffeemuehle, the Black and Red, the Forum Society, the UMOC, and the Sprinter.
“Northwestern College provided preseminary training faithfully for 130 years,” the sign says. “An essayist at the 1965 WELS Convention described the spirit NWC professors instilled in their students: ‘To them the Bible is a book to be respected, not to be assessed; revelation is a fact to be believed, not to be sifted; the parish ministry a goal rather than a stepping a stone, an honor rather than a humiliation.’” Special thanks to the Northwestern College Alumni Society, who graciously funded the project. Come see the sign near the Sprinter statue at the gym entrance off the chapel parking lot. Or see it online by scanning the QR code or going to mlc-wels.edu and writing “historical signs” in the search box.
Sign up now for this tour sponsored by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and Martin Luther College. Professors James Danell, James Tiefel, and James Korthals will lead the group to Berlin, Wittenberg, Eisenach, Eisleben, Erfurt, Leipzig, Dresden, and Prague. The $3599 double occupancy fee includes airfare from Chicago, land transportation by coach bus, lodging, and two meals a day. Academic credit is available. For more information, go to mlc-wels.edu/go/luther-tour. Martin Luther College
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New Teacher Induction Makes a Difference Fifty-one first-year teachers and 26 second-year teachers in five WELS districts are working with trained mentors to help them grow in their ministry effectiveness more quickly. The training program is called New Teacher Induction (NTI). MLC Professor Jon Schaefer MLC ’02 (pictured below) is the New Teacher Induction (NTI) coordinator. He works in cooperation with Commission on Lutheran Schools (CLS) to provide this post-graduation support. A trained mentor communicates with the new teacher every week using classroom data to discuss and reflect on WELS teaching standards and instructional practice. “I am a firm believer in this NTI program,” says 2013 MLC graduate Colton Berger, grade 7-8 teacher at Salem-Greenfield MN. “Since the first NTI meeting, I have taken great strides as a teacher and a professional. With the help of my mentor, I’ve found ways to motivate my students and build great working relationships with each of them.” Over 30 states require mentoring for their new teachers, but mentoring is only part of the NTI process. New teachers also attend seminars, either live or online, on timely topics, such as conducting parent/teacher
conferences (October), getting through the winter blues (January and February), and end-of-the-school-year reflection and celebration (May). Another leg of the program is year-long training and support for mentors, instilling techniques for effective observation, communication, and collaboration. Finally, the program supports principals who have new teachers at their schools. “We offer training for them,” says Schaefer, “so they can support their new teacher in the dynamic ways a new teacher needs—ways that don’t always mirror the support needed by veteran peers.” NTI makes a difference, fostering collaboration between veterans and newbies, and helping those new teachers acquire classroom strategies within a few months that, without a mentor, might have taken years. “I don’t know where I’d be as a teacher if I was not part of the NTI program,” says Berger, “but I do know I wouldn’t be as confident a first-year teacher as I am today.” Be the difference for a new teacher! Mentor candidates should have 3+ years of experience, an ability to work collaboratively, and a passion for ministry. If you are interested or you’d like to recommend someone, contact Professor Jon Schaefer (schaefjm@mlc-wels.edu).
Three instructors at a St. Croix LHS seminar discuss how New Teacher Induction works. John Fenske (left) is a new band director at SCLHS, and Lucas Boehm MLC ’96 (middle), an SCLHS art instructor, is John’s mentor. Rick Gibson DMLC ’77 (right) is the SCLHS principal.
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Merlin D Rehm NWC 1954 Crete NE
Larry P Weist DMLC 1974 Columbia Heights MN
Carolyn Krueger DMLC 1954 Albuquerque NM
Kevin Hundley NWC 1994 Milton WI
Choir Heads for Florida
Michigan Couple Worships with Grandchildren at MLC Every Day We’re happy to share this story of WELS members Martin and Kathleen Wildauer (pictured), who worshiped with their grandchildren at MLC from their home in Michigan. Their son, Pastor Martin Wildauer (St. Matthew-Port Washington WI), writes:
Under the direction of Dr. Kermit Moldenhauer DMLC ’71 (pictured), the Martin Luther College Choir will share the gospel in song at concerts and worship services in Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. Please plan to attend, or enjoy daily stories and videos at www.facebook.com/mlcwels. Fri Feb 28 7:30 pm
Apostles-Dardenne Prairie MO
Sat Mar 1 7:00 pm
Abiding Faith-Smyrna TN
Sun Mar 2 8:30 am
Christ Our Savior-Columbia TN
Sun Mar 2 7:00 pm
Abiding Grace-Covington GA
Mon Mar 3 7:00 pm
Beautiful Savior-Summerville SC
Tue Mar 4 7:00 pm
Christ the King-Palm Coast FL
Wed Mar 5 7:00 pm Divine Savior-Doral FL
“My parents became big fans of the MLC chapel services. Mom became homebound about 2 ½ years ago. Admittedly, they first tuned in hoping to catch a glimpse of their grandchildren—Elise Lau and John Wildauer. But the message they heard grabbed their hearts and they began tuning in regularly. After a while, they scheduled their day by the chapel service times. Dad hooked up his computer so that the streaming would play through their large TV. They would sit on the couch and sing along with the hymns. They even bought a CW: Supplement so they could sing along with those hymns as well. They would even tune in for the Monday night Compline even though the time difference meant that they were staying up very late. Her pastor faithfully served her, visiting and bringing her the Sacrament regularly. Nevertheless, the MLC chapel streams became her ‘church’ and kept her faith strong until the end.” Kathleen Wildauer died June 27, 2013. Her husband gave a generous gift to MLC Audio Visual Department in her memory. Have you worshiped with us lately? Go to mlc-wels.edu and click on MLC TV. You’ll find service times and a service folder so that you can follow along.
Thu Mar 6 7:00 pm
Ascension-Sarasota FL
MLC Morning Chapel: 10:30 am (Monday – Friday)
Fri Mar 7 7:00 pm
Risen Savior-Orlando FL
MLC Evening Chapel: 7:15 pm (Monday-Friday)
Sun Mar 23 3:00 pm Martin Luther College
Compline: 10:00 pm (Monday) Or open the archives and worship whenever it fits your schedule.
Joshua S Olson MLC 2004 Evans CA
Jesse Jacobsen NWC 1994 Fairhaven MA
Joseph Brinkman DMLC 1979 Oak Creek WI
Heather K Diehm DMLC 1994 Remus MI
25
Meet the
Presidents
Northwestern College President
Dr. August F. Ernst
Dr. August F. Ernst (1841-1924) served Northwestern College for 50 years, 48 of those as president (1871-1919). Known affectionately as “The Old Man” or “Oley,” he was well-loved by his students. “It was he,” said his obituary, “who to a great extent cultivated [his students’] individuality and brought their innate powers to light.” Several seminal events occurred during his tenure as Northwestern’s third president. The Joint Synod (of Wisconsin and Other States) was born (1892); the beloved Kaffeemuehle burned down (1894); the name of the college was changed from Northwestern University to Northwestern College (1910); the Sprinter was gifted to the college (1912); and the country endured World War I (1914-1918). Said college historian and later NWC president Erwin Kowalke, “If any man shaped the destinies of Northwestern, it was he.”
Northwestern College 1865-1869 Adam Martin 1869-1870 Lewis O. Thompson
1871-1919 Dr. August F. Ernst 1919-1959 Erwin E. Kowalke 1959-1987 Carleton Toppe 1987-1993 Robert J. Voss 1993-1995 John Braun
Dr. Martin Luther College 1884-1885 Christian J. Albrecht 1885-1893 Otto Hoyer
The Northwestern College Alumni Society August F. Ernst Grant for Confessional Languages is awarded annually to preseminary students based upon their academic achievement, campus citizenship and participation, potential for pastoral ministry, and excellence in confessional languages.
1893-1908 John Schaller
Northwestern College served as the WELS preseminary college from 1865 to 1995, when it amalgamated with Dr. Martin Luther College to form the present Martin Luther College.
1920-1936 Edmund Bliefernicht
August F. Ernst Grant for Confessional Languages Winners:
1980-1993 Lloyd O. Huebner
2012-13 Joshua Paustian (German) / Nathaniel Plocher (German & Latin)
1993-1995 John Lawrenz
1908-1918 Adolph Ackermann 1918-1920 Johannes P. Meyer 1936-1966 Carl Schweppe 1966-1980 Conrad Frey
2011-12 Paul Koester (German) / Joshua Jensen (German & Latin) 2010-11 Andrew Ewings (German) / Joshua Jensen (German & Latin) 2009-10 Andrew Hussman (German) / Aaron Jensen (German & Latin) 2008-09 Jacob Haag (German) / Andrew Hussman, Aaron Jensen (German & Latin) 2007-08 Daniel Johnston (Latin) / Peter Metzger (German & Latin) 2006-07 Michael Koepke (German) / Kevin Boushek (German & Latin) 2005-06 Jonathan Loescher (German) / David Sigrist (German & Latin) 2004-05 Brett Ehlke (Latin) / Caleb Bassett (German & Latin) 2003-04 Benjamin Foxen (Latin) / Jeffrey Matteson (German & Latin) 2002-03 Shane Krause (Latin) / Nathaniel Biebert (German & Latin) 2001-02 Jonathan Quinn (German) / Ben Foxen, John Behrens (German & Latin) 2000-01 Daniel Tess (German & Latin)
26 26
Martin Luther College
Martin Luther College 1995-2007 Theodore Olsen 2007-present Mark Zarling
The Shepherd Society Founded in 2008, the Shepherd Society is comprised of called workers who have been recognized for making a difference in people’s lives through their ministries. Anyone may nominate a pastor, teacher, or staff minister for the Shepherd Society by filling out a form (see below) and sending it to Martin Luther College along with a gift of gratitude. In so doing, the donors support the training of future called workers at MLC. At the same time, they express their gratitude to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, and to the specific called worker who has shepherded them in a special way.
PaRsetv.oStreveD n D. Bo e de Kempfnnis with grat itude fo shepherd r his wor ing k
of God’s pe To tra ople Martin Lu in future calle d ther Co llege in workers, a gift his hono ha with gra r by Ro s been given to ti shepher tude for his wbert and Lucille La et
ding
ork o
f “AsG ouordsh ’sepphe eordple alon he increase g with the Sp has, d ir ou it , To trainof God’s Wordr love and know le future ca an lled d will.” (Bob dge
sch
workers d Lucie) , a giftanha uther C s been gi ven to by Cletu ollege in his ho nor s & Ger i Wolfe
Martin L
The called workers nominated for the Shepherd Society receive a commemorative plaque with a personal Certificate of Appreciation. The following called workers have been nominated as of September 2013: Pastor Earle Treptow Teacher Verlyn Fuhrmann Teacher Richard Gibson Pastor Doug Scherschel Pastor David Zietlow Dr. Carla Melendy (2 nominations) Teacher Gene Gronholz Pastor Steven D. Bode Teacher Erin E. Williams Pastor Norman Burger, Jr. Pastor Robert Guenther Professor Emeritus Darvin Raddatz Pastor Arthur Frenz Teacher Michael Hein Pastor Richard Hennig Teacher Jimmy Groth Professor Martin Sponholz Teacher Phil Leyrer Prof. Armin & Virginia Panning
Pastor Harold Hagedorn Pastor Joel & Carly Seifert Pastor Don & Clarice Fastenau (2 nominations)
Teacher Wendy Ristow Professor Richard & Lois Balge Teacher Dave & Sande Sauer Teacher Don & Harriet Hartwig Staff Minister Chad White Pastor Daniel Malchow (2 nominations) Teacher Kenneth White Pastor David & Janice Valleskey Professor Jackson Petrie Dr. Siegbert Becker Pastor David Kuehl Professor Ronald Brutlag Teacher Doug Stindt Pastor Richard Schwerin Pastor Edmund Schulz
Professor Bruce Backer Pastor Greg Hermanson Teacher Paul Patterson Teacher Steve Strieter Professor Forrest & Sue Bivens Professor John & Irene Brug Professor Beverlee Haar Professor Cheryl Loomis Pastor Paul Bowe Dr. Mark Lenz Pastor David Kuehl Pastor Burton Stensberg Teacher Don & Harriette Hartwig Teacher Barbara Green Pastor Dennis Kempf President Mark Zarling Pastor Rob Raasch Professor Lyle Lange
(2 nominations)
$_____ $100 $150 $200 $250 $_____
Congregation and/or school where called worker serves/served: ________________________________________
Focus On Snail-Mail WELS Connection Eight DMLC graduates of ’66 and ’67 have kept a round robin going for almost half a century. Since 1966, they’ve snail-mailed a packet of eight letters from person to person, each recipient reading the letters, replacing her old letter with a new one, and sending the packet on. The friends are Judy Winter Schmidt ’66, Colleen Gunderson Oldenburg ’66, Lois Roekle Sonntag ’66, Johanna Linkert Mears ’66, Roselyn Krueger Belleau ’66, Celeste Schultz Wiedmann, ’66, Ruth Peikert ’67, and Susan Schroeder Towner ’67. “This ‘bird,’ as it is affectionately called, has been flying for 47 years and shows no signs of tiring,” says Susan Schroeder Towner. “From Alaska to Arizona, from California to Germany, India, Venezuela, and many points in between, this round robin has kept these friends in
DMLC 1966 Johanna J Linkert
DMLC 1966 Roselyn J Krueger Beaver Dam WI
DMLC 1966 Lois E Roekle Jefferson WI
Alumni director Steve Balza DMLC ’93 reports that seven classes have begun planning for 2014 reunions. A new reunion planning page at mlc-wels.edu/go/reunions lists all upcoming reunions as well as a “How to” checklist for future reunion organizers. Check it out! Martin Luther College
Do you also still have your snail-mail round robin going? In what other ways do you keep in touch with your friends from Dr. Martin Luther College, Northwestern College, and Martin Luther College? We’d love to hear about it. If you have a photo, either recent or from the old days, even better! Contact Alumni Director Steve Balza at alumni@mlc-wels.edu or 507.354.8221.
DMLC 1966 DMLC 1966 Celeste K Schultz Colleen K Gunderson Belle Plaine MN South Shore SD
“The DMLC Class of 1963 enjoyed its 50th reunion during mid-September,” says Rudy Jeseritz DMLC ’63. “Many special experiences during those 50 years were shared by classmates. It was a beautiful time to be on campus with the many activities that are available. MLC was an excellent host.”
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touch with one another. Through changes in ministry, marriages, births of children and grandchildren, deaths of parents and a spouse, two house fires, through illnesses and good health, the round robin has been a constant, helping these friends share their joys and sorrows with each other. But more important than news, the round robin contains assurances of prayers and encouragement from God’s Word. That is what has kept these friends connected through the years.”
DMLC 1966 Judith A Winter Randolph WI
The Broadway musical Wicked at the Orpheum Theatre was the destination for 80 alumni and students in October. Co-sponsored by MLC Student Senate, Forum, and Alumni Relations, the trip also included dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory. Tickets sold out in five minutes, but MLC students Kinzie O’ Neill, Miriam Hanson, Hannah Rothe, Emily Westra, and Emma Hirsch (pictured) were lucky enough to get seats.
DMLC 1967 Ruth Peikert Minneapolis MN
DMLC 1967 Susan Schroeder West St. Paul MN
We loved seeing you at
Homecoming 2013!
Go West, Alumni! Sign up now for the sixth annual alumni tour, which will include stops at treasured parks and memorials of the West, including Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Custer, Devil’s Tower, Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, and Roosevelt. All alumni and WELS members are welcome to ride the deluxe motor-coach July 14-30, 2014, take in the sites, and enjoy daily devotions and Christian fellowship. Costs range from $800-1500/person depending on occupancy. Trip departs from MLC. Visit mlc-wels.edu/go/alumni-tour or contact the alumni office for more information or to request a brochure.
Hope you enjoyed Knights athletics, the talent show, the Family Fun Zone, and all the other great campus activities.
Faculty Notes Professor Emeritus Ames Anderson performed in the summer
organ concert series in the MLC Chapel of the Christ. Professor Daniel Balge WLS ’85 presented
on June 17-19, 2013. He also served on the planning committee for the first WELSTech Unconference, which was held at MLC in September 2013. (See story on page 6.) And he presented three sectionals—SMART Board 101, 201, and 301—at the Minnesota Teachers’ Conference October 17-18.
“The Seminary Moves to Mequon: 1929” at the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary chapel on November 16 and again to seminary students on November 18. This presentation is one of four sponsored by the WELS Historical Institute in commemoration of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s 150th anniversary. Balge is also serving as a contributing editor for Forward in Christ, the WELS monthly magazine.
Professor Brian Hennig WLS ’96 preached for the St. Croix Conference Joint Reformation Service on November 3.
Professor Rebecca Cox DMLC ’89 and Professor Emeritus Jack Gronholz DMLC ’68 served on the committee that organized
Minnesota Licensure Task Force, which will advise and inform the 2014 Minnesota legislature. His chairmanship of the Minnesota Nonpublic Education Council and his membership on the MN Board of Teaching qualify him to represent the interests of both nonpublic schools and teacher preparation institutions.
the first WELS National Physical Education Conference September 26-27. (See story on page 8.) Professor Emeritus Gary Dallmann DMLC ’64 self-published
White Fox: Dakota Warrior (Hazelwood Books), a historical fiction novel exploring the life of the Dakota people in the 18th century.
Professor Emeritus John Isch DMLC ’58 presented “The Dakota after the War” as part of the Brown County Historical Society’s 2013 U.S.-Dakota War Commemoration. The Minnesota Historical Society has published several of Isch’s books on the 1862 Dakota conflict. Dr. Robert Klindworth DMLC ’70 was appointed to the new
Goethe-Institut’s Goethe-Zertifikat C1 Language Exam in Germany last summer. He also presented “Our Seminary in Watertown: 1863-1870” in Watertown, Wisconsin, on October 12, one of four presentations sponsored by the WELS Historical Institute in commemoration of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s 150th anniversary.
Professor Paul Koelpin WLS ‘90 taught at the seminary in Lusaka, Zambia, from July 15-19, as part of the seminary’s continuing education program for the pastors in Africa. (See the article on pages 12-13.) Koelpin also agreed to be the lead writer/editor of Volume 17 of Preach the Word, a bi-monthly newsletter of the WELS Commission on Worship. Finally, he presented the keynote address at the Wisconsin Association of Lutheran Educators conference in Milwaukee in October under the theme “How Beautiful the Feet of Those Who Bring Good News.”
Professor Gregory Diersen MLC ’96 presented “Pollinator
Professor Lyle Lange WLS ’69 presented a four-Sunday Bible
Professor James Danell WLS ’90 successfully completed the
Collecting for the Lab and Classroom” at the inaugural Life Discovery – Doing Science Biology Education Conference, sponsored by the Ecological Society of America, last March. His paper summarized the insect collection methods and applications for K-16 students he’s completed the last two summers in connection with the Echinacea Project in west-central Minnesota. Professor Paul Grubbs MLC ’01 presented a sectional for
language arts instructors on incorporating micro-fiction, from seven-word memoirs to short stories of fewer than 1,000 words, at the Minnesota District Teachers’ Conference in October. Dr. James Grunwald DMLC ’76 chaired the Commission on
IT and Distance Learning meeting for the National Council for Private School Accreditation in Alexandria, Virginia, 30
Martin Luther College
class at St. Paul-New Ulm on sanctity-of-life issues. He also chairs the WELS Prison Ministry Publications Committee, which secures and produces Bible studies for the 80,000 people listed on the WELS Prison Ministry Database; these publications have also been translated for distribution in foreign fields by WELS Multi-Language Publications Committee and WELS World Missions. Dr. Carla Melendy presented “Formative
Assessment: What? Why? How?” at the Minnesota District Teachers’ Conference in October.
Dr. Lawrence Olson WLS ’83 was appointed
Dr. Alan Spurgin DMLC ’71 presented “Identification and
to the Advisory Committee for Lutheran Health Alliance (LHA), a new global initiative of WELS Kingdom Workers. Working with local churches, individuals, and community agencies, LHA seeks to demonstrate Christian love and compassion for those living in resource-limited settings and, in so doing, strengthen local Lutheran congregations and bring more people into a relationship with their Savior.
Remediation of Students with Mild Disabilities” to 125 teachers at the La Crosse Area Principals’ Conference at St. Paul-Onalaska WI in August.
Professor James Pope WLS ’81 presented
“Addiction Counseling” at the 2013 Staff Ministry Conference at Grace-Milwaukee in April. He also accepted appointment as the Q & A Feature editor for the WELS magazine Forward in Christ. Professor Robert Potratz DMLC ’73 performed in the summer
organ concert series in the MLC Chapel of the Christ. Professor Jonathan Roux MLC ’95 made presentations on
Common Core State Standards and WELS school standards at conferences in the Northern Wisconsin District (February 2013), North Atlantic District (May 2013), Dakota/Montana District (May 2013, with Professor Cindy Whaley), Central Wisconsin Principals’ Conference (June 2013, with Professor Whaley), and the Manitowoc LHS federation (August 2013). He and Professor Cindy Whaley also presented “An Introduction to Writing Workshop and Literacy” to the Kettle Moraine LHS federation in June 2013. Professor Jonathan Schaefer MLC ‘02 presented sectionals on New Teacher Induction at the Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin teachers’ conferences.
Dr. Wayne Wagner DMLC ’72 performed last summer in the
organ concert series in the MLC Chapel of the Christ, the recital series at Trinity-Watertown WI, and the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists recital series in Mankato. He is now serving as consultant for the organ project at Zion-Columbus WI. Dr. David Wendler DMLC ’70 chaired a Higher Learning Commission hearing in Chicago September 9-10. He also taught a Sunday School Institute at Beautiful SaviorSpooner WI on September 28. Professor Keith Wessel WLS ’91 received the Dr. Winfred
P. Lehman Language Award, originally a Northwestern College award, given to a faculty member or student who “is engaged in a significant endeavor in furthering language study for the benefit of the ministry.” Wessel also taught a six-hour Pastor’s Institute, “Lutheran Catholicity,” for the Nebraska District in Colorado Springs April 16-17. Dr. Jeff Wiechman DMLC ’90 was appointed
MLC vice president for academics, effective upon the retirement of Dr. David Wendler in July 2014. Wiechman helped facilitate a Leadership Institute Module at the Minnesota District Teachers’ Conference in October entitled “Vision and Leadership Style.” Also at the conference he led a book discussion on Teach Like a Champion by Doug Lemov. Professor Miles Wurster earned his Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting from Minnesota State University-Mankato in July 2013.
Professor David Sellnow WLS ’86 served as thesis
advisor to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary senior Luke Thompson last spring. Thompson’s senior thesis “An Apologetic of the Cross” was one of the top two theses in 2013, earning him the “Timothy Award.” Professor Emeritus Ronald Shilling DMLC ’61 performed
in the summer organ concert series in the MLC Chapel of the Christ and the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists recital series in Mankato. Professor Adrian Smith MLC ‘03, serving as consultant
for WELS School of Worship Enrichment, presented “Enhancing the Liturgical Year” at two worship enrichment conferences: St. Martin-Watertown SD in September and Crown of Life-Hubertus WI in November.
Staff Notes Charlene Friedrich, RN, campus nurse, wrote “Prepare
for the Worst and Pray for the Best,” the cover article for volume 3, number 4 of WELS Nursing Today, a publication of WELS Special Ministries. Megan Kassuelke, international student coordinator,
has completed the NAFSA Academy for International Education, an intensive year-long training program through the Association of International Educators, and has completed certification training for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Michael Thom, accounting manager, has self-published
New Lutheran Hymns for Church and Home with musical settings by Professors Emeritus Bruce Backer WLS ’56 and Ron Shilling DMLC ’61. Martin Luther College
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Who’s an Early Childhood Center director in California? Who’s teaching Spanish at Fox Valley Lutheran High School? Who’s a principal apprentice in Ohio? Who’s an athletic director in Minnesota? Who’s teaching English in Tomsk, Russia? Who’s coaching and teaching upper grades in Arizona? Who’s teaching lower grades in Texas? Who’s teaching social studies at St. Croix Lutheran High School? Who’s teaching early childhood education in Florida? Who’s playing organ and directing junior choir in Illinois? Who’s teaching English in Southeast Asia? Who’s technology director and grade 7-8 teacher in Wisconsin? Who’s a tutor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary? Who’s enrolling at Seminary? Who’s starting an exciting new life of service to the church?
The 2013 Graduates of MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE
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