InFocus Staff WRITER/EDITOR Laurie Gauger DMLC ’87
Please Take My Seat
PHOTOGRAPHERS Jonathan Witte MLC ’18 Shelby Pitt MLC ’19 Adam Marley MLC ’17
By Rev. Mark Zarling President, Martin Luther College
STUDENT ASSISTANT Kylah Schroeder MLC ’18 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 Jeffery Wiechman DMLC ’90 VP for STUDENT LIFE Jeffrey Schone WLS ’87 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 Joe Archer DMLC ’77 Dale Krause Timothy Petermann Barry Price Duane Schmeichel WLS ’91 Michael Seifert WLS ’03 David Uhlhorn MLC ’99 Michael Valleau Steven Vasold MLC ’02 Mark Wessel WLS ’86
Dear supporters of the Great Commission, please take my seat! Usually, I’m sitting toward the back. That way I can come early and watch the students assemble in Chapel of the Christ. Look at their faces, each one a precious sight to a mom or a dad at home. Each one a precious and permanent sight to the Father above! The Lord who counts the stars and calls them each by name also relishes in his heart the name of every student. Through his Son he even promises each one, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Look at their faces again, and silently pray as they boisterously file in—with the joy and energy and excitement of youth who are not only friends, but friends united in faith and purpose. Pray a petition of gratitude to the Holy Spirit, for each one is a miracle of the Spirit’s omnipotence unleashed through the gospel. The Spirit calls to faith, sustains faith, and raises up a new cadre of Christians who train to serve anywhere the Lord Christ deems best. To this gray head, how comforting it is to see Jesus keep his promises. Until the trumpet, he says. Until the trumpet sounds, the Good Shepherd will send shepherds to gather and guard the elect of God. The Spirit will create a boldness to stand in the name of Jesus, and that means they will never stand alone. Even in the face of aggressive evil, they don’t stand alone, because for them fights the valiant One, whom God himself elected. How comforting for them to be in this place at this time, a place where the omnipotent Word is like a cloud enveloping them with the gospel joy of the living Savior. Joy—to come again and again and hear, Take heart, child, your sons are forgiven. Joy—to be reassured that it is God who works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Joy—to take confidence knowing that Jesus said, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Finally, by the Spirit’s grace, it sinks in. That means we can say with the apostle, For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. How they need to hear that truth in these end times. How I need to hear that truth in these perilous times. You do, too, my friend. So please take my seat. Rejoice in Christ’s promises and pray for Christ’s proclaimers!
Advisory: Charles Degner WLS ’79 Randy Matter Paul Prange WLS ’88 Mark Schroeder WLS ’81 Mark Zarling WLS ’80
On our cover: Rev. Matthew Crass WLS ’86 participates in the ordination of his son, Rev. Isaac Crass WLS ‘15 at MLC’s opening service in August. Isaac is a new instructor at MLC this year. Pastor Crass is president of Luther Preparatory School (LPS) in Watertown, Wisconsin. This year LPS is celebrating its 150th anniversary of ministry training at the high school level.
All InFocus magazines are online at mlc-wels.edu/ publications. If you’d like to receive your magazine electronically ONLY, please let us know. Contact Tami at boardtl@mlc-wels.edu.
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: ’41, ’46, ’51, ’56, ’61, ’66, ’71, ’76, ’81, ’86, ’91, ’96, ’01, ’06, and ’11. Thanks to Alumni Director Steve Balza DMLC ’93, who provided this random selection of alumni. Correction: In the July 2015 issue, we inadvertently printed Arlington, Minnesota, as the hometown of Bleick. Dennis hails from New Ulm. 2Dennis mlc-wels.edu
Aaron Voss MLC 2011 Williamston MI
Althea Zank NWC 1946 Lake Mills WI
Harvey Witte NWC 1951 Hutchinson MN
Martin Luther College Governing Board 2015-2016
Back row: Joe Archer DMLC ’78, Michael Valleau, Dale Krause, Michael Woldt WLS ’81 (chair); middle row: Steven Vasold MLC ’02, David Uhlhorn MLC ’99, Randy Matter (advisory), Duane Schmeichel WLS ’91, Jonathan Kolander WLS ’91 (vice chair); front row: Barry Price, Timothy Petermann, Michael Seifert WLS ’03, Mark Wessel WLS ’86, Steven Rosenbaum DMLC ’86 (secretary), Mark Zarling WLS ’80 (MLC President). Not pictured: Paul Prange WLS ’88 (Ministerial Education administrator), Charles Degner WLS ’79 (Minnesota District president), Mark Schroeder WLS ’81 (WELS president)
Governing Board Action in September 2015 • Student Costs: Adopted an increase of 3% in student costs, lower than the anticipated 5% increase, bringing tuition, room and board charges to $19,490. A 5% increase in institutional financial assistance also was approved. • Faculty: Approved the following calls: (1) a man to teach music, give music lessons, and direct a choir (to replace Dr. Wayne Wagner, who is retiring); (2) a man to teach theology (to replace Prof. Lyle Lange, who is retiring); and (3) a man to teach science and PE and coach men’s basketball (pending Synodical Council approval) • Facilities: Approved the updated master site plan, which includes the construction of new or upgraded facilities for student housing, athletics, music, and property acquisition over the next 8-10 years. Also requested a proposal for a capital campaign to address these upgrades.
Ann Breitkreutz DMLC 1966 Redwood Falls MN
John Kenyon NWC 1981 Seminole FL
New Board Member New governing board member David Uhlhorn MLC ’99 serves as math teacher, athletic director, and coach at Manitowoc Lutheran High School. “The process by which we train our future teachers and pastors is a strength in our synod and something we should be proud of,” he says. “MLC has shown the ability to change and adapt based on the needs of our congregations. Whether it be urban, early childhood, or any other need that may arise, it is exciting to help MLC meet those needs moving forward. I am honored and blessed to help serve in this way.” Uhlhorn is the third MLC graduate to serve on our board.
Melissa Beach MLC 2006 Saginaw MI
Don Dengler NWC 1966 Bay City MI
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here on the
We Welcome New First-Year Students! First-Year Students Share First Impressions
Student Editor Kylah Schroeder (Trinity-Watertown WI) interviewed first-year students their first week on campus for the recruitment e-newsletter KnightWatch Weekly. Here’s what those students said about their new college. “I like how everyone here is so strong in their faith! Oh, and the amazing food!”
Elena Stingle (Appleton West HS-WI / Immanuel-Black Creek WI)
“The professors here are really helpful and are willing to take the time to work one on one with students.”
First-Years by the Numbers 172 traditional first-years 50 preseminary students 121 education majors 1 undeclared major 43 different high schools 19 different states 6 foreign countries 24 average ACT score 3.50 average HS GPA
Eric Dorn (Illinois LHS / Trinity-Crete IL)
“Everyone here makes you feel welcome! If you have a problem, there are so many people to help you out.”
Taylor James (California LHS / Ascension-Escondido CA)
“I was confirmed two years ago, so it’s great going to morning and evening chapel and being in the Word every day.”
Jiacheng (Nicholas) Liu (Great Plains LHS / St. Martin’s-Watertown SD) “I play soccer, and it’s a great way to meet other players and the coaches! It’s also nice that you can be involved in sports and lots of other things at the same time.”
Stephen Oelhafen (Luther Prep / Trinity-Waukesha WI) “I’m in Chinese, so I really like that that’s an option! Professor Zhang is a great teacher.”
Heidi Kostrzewa (Wisconsin LHS / St. John-Wauwatosa WI)
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The MLC Ladies’ Auxiliary Annual Meeting was held Saturday, October 10. Attendees grew in their understanding and appreciation of MLC’s ministry through presentations and workshops, enjoyed fellowship at lunch and worship, and prayed for the MLC students preparing for the public ministry of the gospel. The group gave an initial offering of almost $3,000 to fund the project list that was adopted for the 2015–16 school year. For a summary of the annual meeting business and to see the list of projects, visit mlc-wels.edu and type “Ladies’ Auxiliary” in the search box.
ADVENT DEVOTIONS
The Coming of Christ: Promise Made, Promise Kept
The Harvest Is Plentiful, But the Workers Are Few
The message is simple: the church needs more called workers. At MLC’s Call Day in May, 40 requests for teachers went unfilled. At Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Call Day, about a dozen pastor requests went unfilled. Six MLC seniors–the highest number in some time–are filling emergency calls this year, teaching at elementary schools in Ohio, Florida, and Wisconsin, and high schools in South Dakota and Wisconsin. You can help! First, please pray for more called workers. Ask the Spirit to move hearts to consider preparing for the public ministry of the gospel. And second, tap a shoulder or two. If you know of a young person whom you can imagine in front of a congregation or classroom someday, give them a word of encouragement!
A gift to you from M A RT I N LU T H E R C O L L E G E
Advent Devotions Our Gift for You! The Coming of Christ: Promise Made, Promise Kept is MLC’s new devotion book, this one containing 25 spiritual encouragements, one for each day of December until Christmas. Think of it as an Advent calendar for grownups. You may enjoy this book in hard copy, download it onto your device, or simply read it online.
Parents brought their first-year students to campus in August–a new class of young people ready to train for gospel ministry!
ONE MISSION
It will be available for ordering or for online viewing after November 24 at mlc-wels.edu/ publications/seasonal-devotions.
Endless Opportunities As our admissions counselors visit high school students all over the country, they remind them that the public ministry takes many different forms and occurs in many different places. They ask students, Might you be . . .
2015-2016 Enrollment
• the pastor in a tiny rural community filled with people hungry for God’s truth?
723 on-campus enrollment 541 education majors 169 preseminary students 5 staff ministry majors 8 unclassified
• the teacher in an urban school who tells little children about the Savior for the very first time?
Did you know?
• the pastor who starts a new mission in a big city? • the early childhood teacher at a preschool exploding with growth? • the called worker bringing the English language and the Word of God to the unchurched in Russia?
• the missionary, principal, staff minister, coach, choir director, tutor,
organist, guidance counselor, athletic director, drama club advisor, or technology specialist the church needs?
“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:5). At MLC, we’ll help you find that place where your gifts match the church’s needs.
MLC’s official enrollment is more than 1800. This includes about 135 graduate students and almost 1000 continuing education students.
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here on the College Choir Tour 2016
Fri Mar 11 7:00
Pilgrim-Mesa AZ
Wed Mar 16 7:00
Shepherd of the Hills-La Mesa CA
Sat Mar 12 6:30
East Fork LES-Whiteriver AZ
Thu Mar 17 7:00
Christ the Vine-Temecula CA
Sun Mar 13 10:00 Grace-San Carlos AZ worship service 7:00 Shepherd of the Hills-Tucson AZ
Fri Mar 18 10:15 California Lutheran HS half-concert 7:00 St. Paul First-North Hollywood
Mon Mar 14 7:00
Cross of Glory-Peoria AZ
Tue Mar 15 9:15 7:00
Arizona Lutheran Academy half-concert Water of Life-Las Vegas
Sun Mar 20 10:30 Hope-Penryn CA worship service 7:00 Mt Calvary-Redding CA
Sat Mar 19 6:30
MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE
CHRISTMAS CONCERT Saturday, December 5, 7:30 pm Sunday, December 6, 4:00 pm
MLC CHAPEL OF THE CHRIST
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Elaine Bogenschneider DMLC 1946 Kewaskum WI
Thomas Trapp NWC 1971 New Ulm MN
St Mark-Citrus Heights CA
Music at MLC by the Numbers 723 on campus 330 taking piano/organ lessons 206 singing in four choirs 66 playing in Wind Symphony 65 participating in fall musical 37 taking instrumental lessons 28 taking voice lessons 40 majoring in music 16 minoring in music
Amy Pundt MLC 2001 Globe AZ
Deric Pohlman DMLC 1991 Norfolk NE
Call for Submissions
Touching Hearts Through Technology
Several thousand people explored the book of Elisha through an Interactive Faith online Bible study taught by Professor Keith Wessel WLS ’91 in September and October. The study was livestreamed Wednesday evenings at 6 pm and 8 pm from MLC’s new recording studio in the library basement. MLC Audio-Visual Services Coordinator Benjamin Matzke and several students coordinated the technology. More than 5,000 people all over North America participated the first week alone, logging into the study as individuals or as congregational groups. In this format, Wessel lectured for a 15-minute block and then allowed for 5-10 minutes of discussion, in which participants interacted with each other and with Wessel via a chat box. Professor Wessel had previously taught an interactive study on Elijah. This time, he added a new element, speaking to a small group of MLC students as his live studio audience. He was grateful to the students for “creating a more natural experience than merely speaking to the cameras.” The students were grateful as well as they observed how technology can be captured in service to the gospel, how the truth of God’s Word shared in a small, dark basement room can bring light to all corners of the globe.
Tenth Annual Thalassa Prize: Martin Luther College has now begun accepting submissions for the tenth annual Thalassa Prize. This $1000 prize is awarded to the best photo-and-essay submission from an MLC student or graduate who has served in an international ministry. Past winners: 2007 Kristina Wessel, Dominican Republic 2008 Rachel Kionka, Malawi 2009 Rachel Meyer, Southeast Asia 2010 Gretchen Schmiege, Southeast Asia 2011 Amber Schlomer, Southeast Asia 2012 Paul Kelm, Czech Republic 2013 Maria Reese, Malawi 2014 Chris Pluger, Zambia 2015 Sara Schmeling, Russia For submission guidelines, go to mlc-wels.edu/thalassa. Deadline: April 30, 2016.
2015 WINNER: SARA SCHMELING “God’s Light in a World of Darkness” Winning photos and essays may be found at mlc-wels.edu/thalassa/past-winner
“I think it’s important,” Wessel says, “to expose our students to these new venues for teaching the Word of God. Hopefully they will take away something they can use in the future as they serve God’s people.” Information on interactive studies can be found at wels.net/interactivefaith.
Sarah Geiger MLC 1996 Belmont CA
Thomas Kuster NWC 1961 Wanatah IN
Hope Monthie DMLC 1976 Hudson NY
Clarence W Jenkins DMLC 1971 Essexville MI
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Sports
Focus On
By Sports Information Director Mike Gibbons
Sports at MLC by the Numbers
Men’s Soccer The men’s soccer team jumped out to a 5-4 start, capped by a 4-1 win over Northwestern in front of a large Homecoming crowd. That win was the Knights’ first over UNW since the 2006 season. The Knights feature a strong group of first-year players, led by Aaron Swanson (Resurrection-Rochester MN) and Josh Koelpin (St. John-New Ulm MN), mixed with veterans Aaron Markgraf (Beautiful Savior-Cincinnati OH), Elijah Kroll (St. John-Lake City MN), Wesley Towne (Trinity-Bay City MI), and Caleb King (St. John-Lomira WI). Swanson scored eight goals in the team’s first nine games, while Markgraf’s six goals to start the season moved him into a tie for sixth place in program history with 21 career goals.
723 on campus 228 playing intercollegiate athletics 350 playing intramural sports 32 majoring in PE 28 minoring in PE or coaching
Women’s Soccer Junior Jenna Maurer (Good Shepherd-South Attleboro MA), opened the season with six goals in her first six games, moving her into fifth place in program history with 31 career goals. Maurer and the Knights opened conference play 1-3-1, and have work to do in order to reach the UMAC Postseason Tournament. Hailey Johnson (St. Paul-Green Bay WI) and Alyssa Maertz (St. Martin-Watertown SD) have joined Maurer as the main offensive threats this season with six and three goals, respectively, through the first ten games.
Aaron Swanson
Men’s Cross Country The Knights returned four All-UMAC performers from the team that finished second at the UMAC Cross Country Championships last season, and they have been strong to start the 2015 season.
Jenna Maurer
Grey Davis (St. Paul-Lake Mills WI), Justin Wilkens (BethlehemManassas VA), Darian Schnose (Emanuel-Tawas City MI), and Jonathan Fleischmann (Trinity-Austin MN) led the team to a first-place finish to open the season at Viterbo, followed by a second-place finish at Wisconsin Lutheran College on October 3. The team hopes to improve on last year’s finish at the UMAC Championships on October 31.
Hitting a Hundred: Volleyball coach Rebecca Cox DMLC ’89, pictured here with her 2015 team, earned her 100th win as head coach of the Knights in October. “I’ve been blessed to coach some wonderful players in my seven years here,” Cox said. “This is really a tribute to them.” 8 mlc-wels.edu
Service in the Sun By Kylah Schroeder MLC ’18 (Trinity-Watertown WI) When vacation time rolls around, students are usually thankful for a little break from homework, deadlines, and tests. MLC students are no different, except that their breaks from school aren’t always breaks from learning. Through MLC Daylight USA, almost 20% of MLC students used their vacations this past year to take what they’ve learned about the public ministry and put it into practice. They assisted congregations by teaching at music camps, coaching at sports camps, leading vacation Bible schools, and canvassing.
Beverly Hills, Florida Sarah Kell (Christ-Zumbrota MN), Caleb King (St. John-Lomira WI), Laura Schoenherr (St. Paul-New Ulm MN), and Justin Steinke (Cross of Christ-Universal City TX) spent a week this summer helping with a Bible soccer camp at St. Paul’s in Beverly Hills.
Let’s take a look at some students’ experiences in the sunny state of Florida.
Daylight USA 2015 by the Numbers 104 31 45
Students served congregations for 1-2 weeks Students served congregations for 10 weeks Congregations where students served
“The best part was definitely having the opportunity to share God’s Word with my group of kids while also teaching them to play a great game of soccer!” Caleb says. “All the sightseeing we got to do was really incredible too.” Sarah adds, “It’s such an amazing experience, and you learn a lot. It really prepares you for future work that you’ll be doing.”
Fort Myers, Florida Some 200 miles south of Beverly Hills is Fort Myers, where Kailynn Lovett (St. Paul-Mayville MI) and Megan Schoch (St. John-Saginaw MI) spent 10 weeks helping with a vacation Bible school and an early childhood summer camp at Crown of Life. The young women agree that though their work had challenges, the blessings easily outweighed them. “Sometimes it’s hard trying to keep up with 20 kids,” Kailynn explains. “But at the end of the day, it’s always rewarding to have taught them about Jesus and to have seen how much they grew.”
God truly works through the students of MLC, whether they teach in Texas, witness in Wisconsin, or share their faith in Florida. Through Daylight USA these students are learning— learning to teach, learning to serve, and learning that there are never-ending opportunities to imitate the apostles’ work in Acts 5:42, “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”
Like the Beverly Hills bunch, Megan and Kailynn enjoyed exploring Florida—especially since they were born and raised in the Midwest—and meeting their brothers and sisters in Christ from another corner of the country. “It’s amazing how we can travel halfway across the US,” Megan says, “and still God’s Word is being taught in its truth and purity. What a blessing!” Megan and Kailynn’s feelings about their trip echo the thoughts of hundreds of students who have participated in Daylight USA trips over the years: “We loved our summer experience and learned a lot. We were so thankful for the opportunity, and we’ll definitely treasure the memories and experiences forever.”
Megan Schoch and Kailynn Lovett’s class at Crown of Life-Fort Myers, Florida, celebrated Christmas in July. As a sophomore and senior from the Midwest, Megan and Kailynn gained 10 weeks of valuable ministry experience in Florida.
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From MLC to the Seminary:
Two Students Muse on
Reprinted from Preach the Gospel: A Magazine of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, 2015 Vol. 12.
Micah Plocher MLC ’14
Scott Henrich MLC ’13
I won’t say that my transition from MLC was hard, but there were a few bumps along the road. I arrived at the seminary and suddenly realize I was beginning the final stage of my journey to pastoral ministry. While following the path through WELS ministerial education schools, it’s easy to be swept along in the flow of things. During those years, I don’t know if I myself ever stopped to think about the next step—it was always set out in front of me. At the beginning of my time at the seminary, though, the questions I had never really asked came all at once: Am I really able to serve people well as a pastor? Do I really want to do a pastor’s work? How can I ever be the kind of pastor I’ve come to admire?
My transition to the seminary after serving for a year in Peru is becoming more and more common every year. Nearly 30 percent of the current junior class arrived on campus after serving at least one year overseas.
Combine those big questions with a new routine, new environment, new part-time job, and distance from college friends, and I had a doubt-filled week or two. However, I soon realized that many of my classmates were asking those same questions. It seems everyone asks them at some point. Over the next weeks, upperclassmen and professors encouraged us. Morning chapel devotions reminded us that though we are unworthy and imperfect, God in his grace chooses to use people like us to spread his saving Word. Eventually, my doubts and fears faded away.
Those brothers have been a significant blessing in my move back to the US. Although the geographic locations, languages, and cultures varied, we all shared in the similar joys and frustrations that come with mission work in a non-English speaking country. I spent a lot of my life in a foreign country because my dad was a missionary. It gave me great joy to see my friends grow through those same kinds of valuable experiences I had as a kid. To be able to share, and sometimes vent, to an understanding ear significantly eased my transition. Academically, a ‘gap year’ can have advantages, but also disadvantages. An advantage is the motivation it can give. Part of my plan in going abroad was to break up the eight-year program of study through MLC and WLS. I thought that would help me to stay strong in my studies. While I did not turn into some sort of super student immune to mental lapses, living and working in a foreign culture sharpened my focus on the true urgency of what I study here at the seminary.
Once I settled into my new routine, I realized that Mequon is a really nice place, and I usually like my job. For all my friends who are far away, I’m now surrounded by a group of men I’m proud to call brothers training for the ministry. The transition to the seminary from MLC was an opportunity to refocus myself on exactly what I’m doing here. I pray that God would help me keep that focus on him and his grace during what I’m confident will be some of the best years of my life.
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William Leerssen NWC 1961 Buffalo MN
Michelle Nowak MLC 2006 Munith MI
Stephen Naumann MLC 2001 Benton Harbor MI
Ruth Mueller DMLC 1971 Winona MN
God Bless Our Preseminary Students at MLC
the Transition
Excerpt from a speech delivered at the Northwestern College Alumni Banquet in May 2015
“But aren’t you worried that you’ll lose your biblical languages?” was a common question pre-trip and a potential disadvantage. Although that is a valid concern, there are so many online resources available now to keep up in Greek and Hebrew that the only real problem is making the time for self-study. So I arrived at the seminary a little behind where I finished at MLC, but not to a degree that it compromised my studies. Even more, the gains—fluency in Spanish, confidence in teaching, friendships, and especially the gospel work done through me—far outweigh a little bit of language rustiness.
By MLC Academic Dean for Preseminary Studies Daniel Balge WLS ’85 On behalf of Martin Luther College—its president, faculty, and students—I bring you greetings from the school in New Ulm, Minnesota, that in its preseminary program carries on the work begun at Northwestern College. . . . The preseminary students at MLC come to train for ministry. They come because—and many of their stories are your stories— • because a teacher suggested one day on the playground that maybe you should think about being a pastor; • because a pastor took time to talk about ministry in instruction class and to present it as worthy work; • because Dad is a pastor and an example of faithful, joyful service in church, community, and especially home; • because Grandma kept encouraging and praying; • because a respected elder said you could do this; • because from your mother’s arms and at your father’s table the public ministry was held high before you; • and most of all because God the Father guided life’s events so that God the Spirit would use in Word and sacrament the story of God the Son to lead a young man to study to become a pastor. And so you came. And so they come. And by God’s grace they keep coming—now to MLC—autumn after autumn after autumn. They arrive as brothers in Christ. They grow even closer as brothers in training for pastoral ministry. And they grow in their sense of the privilege of being part of something far greater, far bigger, than they. They pass this on from class to class, from seniors to freshmen, from brother to brother, as it was passed on from NWC to MLC. May God continue to bless our church body with and through continued rigorous, vigorous preseminary training and with the young men who come to it. . . .
John Parcher NWC 1956 Flint MI
Amy Metevia DMLC 1991 Saginaw MI
Elmer Hoffmann NWC 1941 Saginaw MI
Lacey Bitcon MLC 2006 San Jose CA
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New Master’s Program at MLC:
Training for Principals and ECE Directors Rendy Koeppel DMLC ’81 (pictured) is leaving the MLC Master of Science in Education program. As principal at St. Paul-First in North Hollywood, Koeppel enjoyed the courses, noting the online flexibility and the knowledge-sharing with other WELS teachers. He saw benefits to his ministry, “particularly my mindset for leading and supervising Christian education.” He concedes that the program “added several new tools to my administrative tool box for my principalship and my classroom instruction.” But he’s leaving. He’s enrolling in the new MLC Master of Science in Educational Administration program instead. This new master’s program, approved in September by the Higher Learning Commission, is intended especially for early childhood directors and principals like Rendy. “The MLC Master of Science in Educational Administration program is unlike any other educational leadership training program,” says Dr. John Meyer DMLC ’87, director of continuing education and graduate studies. “It focuses on the unique needs of WELS principals and directors.” WELS school leaders are more than simply administrators, Meyer says. “They are a combination of principal, superintendent, and spiritual leader.” As such, they face complex issues, some of which are unique to Lutheran schools.
The existing MS in Education with a leadership emphasis, the one Rendy Koeppel was enrolled in, has served WELS very well, says Dr. Meyer, with 42 principals and early childhood directors completing it. Some leaders and directors will continue to choose that program, which permits them to customize their programs with a blend of administration, technology, teaching, and special education courses. Others will opt for the new MS in Educational Administration degree, which includes some instruction courses but focuses more heavily on leadership. Rendy Koeppel is convinced that deciding which program to pursue is less important than deciding to pursue a program. “WELS educators need to be at the top of their game to best serve students and families,” he says. “I believe ongoing professional development is key to achieving excellence in ministry and avoiding stagnation in the important work that we are called to do. This MLC program certainly helps me as an administrator to improve and better serve my Lord, my school, my congregation, and our synod.”
The new master’s program guides them through these issues, including . . . • creating a Lutheran mission and culture, • leading necessary change while identifying things that cannot change, • establishing financially sustainable schools, • sustaining and growing schools, and • encouraging communication and involvement among congregation, faculty, and parents. Rendy Koeppel is excited about tackling these important subjects, and the courses he’s already taken in the leadership emphasis of our current MS Ed program will transfer smoothly into his new program. He believes it will take three years to complete the program because he wants “to properly balance the daily work of my call and sufficient time for coursework.”
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Michael Kampman MLC 2001 Rio Rancho NM
Stephanie Humann MLC 2011 Federal Way WA
Craig Morgan DMLC 1981 Watertown WI
Barbara Keller DMLC 1971 Two Rivers WI
Training for WELS Principals and ECE Directors A Comprehensive Approach Martin Luther College and the Commission for Lutheran Schools (CLS) are partners working toward a vision where every WELS principal and early childhood director is fully trained prior to receiving a school leadership call. The following approaches are steps toward meeting that vision. FULL TRAINING MLC’s NEW Master of Science in Educational Administration NEARLY FULL TRAINING MLC’s Master of Science in Education with Leadership Emphasis INITIAL TRAINING CLS’s Principal and EC Director Apprentice Program: A trained principal/mentor walks the new principal apprentice through his first two years using the MLC graduate course Issues in Administration as guide. CLS’s Principal Training Program: A new teacher receives a three-year assignment under the tutelage of a veteran
principal/mentor and then goes back to the assignment committee for an assignment to a different school needing a principal. LEADERSHIP RECRUITMENT CLS’s Leadership Candidate Training Program: Short-term training and project supervision for veteran teachers with a desire to serve as principals and ECE directors. CONTINUING EDUCATION CLS’s Leadership Institute Modules: A continuing education option for veteran teachers that consists of 10 four-hour leadership modules.
Did you graduate from D/MLC without a teacher’s license?
NOW ’S THE TIME TO EARN THAT LICENSE!
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HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS! If you’re a STEP graduate, your licensure courses are FREE!
THE EASY PATH TO LICENSURE
ALL ONLINE! “I added post-baccalaureate licensure to my master’s program so I could work with future student teachers.” Neil Schliewe Calvary-Thiensville WI Principal, Grade 7-8 Teacher Want more information? Contact us! mlc-wels.edu/licensure | 507.354.8224 x204
Jonathan Werre NWC 1986 Ridgeway MN
Elaine Buss DMLC 1961 Appleton WI
Ronald Gusman Jr. MLC 1996 North Hollywood CA
Christine Paustian DMLC 1976 Watertown WI
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Will We Instruct or Indoctrinate? Written by Professor David Sellnow WLS ’86 Mr. Scribner stood in front of his sixth-graders. He had prepared a SMART Board presentation titled, “Major Moments of World War II.” At a touch, he brought up descriptions of what happened at various places on the map. • Munich . . . An agreement allowed Hitler to keep parts of Czechoslovakia that he wanted for Germany. • Poland . . . German blitzkrieg (“lightning war”) marked the beginning of World War II in Europe. • Dunkirk . . . British and French troops escaped when they were losing the battle in France. A student interrupted with a question: “Why did the Hitler guy want pieces of Checkerslavka?” Another asked, “Why did they call it lightning war?” And another wondered, “Why was it a ‘major moment’ if people were losing and running away?” Mr. Scribner brushed off their questions, wanting to get through his presentation. “Let’s not worry about that,” he said. “Just follow along and take notes on what happened at each place on the map. Tomorrow we’ll have a quiz—a matching exercise where you line up the events with where they happened.” Quite likely, you cringe at Mr. Scribner’s approach. Teaching isn’t just pushing out facts to be noted and then repeated on a quiz. Teaching intends to inspire questions—and seeks to answer them. “All learning is a process of discovery,” said Mortimer Adler. According to Adler, “Passive absorption or rote memorization does not deserve to be called learning” (Adler 1976, 1987).
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Thomas Voss MLC 2006 Aurora CO
Carrie Hennig DMLC 1991 San Diego CA
Even in a subject like mathematics, where there’s less room for interpretation and opinion than in history, we don’t count learning merely as asserting accurate answers. Imagine a student saying, “I got the right answer according to what’s in the back of the textbook, but I’m not sure how I got there or if I was doing it properly,” and Mr. Scribner responding, “It doesn’t matter whether you understand what you’re doing; all that matters is that you have the right answers.” Again, we’d be disappointed in such a teacher’s misplaced objectives. Philosopher of education Thomas F. Green said, “In mathematics . . . a concern simply to lead students to the right answer . . . is a fundamentally defective kind of instruction. To focus simply on securing a right solution without understanding the nature of mathematical operations is the mathematical equivalent of indoctrination” (Green, 1971). Green used the term “indoctrination” in a pejorative sense. In English usage today, “indoctrinate” does come with unwelcome connotations. To indoctrinate is “to teach (someone) to fully accept the ideas, opinions, and beliefs of a particular group and not to consider other ideas, opinions and beliefs” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary, emphasis added). As religious people, we tend to think of religious indoctrination as a good thing—imparting good doctrine to our children and our children’s children. But as a method, is indoctrination the way to pass along the truths of Christian faith? When Christians don’t want to discuss difficulties and tackle objections, the world we seek to reach with the gospel remains unimpressed. David Kinnaman, president
Daniel Krause NWC 1981 Brookfield WI
Colleen Gunderson DMLC 1966 South Shore SD
of the Barna Group, has commented: “A faith that does not effectively address convoluted and thorny issues seems out of tune with a generation asking big questions and expressing candid doubts. Spirituality that is merely focused on ‘dos and don’ts’ rings hollow” (Kinnaman and Lyons, 2008). When teaching the faith, we want believers to consider all sorts of problems and ideas and opinions—in the interests of strengthening their confidence in Christ and his Word. Disciples do more than rehearse what answers are supposed to go in what blanks on their worksheets; they grapple with spiritual questions and see how those questions are answered in Jesus. In Scripture, Jesus frequently is referred to as “Teacher” (cf. Mark 13:1, John 13:13, etc.). The term is used nearly 50 times to characterize Jesus’ work (Graves, 1919). In the New Testament, the word “to teach” literally means “to cause to learn” (BibleHub, 2004-2015). Watching Jesus in action as a teacher of spiritual truths, we see him spurring learning with lots of conversation and interaction. Jesus engaged learners by means of stories and illustrations—parables, we call them. And if the disciples didn’t quite grasp his intended meaning, he took the time later to explain (cf. Luke 8:4-15). His “tests” were embedded in real-life issues and situations. Jesus taught much doctrine, yes. However, it would be inaccurate to say he indoctrinated people. But what shall we say about a teacher like the apostle Paul? Didn’t he do much that could be called indoctrination? Isn’t Romans essentially a doctrine lecture? Look again. Even in that thorough detailing of doctrines, Paul anticipated questions and responded to them. More than half a dozen times in the course of his instruction, Paul paused to ask, “What shall we say?” and expanded on the thought or dealt with possible challenges to his points. (Cf. Romans 3:5, 4:1, 6:1, 7:7, 8:31, 9:14, 9:30.) (Maybe you caught on that I was trying to do something similar in this paragraph, responding to a potential counterargument.) When I surveyed students about religious teaching they had experienced in their Lutheran education (elementary, high school, college), a fourth of them characterized the mode of teaching as indoctrination—with a negative connotation. That perception is a cause for concern. I hope that each of us, at all levels of spiritual instruction, will seek to engage the hearts and minds of those who are
Gerhardt Voigt DMLC 1951 Frontenac MN
Jill Nass DMLC 1981 Watertown WI
learning of Christ. Becoming well-versed in doctrine is good, but we want to lead learners there by instructing, interacting, relating, connecting . . . not by indoctrinating. This blog was posted on April 30, 2015. David Sellnow WLS ’86 teaches theology, history, and philosophy at Martin Luther College, where he also serves as chair of the History-Social Science Division. He has presented on the topic of “Teaching the Faith” at the Lutheran College Conference (2014) and the Western Wisconsin Lutheran Teachers’ Conference (2015), and at times leads a webinar on the topic for MLC Continuing Education. Adler, M. (1976, 1987). Teaching, learning and their counterfeits. Reforming education: The Opening of the American Mind. Retrieved April 4, 2015 from http://www.learningmethods.com/downloads/pdf/ adler–reforming.education–letter.size.pdf Didasko. (n.b.). In BibleHub: Online Bible study suite. Retrieved April 4, 2015 from http://biblehub.com/greek/1321.htm Green, T.F. (1971). The activities of teaching. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. Graves, F.P. (1919). What did Jesus teach? An examination of the educational material and method of the Master. New York, NY: Macmillan. Kinnaman, D. & Lyons, G. (2007). Unchristian: What a new generation really thinks about Christianity . . . and why it matters. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.
JOIN THE DISCUSSION! MLC’s blog Issues in Lutheran Education tackles provocative questions for educators at every level. Recent posts include • the principles of branding a WELS school; • why WELS schools should teach evolution; • characteristics of strong leaders; and • whether teachers should employ labels—such as ADHD, EBD, and autism—in the field of special education. Lively discussion ensues as the blog’s 900 followers read and share it with their friends. For your free subscription, go to blogs.mlc-wels.edu.
Paul Baur NWC 1991 New Ulm MN
Patricia Airlie DMLC 1961 Detroit MI
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MLC Knight Luke Rothe:
A Life-Changing Injury Doesn’t Change His Dream By Sports Information Director Mike Gibbons Luke Rothe has been involved in thousands of plays during his athletic career, but the Martin Luther College senior three-sport star doesn’t remember the one that changed his life on Thursday, April 2, 2015, during the first inning of a baseball game between MLC and Bethany Lutheran College. “The last thing I remember is running out to the outfield and warming up,” Rothe said. “The next thing was waking up Friday morning.” Roaming to his left on a line drive hit into right center field, Rothe dove forward but collided with his right fielder, whose knee hit the left side of Rothe’s head. The collision left Rothe unconscious on Bethany’s field as BLC’s athletic training staff attended to him. An ambulance arrived shortly afterwards and transported Rothe to the Mankato Mayo Clinic, which was just across the street. A CT scan shortly after his arrival at the hospital showed the extent of his injuries.
“I sustained a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), which involved a complex skull fracture that started with an actual indentation and crack in the skull above the left ear,” Rothe said. “From the top of that indentation, the skull fracture continued up to the forehead, through the left eye bone cavity top to bottom, and through both sides of the left sinus cavity to the top of the nose and to the end. From the bottom of the indentation crack, the fracture continued to the back of the skull and down to the top of the spine.” After the scan, doctors saw that fault line fractures on each side of the indentation severed the middle meningeal artery, causing internal bleeding around the left frontal lobe and motor-sensory strip of the brain. To fix the damage, Rothe was taken in for surgery, which lasted more than four hours as doctors attempted to relieve the pressure and stop the bleeding. “When I woke up Friday morning, my family was there, and because of the IVs I was always tired,” Rothe said. “I thought I was dreaming. Once it became a reality, I was confused as to why my family and I were in the hospital in Minnesota.” While Rothe was realizing where he was, he was unable to speak and had difficulty moving his right hand. Both issues were due to the damage on the left side of his skull. His recovery has been rapid, however, given the severity of his injuries. After several days in the Mayo Clinic, he moved to a rehab facility in Wisconsin, where he started the process of his recovery, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
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Andrew Danner MLC 2011 West Saint Paul MN
Elizabeth Koester DMLC 1956 Hudson NY
Keith Siverly NWC 1986 Waukesha WI
Sarah Swift MLC 1996 Kent WA
Rehab was time-consuming and challenging, Rothe said, as he worked to reclaim many of the skills he once took for granted. It was successful, however, in helping him regain much of the movement in his right hand and recover from the head trauma.
and gifts by the MLC Student Senate and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, along with Thrivent and Printwear Graphics, a donation in excess of $5,000 was given to the Rothe family to help cover medical costs.
As he looks at his injury, the two-time All-UMAC selection in both football and basketball is amazed that an injury of this sort happened in the sport with the least physical contact. He also realizes how fortunate he is to be alive.
This year, while he’s unable to compete, Rothe has been able to return to athletics as a coach. At New Ulm High School, he served as an offensive coach for the junior varsity and varsity football teams. He’s also the head coach of the freshman boys’ basketball team at Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School.
“The neurology team and surgeons were across the street about 100-200 yards away,” he said. “The athletic trainers, coaches, and ambulance were fast to respond, and I was taken care of.” Rothe knows his days playing sports are almost certainly over. He finished his football career third in program history in career passing yards (3014) and touchdowns (31), and he ranks sixth in program history in career rushing yards (1871) and touchdowns (20) in just over two seasons. In basketball, he set the school record for assists in a season (137) as a sophomore, and he ranks second in program history with 323 assists. He also had 965 career points in only three seasons. Most importantly, his biggest dream is still alive—becoming a teacher. “I was studying to become a teacher and a coach, having a double major in elementary education and secondary social studies,” he said. “I was ecstatic when I was told that all of that could still be in my plans.”
On September 26, MLC Head Football Coach Mark Stein surprised Rothe and the team by naming him an honorary captain for the Homecoming game, a move that was very popular with the players in the locker room. “I think all of our team respects Luke, misses him on the team, and would love to have him any day,” Stein said. “We wanted to have him on the field as a leader for Homecoming. I think his time with us Saturday was the definition of Homecoming.” Back on campus for the fall semester, Rothe remains grateful. “I cannot thank everyone enough for all of the prayers, support, and encouragement I have received,” he said. “Most of all I would like to thank God for guiding this major event in my life through the surgery, process, and the days to come. He has a plan for all of this, and it shows me his amazing grace.”
During his rehab, the outpouring of prayers and well-wishers was tremendous. Hundreds of MLC students, faculty, and staff, as well as players, coaches, and parents from schools in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC), reached out in different ways to Luke and his family. Thanks to fundraising
Peter Gumm MLC 2006 Loves Park IL
Michelle Grubbs MLC 2001 Minneapolis MN
Steve Rosenbaum DMLC 1986 Saginaw MI
Jenna Bolda MLC 2011 Fall River WI
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A WEEK OF FUN
HOMECOMING WORSHIP
HOMECOMI KNIGHTS SPORTS
NG
2015
y a s a W IW t
e h T
Homecoming – A Great Tradition By Clarice Fastenau DMLC ‘65, MLCAA Archives Team
Homecoming has been around for a long time on the D/MLC campus. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, alumni returned to campus during the basketball season for Homecoming. The main attraction was watching the alumni basketball team play the varsity team, but there were other attractions too.
1965 was the year for the first DMLC soccer Homecoming. A marching band and floats and ground displays carried out the theme of TV commercials. “The Tiger on our Team” was the winning float, and “Charley Tuna” captured the ground display prize. The post-game banquet was held at the Orchid Inn in Sleepy Eye in 1966. During the 1967 Homecoming festivities, soccer players were photographed while being fed milk out of baby bottles, and students then voted to select the “Baby of the Year.” Hmm. Maybe the current soccer team should vote as to whether they’d like to repeat that tradition. In 1971 intercollegiate soccer changed into a soccer club, and intercollegiate football took its place. DMLC had had a football team from 1930 to 1941, and now the sport was revived. The theme for the first DMLC football Homecoming in 1972 was “Historical Firsts.” A pep rally complete with cheerleaders and a pompom squad started the festivities on Friday evening. Although Saturday, November 4, was a gloomy, foggy day, it didn’t dampen the enthusiasm as the parade followed a route from 5th Street North along Minnesota Street and then back along German Street to Johnson Field, where the game was played. The most popular float was the faculty polka band with its football team.
1963 Varsity vs. Alumni Homecoming basketball game: Roger Hinz plays defense on shooter Dale Walz
The 1962 Excelsior yearbook recalls the Homecoming banquet with entertainment, including a skit directed by Miss Frances Krook featuring five professors “dressed as charming ladies.” Dr. Martin Luther High School, which shared the campus with DMLC, fielded a football team that was the center of attraction for Homecomings during the 60s. Pep bands and pep fests, bonfires, burning the ‘L,’ helium balloons, and a parade through the downtown area with floats created by the different classes generated a lot of excitement during these fall Homecomings. 1965 Burning of the Lancer ‘L’
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1965 Bob Hill, Merlyn Kruse, and Leonard Collyard provide entertainment at the Homecoming banquet
Although the football game ended with a 56-0 loss for DMLC, the students gave the team a standing ovation as they left the field. The November 13, 1972, Messenger said: “The final touch to the banquet and all of the events of the Homecoming weekend was provided when the crowd sang the school song, written over 30 years before when a football team played its games in a cow pasture behind the boiler house.”
Over the years Homecoming activities have changed, but the spirit of Homecoming has not. It’s a wonderful opportunity to support the athletic teams and to welcome alumni back to the campus.
In 1973 the Homecoming game ended in a 42-0 victory for the DMLC Lancers, and in 1974 the team played on their own field for the first time. “Fabulous Fifties” was the theme for the 1983 Homecoming, which featured a whole week of dress-up days and a pep fest on Friday evening with skits by each of the classes carrying out the 50’s theme. 1983 DMLC band marches past the Glockenspiel
1967 Lancer cheerleaders on parade: Ruthie Schroeder, Christine Schultz, Christine Zahn, Joan Trapp, Rhonda Dallmann
1972 Faculty float: polka band and football team
1967 Lancers on parade: Back: Paul Wachholz, Bob Schroer, Jack Gronholz, Gordon Vetter; front: Charles Schwartz and Gary Graf
1972 Lancer football
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Focus On By Alumni Director Steve Balza DMLC ’93
DMLC Class of 1965 REUNITES Forty-four class members, plus spouses and guests, made their way to New Ulm for the DMLC Class of 1965’s 50-year reunion. Class president Ron Schultz (pictured below in 1965 and again with his wife, Roseann, today) noted the following highlights in his post-reunion letter to classmates. “Reminiscing with classmates at the Thursday night get-together left us smiling in agreement and laughing a great deal. It was great fun! You would agree that we had the best of the best—Christian education and Christian friends. The cafeteria is amazing! Food and beverage choices rival the best buffet restaurant. Former professor Jack Minch is in charge of the evening hours, and he has made it a place for students to gather until midnight. Often hundreds come to study, eat, and just have a good time visiting with each other. What a change!
DMLC Class of 1965
Worshiping with future pastors and teachers in the Chapel of the Christ was so uplifting. After the devotion Professor Emeritus Arnold Koelpin explained the symbolism incorporated into the various parts of the beautiful sanctuary. Professor Koelpin also gave a great bus tour of New Ulm. As New Ulm’s former mayor, he knows just about everything about it. There were about 75 at the Kaiserhoff for the banquet. Professors Schulz, Wessel, Backer, and Koelpin honored us with their presence. We give thanks to our almighty and loving God for preserving D/MLC in its focus and mission, and allowing this reunion to occur. I wish you joy and blessing as you read and reminisce about our classmates. The Lord is good, his love endures forever!”
Milwaukee Lutheran Teachers College (MLTC) graduates
Several classes and affinity groups are already working on reunions for next year. Check out the reunion webpage at mlc-wels.edu/alumni/reunions and contact Steve Balza in the alumni office (507.217.1731 / alumni@mlc-wels.edu) to start planning for your group gathering.
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The campus looks different after 50 years, but Old Main still stands tall and God’s Word is still our great heritage.
MLCAA Board Meets Homecoming Weekend Over Homecoming weekend, the MLC Alumni Association Board got their business done and then had a lot of fun. The “Enjoy a Coke with Alumni” bottle traveled quite a bit, landing in the hands of alumni from many different classes. On a more serious note, the alumni presented a check for $2,000 to MLC for financial aid.
Back row: John Nolte DMLC ’64, Jon Balge NWC ’83 WLS ’97, Adam Reinhard MLC ’03, Jason Oakland MLC ’00 WLS ’04, Russell Scoggins MLC ’14, Dan Kramer NWC ’93 WLS ’98, Aaron Hartwig MLC ’02, ’08, Steve Balza DMLC ’93, Jon Schaefer MLC ’02; Front row: Danielle Harris MLC ’19, Tonya Wolff DMLC ’94, Sarah Zahrt MLC ’99, Joel Russow MLC ’06 WLS ’10, Peter Sulzle MLC ’00 WLS ’04, Anne Wilson MLC ’98.
Mark the Date ATHLETICS: mlcknights.com CONCERTS October 4: October 31: November 22: December 5-6: February 14: March 11-21: April 3: April 16: May 13: May 15-20:
Wind Symphony College Choir Wind Symphony Christmas at MLC Wind Symphony College Choir Tour College Choir Wind Symphony MLC Commencement Wind Symphony Tour
Jon Schaefer and Tonya Wolff present a check to Student Senate President Orie Thomford (MLS / Zion-Chesaning MI).
The MLC Bookstore has just the right gift for your MLC fan! mlc-wels.edu/ bookstore/catalog
DRAMA November 6-8: Fall Musical Guys and Dolls December 11-12: Readers’ Theater It’s a Wonderful Life February 19-21: Winter Play You Can’t Take It With You April 28-30: Children’s Theater Once Upon a Wolf ALL EVENTS: mlc-wels.edu
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Focus On You’re Invited: Alumni Tour July 22 – August 3, 2016 Reaching New Heights: Colorado By MLC Alumni Director Steve Balza DMLC ’93 Lord willing, the 2016 MLC Alumni Tour will again bring WELS members together for an affordable, enjoyable, and educational travel experience in Colorado. Highlights include WELS worship (two Sunday services plus daily devotions led by MLC Professor Jim Pope), a Denver city tour, four national parks (Rocky Mountain, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes), a round trip ride on the Durango/Silverton railroad, Royal Gorge, the Air Force Academy chapel, Garden of the Gods, and an ascent of the 14,110-foot Pike’s Peak.
Travelers can opt to take the motor coach from New Ulm, or fly to Denver and join the group there (July 23-Aug 2). The motor coach option includes additional overnight accommodations and attractions in the Black Hills and Nebraska. Learn more at http://mlcalumni.wix.com/tours or contact Steve Balza (507.217.1731 / alumni@mlc-wels.edu) to be added to the mailing list. Brochures will be sent in late November.
Sponsored by the MLC Alumni Association, the tour is open to all WELS members. Registration opens December 1.
Great Sand Dunes NP
Durango-Silverton Railroad
Mesa Verde
Pikes Peak/Garden of the Gods
2015 Alumni Tour Group at the Old North Bridge: The 2015 tour visited all six New England states. It sold out all 55 spots in just over a week and had a waitlist of nearly 30 travelers. Don’t delay—register for this year’s tour right away!
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Daniel Koeller NWC 1991 Milwaukee WI
Meredith Milbrath MLC 2011 Owosso MI
Shawn Herkstroeter MLC 1996 Loveland CO
Laurie Radichel DMLC 1986 Prescott AZ
Meet the
Presidents
Northwestern College President
Northwestern College
Erwin E. Kowalke
1865-1869 Adam Martin
President Erwin E. Kowalke (1887-1973) was called to Northwestern College in 1913 to teach English and serve as the college’s first athletic director. The next year Hebrew was added to his duties, and he continued to teach English and Hebrew for 53½ years.
1871-1919 Dr. August F. Ernst
In 1919, he became the college’s fourth president, a role he filled until 1959. As the country suffered through the Depression and World War II, Kowalke kept the college on course. By the end of his tenure, this faithful servant, known to his students as EEK, was said to have trained more than 80% of WELS clergymen serving in the ministry.
1869-1870 Lewis O. Thompson
1919-1959 Erwin E. Kowalke 1959-1987 Carleton Toppe 1987-1993 Robert J. Voss 1993-1995 John Braun
Dr. Martin Luther College
Kowalke is also well-known as the author of Centennial Story: Northwestern College, 1865-1965 (Northwestern Publishing House: 1965). The Northwestern College Alumni Society honors the NWC presidents through memorial scholarships. The Erwin E Kowalke Grant for Biblical Languages is awarded annually to a preseminary student based upon his academic achievement, campus citizenship and participation, potential for pastoral ministry, and excellence in biblical languages. 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.
1884-1885 Christian J. Albrecht 1885-1893 Otto Hoyer 1893-1908 John Schaller 1908-1918 Adolph Ackermann 1918-1920 Johannes P. Meyer 1920-1936 Edmund Bliefernicht 1936-1966 Carl Schweppe 1966-1980 Conrad Frey 1980-1993 Lloyd O. Huebner 1993-1995 John Lawrenz
Martin Luther College 1994-2007 Theodore Olsen 2007-present Mark Zarling
Thomas Westendorf NWC 1971 Bay City MI
Julie Detjen DMLC 1986 Combined Locks WI
Nathan Smith MLC 2001 Zumbrota MN
David Grundmeier NWC 1976 Carroll IA
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1965 Alumna Still Giving and Living for Christ When Connie Luetzow Wilson graduated from DMLC in 1965 and was assigned to teach grade 5-8 at Grace in Muskegon, Michigan, she immediately found her education professor, Dr. Art Schulz, and told him they’d made a mistake! She was astonished to be given so much responsibility. “But I trusted the Lord and went to Muskegon,” she says. “It was difficult, but the Lord was with me.” And so it continued for 50 years—Connie trusting in her Savior and serving him wherever she was needed. There were a few years when she stayed home to be with her adopted baby and to “granny-nanny” her granddaughters, but other than that, she’s been teaching every year of her adult life. Kids of every age and grade level, from kindergarten to high school, have sat in her classrooms. She’s also taught VBS and 30 years of Sunday school. At 72, Connie is still busy and especially enjoys substitute teaching at Lakeside Lutheran High School. “It doesn’t get any better than spending a day with Christian teenagers!” she says. “I love my kids and keep them in my prayers, as all their teachers do.” She credits her energy to her dad, still active at 95. “It’s a wonderful blessing to have a healthy body with which to serve the Lord,” she says. Connie’s ministry story includes both joy and sorrow, of course—like the summer after her first year in Michigan, when two of her sixth-grade girls drowned at a birthday party. “We all were comforted, remembering how the little girls loved hearing stories about their Savior and singing the hymns. It had been new to them, and they had soaked it up with such joy.”
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Harley Mathweg DMLC 1941 Markesan WI
Daniel Myers NWC 1976 Colorado Springs CO
Connie says teaching has changed quite a bit in 50 years—and it’s also stayed the same. “I still remember with horror the old movie projectors and copy machines! But the things that count remain the same: learning the Bible verses, the catechism, the hymns. It’s wonderful to have those to recall during sleepless nights.” Connie also remembers her DMLC years very well. “My friend Janet Drury recently sent me pictures taken at the “K” [Veigel’s Kaiserhoff restaurant] on my 21st birthday. It brought back sweet memories of carefree times with friends. I also remember burning the midnight oil in the tower room typing papers. Not so sweet! “The professors were wonderful. I especially enjoyed any class with Professor Hartwig and Professor Schulz. And I loved my organ lessons with Professor Backer, even though I must have been his most frustrating student!” She says she was much better at trumpet—and still plays in fact. As of this interview she was practicing her part for the Easter service. “All the teachers and all the classes at DMLC prepared me for living a life of service wherever God can use me,” she says. In gratitude for her education—“and in an effort to help other young people obtain theirs”—Connie gives an automatic monthly gift through her credit card. She’s given about 120 gifts. She says it’s not a huge amount, but it’s what she can afford. “I think the emphasis should be on the regularity of the gift, not the amount.” We’re grateful to Connie Luetzow Wilson and all our donors who remember us with monthly electronic gifts via their credit card or bank account. Would you like to give? It’s easy. Go to mlc-wels.edu/give-to-mlc. Connie and other members of the DMLC Class of 1965 celebrated their 50th reunion September 17-19 on campus. Their last reunion was 30 years ago in 1985. See the photos and story on page 22.
Michelle Horn MLC 1996 Fond du Lac WI
Steven Bilitz DMLC 1971 Saginaw MI
SOLA Support & Outreach Legacy Association To UNITE and THANK donors who have included Martin Luther College in their estate plans and to ENCOURAGE others in the grace of giving.
SOLA Members Share the ‘Spirit’ of Giving By Kate Tohal, MLC Resource Development Counselor SOLA members Dave Jacobs DMLC ’66 and his wife, Esther (Wessel) Jacobs DMLHS ’61, read an article in Martin Luther College’s SOLA News about the creative ways MLC supporters were making gifts and raising funds. The article, called “Your Creativity Amazes Us,” got them wondering, “How can we get creative in support of MLC?” One of Dave’s hobbies is winemaking, so they decided to host a winetasting to benefit MLC scholarship funds—in particular, the Ellen Schmeling Early Childhood Education Scholarship Fund.
Although wines are not technically the same as “spirits,” the spirit of giving was certainly present that day, as the guests gave gifts to the scholarship fund and then left with a “thank-you” bottle of wine. MLC would like to thank SOLA members Dave and Esther Jacobs for their creativity and their generosity, demonstrated both in this event and in the estate gift they’ve established. If you’ve set up an estate gift—or would like to—please let us know so we can acknowledge your membership in SOLA, MLC’s Support and Legacy Outreach Society: advancement@mlc-wels.edu.
Ellen Schmeling’s husband, Dan, went to school with the couple, and they remembered that he had said, “I wish more of my fellow alumni would join me in providing financial support for current students who will lead our church in worship and in reaching the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ.” So on a beautiful day in May, Dave and Esther opened up their home to alumni from NWC, DMLC, DMLHS, and MLC for a winetasting. They set up eight stations with different flavored wines, each made by Dave and labeled “MLC Special.”
George DeNoyer DMLC 1966 Chatsworth CA
Helen Malchow DMLC 1981 Prairie du Chien WI
President Mark Zarling WLS ’80 led guests in a devotion and a presentation of MLC’s mission to train called workers to meet the ministry needs of WELS.
Douglas Weiser NWC 1966 Hazelton ND
Johnathan Earl DMLC 1961 Adrian MI
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This Christmas, we join you in magnifying HIS NAME! The birth, death, and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ changed everything for us sinners. Thanks be to God for his indescribable grace! Please partner with us at MLC as we prepare more men and women who will proclaim HIS NAME in the world.
Rev. Mark Zarling MLC President
M A RTI N LUT H ER C OL L EGE
CURRENT PRIORITIES
FINANCIAL AID
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AID
CAMPUS ENHANCEMENT
Your gift will help us fulfill our mission: preparing a corps of Christian witnesses who can meet the ministry needs of WELS, primarily as pastors, teachers, and staff ministers.
Your gift will help ensure that students committed to ministerial training can attend MLC despite financial obstacles and can graduate from MLC without excessive debt.
Your gift will help us train international students so they can take the gospel back to their own countries and all over the world.
Your gift will help us maintain our campus facilities and conduct repairs and improvements as needed.
mlc-wels.edu/give-to-mlc
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. The called workers nominated for the Shepherd Society receive a commemorative plaque with a personal Certificate of Appreciation from the MLC president. Bruce Backer Richard & Lois Balge Siegbert Becker Dustin Bergene Forrest & Sue Bivens Steven D. Bode Keith Bowe Paul Bowe John & Irene Brug Dan & Kathy Bruss Ronald Brutlag Norman Burger, Jr. Leroy & Betty Dobberstein Ann Dorn Paul Eckert Don & Clarice Fastenau Arthur Frenz Verlyn Fuhrmann Richard Gibson Barbara Green Gene Gronholz Jimmy Groth Robert Guenther
Beverlee Haar Susan Haar Harold Hagedorn Jon & Linda Hahm Don & Harriet Hartwig Michael Hein Richard Hennig Greg Hermanson Marilyn Jonas Gerhard Kaniess Dennis Kempf David Kuehl Timothy Kujath Lyle Lange Mark Lenz Barb Leopold Cheryl Loomis Phil Leyrer Steve Loehr Daniel Malchow Carla Melendy Theodore Olsen Armin & Virginia Panning
ReLv. Ste eroy vaenn D. Dith ogratbitudbeerd BeBtotyde w for st i shepherd or n ing Godhis we ’s pe k of
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Paul Patterson Ronald Pape Peggy Pekrul Jackson Petrie Herb & Char Prahl Esther & Virgil Raasch Rob Raasch Darvin Raddatz Wendy Ristow Dave & Sande Sauer Mr. & Mrs. Lloyd Schauer Hillmer John Schaible Doug Scherschel Edmund Schulz Richard Schwerin Joel & Carly Seifert Martin Sponholz John & Carrie Steinbrenner
William Steinbrenner Burton Stensberg Doug Stindt Steve Strieter Alan Treder Earle Treptow David & Janice Valleskey Bob & Bonnie Wasser Kathy Walz Chad White Kenneth White Erin E. Williams Ronald Winter Mark Zarling David Zietlow
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. It’s a great way to honor a special person, support the training of future called workers at MLC, and glorify the Good Shepherd! If you would like to thank a called worker who has made a difference in your life, please send us the following form with your gift. It’s a great way to help MLC, thank a special person, and glorify the Good Shepherd! Your Name_________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _______________________________________ City ____________________ State ______ Zip ____________ Phone _____________________________________ Email (opt) ____________________________________________ My gift of gratitude to MLC: $ ____ $100
$150
$200
$250 $_____
I’m giving this gift in honor of_________________________________________________________________________ (Name of WELS pastor, teacher, or staff minister)
Congregation and/or school where called worker serves/served:_____________________________________________ My Words of Gratitude: “I’m grateful to this called worker because_________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________
Please remit to The Shepherd Society, Martin Luther College, New Ulm MN 56073
Professor Peter Baganz DMLC ’87 presented “Projects and Techniques for Teaching Social Studies” at the Minnesota High School Teachers’ Conference in October.
a New Ulm ad hoc committee exploring local sales tax. Finally, he served as chaplain for the MLC Alumni Tour to New England this summer.
Professor Emeritus Ronald Brutlag DMLC ’67 was called by Risen Savior-Orlando FL to develop and open their new school, Risen Savior Academy.
Professor Paul Koelpin WLS ’90 was a delegate at the 2015 WELS Convention and preached the opening service sermon on 1 Corinthians 15, “Won in Christ.” In August, he presented “An Historian Looks into the Future: Perspectives on the Meaning and Uses of History” as part of a St. John-Wood Lake MN lecture series called Grandviews from the Vineyard. Finally, he presented “The Unique Features of the Gospels,” a two-evening series at the St. Mark-Eau Claire WI family Bible school.
Professor James Danell WLS ’90 was appointed to the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations. Also, he recently concluded five months of service as vacancy pastor at Trinity-Nicollet MN. Professor Brian Dose WLS ’85 presented “Lutheranism and Literature” at the B. W. Teigen Reformation Lectures at Bethany Lutheran College 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 Silver Spring MD in June. He also presented “Blend, Enhance, Flip: Recipes for Hybrid Learning” at the WELS Pacific Northwest Pastor/Teacher Conference in Leavenworth, Washington, in October. Professors Emeriti Susan Haar DMLC ’65 (pictured) and Carla Melendy PhD presented “Let’s Explore ECE Math and Science,” a twoday inservice for Dakota-Montana District early childhood teachers, at Great Plains LHS in June. Professor Daryl Hanneman DMLC ’75 presented “Promoting Success Among Exceptional Children” at the Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference in October. Professor J. Lance Hartzell DMLC ’71 presented “The 40 Years in the Wilderness” at the 40th anniversary of Faith-Anchorage AK in August. Professor Grace Hennig DMLC ’89 earned a Smithsonian Folkways Certificate in World Music Pedagogy at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul MN. Professor Emeritus Arnold J Koelpin WLS ’58 presented “Prairie Tales of Southwest Minnesota,” a four-session New Ulm community education offering, in February. He taught “Schooling for Life: The Significance of the Reformation Today,” a five-day satellite course offered by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary at MLC in July. He presented “The Significance of the Reformation Today” to the Mankato-New Ulm-Redwood Falls Pastors’ Conference in September and “The Lutheran Reformation: Breakthrough and Baseline for Christian Life and Action,” an open lecture at Samuel-Marshall MN in October. He was appointed to serve on 30 mlc-wels.edu
Professor Douglas Lange WLS ’82 presented a Bible study on Ezekiel at the Pacific Northwest District Pastors’ Institute at Evergreen LHS in June. Dr. John Meyer DMLC ’87 is helping facilitate a pilot program for the professional growth of veteran WELS teachers. Along with Commission on Lutheran Schools (CLS) Administrator James Rademan DMLC ‘82, he is training the principals of five pilot schools to implement formative supervision practices. With Professor Jonathan Schaefer MLC ’02 and Dr. Jeff Wiechman DMLC ’90, he presented “Supervision for Growth” in September. He and Schaefer also presented “Learning-Focused Supervision” at the South Central District Teachers’ Conference in Lowell, Arizona, in October. Professor Thomas Nass WLS ‘82 participated in official doctrinal discussions with representatives of the Church of the Lutheran Confession in January, April, and August. He also submitted over 1000 translation suggestions to the Holman Christian Standard Bible on behalf of the WELS Translation Liaison Committee this year. Instructor Brent Nolte DMA DMLC ’94 presented an organ recital in Chapel of the Christ in August and played for an organ rededication service at St. Paul-Athens WI in October. Professor Jonathan Roux MLC ’95 presented “Teaching Religion 2.0 – Revisiting a Classic,” a double sectional at the Minnesota District Teachers’ Conference. He and Dr. Cindy Whaley DMLC ’76 presented a sectional on the English/Language Arts Common Core State Standards at the Nebraska/Dakota-Montana District Teachers’ Conference in October. Professor Jonathan Schaefer MLC ’02 presented “Analyzing Student Work” and led a Beginning Teachers’ Forum at the Michigan District Teachers’ Conference in October. Also in October he presented “Standards to Maximize Student Learning” at the Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference.
Professor Tingting Zhang Schwartz earned her synod certification and her MS-Ed from MLC in May. Last spring, she promoted MLC’s Chinese program at Arizona Lutheran Academy, California LHS, Lakeside LHS, and Luther Prep. In April, she taught a four-week New Ulm community education course on Chinese culture. In May, she and her husband, Dan Schwartz, participated in a two-week mission trip to Indonesia for Kingdom Workers. Finally, she traveled to Beijing last summer, accompanying two MLC students, guiding St. Croix LHS teachers and students for a one-week cultural experience, and then conducting simultaneous interpretation for a one-week education course for Chinese teachers taught by Professor James Holman DMLC ’77 of Wisconsin Lutheran College and Cynthia Holman DMLC ’77, WELS national coordinator of early childhood ministries. Professor Adrian Smith MLC ’03 earned his Master of Church Music degree from Concordia University Wisconsin. Dr. Wayne Wagner DMLC ’72 concluded an organ consulting project at Zion-Columbus WI in October, playing the refurbished and expanded Berghaus/Wangerin pipe organ as part of the dedication recital. He is currently consulting on five other organ projects in Wisconsin and California. He also performed at a recital commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The recital was held at MLC Chapel of the Christ in October. Professor Keith Wessel WLS ’91 presented the keynote, “We Teach Christ in All We Do” at the WELS Association of Lutheran Educators (WALE) Conference at Wisconsin Lutheran College in October. He was also appointed to the WELS Hymnal Executive Committee, chairing the Occasional Services Subcommittee of the Rites Committee. Professor Miles Wurster has been accepted into the doctor of arts program in music education and conducting at Ball State University. He was music director for the State Street Theater production of Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang last summer, and he served as guest conductor for two groups in September: the Bethany Lutheran College Alumni Band Invitational and the Minnesota River Valley Wind Ensemble. President Mark Zarling WLS ’80 taught a Pastors’ Institute course for the Colonial North Conference of the North Atlantic District in April. He also preached at the opening service of the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Grow in Grace retreat for pastors and spouses who are celebrating 10 years or 25 years of service. He and his wife, Colette DMLC ’76, also led a marriage workshop at the retreat.
New Faculty Heather Kressin MLC ’15 Lead teacher at MLC Early Childhood Learning Center Heather (nee Danell) is married to Nicholas Kressin MLC ’15. Melissa Nehls MLC ’10 Preschool teacher at MLC Early Childhood Learning Center Melissa (nee Harris) taught K-1 at Mount Olive-Overland Park KS, worked as the lead toddler teacher at BHC Child Development Center-Burbank CA, and then started a K4 program at St. Paul’s First-North Hollywood. She and her husband, Brad Nehls MLC ’00, have a 1-year-old son, Micah. Daniel Fenske DMLC ’87 Science professor Dan taught at Peridot-San Carlos Apache Reservation, St. John-Waterloo WI, and Northland LHS, where he served as science instructor and technology coordinator. He has an MS in education from Cardinal Stritch University-Milwaukee. He and his wife Lisa (nee Strangman) have three children, Taylor (18), Seth (17), and Brianna (14). Peter Baganz DMLC ’87 History professor Peter served at Our Savior-Bylas AZ and Huron Valley LHS, where he taught US history, world history, and computer, and served as technology director. He has an MA in history from Eastern Michigan University. He and his wife, Christine (nee Norder), have a 3-year-old son, Jacob. David Roekle MLC ’15 Admissions counselor David is married to Hannah (nee Mattek) MLC ’13. Isaac Crass WLS ’15 Dormitory supervisor, theology instructor Isaac served Abiding Grace-Covington GA for his vicar year (2013-2014).
New Staff Kelsey Horn RN
JoElyn Krohn
Campus Health Services Coordinator
Financial Literacy Coordinator and Counselor
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We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD.
Psalm 78:4