Encouraging a Ministry Mindset

Rev. Chris Dale (left) and Daniel Nusbaum.

BY EMELINE GULLIXSON ('21)

Not all students enter into education classes at Bethany knowing exactly the kind of teaching track that they want to pursue. Some are set on a public school teaching track, while others are sure that they want Synod Certification, meaning that they are able to be called to teach in Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) and Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) schools.

A number of students are undecided about pursuing Synod Certification, and many do not fully understand the process. This is what motivated Dr. Carrie Pfeifer, Professor of Education at Bethany, to bring attention to the blessings that come from teaching at Christian day schools.

In September 2021, Pfeifer organized an event over Zoom called Ministry Mindset. Current Bethany education students were able to hear from Bethany education graduates Jayde (Thompson '19) Faugstad and Daniel Nusbaum ('19)–who are both now teaching in ELS schools–about their experiences, why they chose to become Synod certified, and what teaching in a Christian day school is like.

“Even over video, it was such a personal and encouraging experience that gave students a great taste for what teaching in our Christian day schools is like,” said Pfeifer.

Pfeifer also noted that though she could tell students what teaching in a Lutheran school might be like, hearing about those experiences from former Bethany education students was sure to make more of an impact.

Shu-Ting Lai, principal at Bethany Lutheran School in Port Orchard, Washington, has seen the blessings that have come from having Faugstad as their third and fourth grade teacher. Lai also participated in the event and shared some information about Christian day schools with students.

“We certainly need Christian teachers in public schools, but our Christian day schools can also be a huge mission opportunity,” said Lai. “Many parents send their children to these private schools for reasons not having to do with the Lutheran focus, like the small teacher-student ratio, the moral teachings, and the small school environment.”

There is certainly a need for more teachers in ELS and WELS schools. However, some education students are apprehensive about the call process, knowing that they might get placed anywhere in the country. This was a relatable fear for both Faugstad and Nusbaum, though eventually, they had turning points in their college careers that led them to pursue Synod Certification.

Nusbaum teaches fifth through twelfth grade at Christ Lutheran School in Port Saint Lucie, Florida,–on the opposite coast from Faugstad. For Nusbaum, the small school environment played a large role in his decision to be called to an ELS or WELS school.

“After student teaching in Minnesota, I realized that I wanted to be placed somewhere smaller, where I could really connect with the community of students and parents,” Nusbaum said. “At a certain point, I just had to trust God’s hand in the process.”

Nusbaum and Faugstad, who both grew up in the Midwest, said that they in no way saw themselves moving across the country to teach in a Lutheran school. Now, they could not imagine themselves teaching anywhere else, both finding tight-knit communities in their respective churches and schools.

Aside from these blessings, the two both touched on their favorite job perk: sharing the Gospel with students from varying faith backgrounds.

“The best part of my job, hands down, is being able to be a light for students and to watch them grow in their faith,” said Faugstad. Some of my students have never heard any Bible stories before, so it’s a privilege to be able to share the Gospel with them for the first time.”

Shu-Ting Lai (left) and Jayde Faugstad.