FALL 2012
In This Issue... Please Partner with Us in “Let the Children Come” 100 Years for the Sprinter Address Service Requested 1995 Luther Court New Ulm, MN 56073
NON-PROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID MANKATO, MN 56001 PERMIT #47
Daylight: Students Assisting in Ministry
InFocus Staff WRITER/EDITOR Laurie Gauger DMLC ’86 PHOTOGRAPHERS William Pekrul DMLC ’80 Catherine St. John Rebecca Wilkens Kendra Korth COPY EDITOR Heidi Schoof DMLC ’86 GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. Office of Mission Advancement VICE PRESIDENT Jon Scharlemann 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 VP for MISSION ADVANCEMENT Jon Scharlemann Governing Board Chairman Michael Woldt WLS ’81 Roy Beyer WLS ’76 Keith Bowe DMLC ’79 Jonathan Hahm DMLC ’71 Jonathan Kolander WLS ’91 Stephen Loehr Michael Otterstatter WLS ’94 Timothy Petermann Barry Price Steven Rosenbaum DMLC ’86 Michael Schultz WLS ’89 William Steinbrenner Jeffrey Wegner WLS ’87 Advisory: Charles Degner WLS ’79 Randy Matter Paul Prange WLS ’88 Mark Schroeder WLS ’81 Mark Zarling WLS ’80 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 Martin Luther College InFocus, 1995 Luther Court, New Ulm MN 56073.
Don’t Ask for Just a Few By MLC President Mark Zarling WLS ’80
An empty house. A woman widowed, impoverished, terrified she’ll lose her two boys. A creditor on the way, seeking those sons as slaves for his recompense. One can almost hear the woman’s sobs echoing off the bare walls and floor. When asked by God’s prophet, she replies that all she has is a little oil. But what a powerful God can do with little! The prophet tells her to ask her neighbors for jars. Don’t ask for just a few, he says. Elisha knows that with God, nothing is impossible. God does not operate from a perspective of scarcity. And events prove it. Oil flows, and not a little. Every jar filled. Oil sold. Debts paid. Widow and sons saved. What David sang, the widow hums: I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. How directly can we apply this Scripture to our present circumstances? Certainly, it’s a descriptive, not a prescriptive, section. Yet the Word does speak clear truths about what we are to expect from God. • Truth one: Ask confidently. You do not have, because you do not ask God, James says. • Truth two: Ask boldly, because God is in the giving business. Paul urges: He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? And elsewhere: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory! • Truth three: Submit to God’s will. We pray Thy will be done because we know that as sinful mortals we don’t know all God’s plans. We heed the psalmist who says, Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. And we let God determine the definition of success, for he reminds us: In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. So, friends of MLC, dare we ask God for an enrollment that makes our dorms overflow as the jars of oil above? Dare we ask God for financial blessings surpassing the campaign goal for “Let the Children Come”? Dare we ask God for more faculty and staff to prevent responsibility overload? Dare we ask God? But of course! And we are confident in Jesus’ words: Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give it. He will send students, for he himself prayed, Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers. He will send faculty and staff with servants’ hearts to MLC, for When he ascended on high, he gave gifts to his people. He will move the hearts of God’s people to generosity, for the Spirit of God bestows the grace of giving. The gifts will “fill every jar,” and we will see the abundance—in dollars, in prayers, in gifts of service, in students eager to learn, in Spirit-worked faith and love. There will be abundance. The Savior God can do no other! On our cover: Students like Abby Mehlberg are preparing for early childhood ministry and looking forward to the building of our new Early Childhood Learning Center.
here on the
this year at mlc Drama
Music
Nov 2-4
Winter Play Feb 15-17 A Witness for the Prosecution
Choir Concerts Nov 11, Feb 20, Mar 24, Apr 13
Readers’ Theater Dec 7-8 A Tale of Two Cities
Children’s Theater Apr 26-27 Who Can Fix the Dragon’s Wagon?
Wind Symphony Concerts Nov 18, Feb 10
Fall Musical Singin’ in the Rain
Christmas Concert
Dec 8-9
Commencement Concert May 17
Welcome, High School Students! Focus on Ministry: MLC welcomed 350 high school student visitors this fall for Focus on Ministry. These weekends are uniquely designed to introduce high schoolers to our campus, our programs, our faculty, and our students, as well as answer their questions about the public ministry. On October 11-13, we hosted MVL, WISCO (pictured), and several public school students. On November 1-3, we hosted Lakeside, Shoreland, KML, FVL, Nebraska, WLA, Rocky Mountain, LPS, Luther, Northland, Great Plains, and MLS. We anticipate another 300 for the final Focus on Ministry February 7-9, 2013. In addition to these events, we host individuals and groups by appointment all year long. Please contact us if you wish to visit: 507.354.8221 or admissions@mlc-wels.edu.
MLC Tip-Off Tournament: We welcome four Lutheran high schools November 30-December 1 for a weekend of basketball and fun.
WELS National Band Festival: March 15-17 will see musicians from 22 Lutheran high schools on the MLC campus, celebrating God’s gift of music through performance of some of the best wind band literature. MLC Professor Miles Wurster reports that a new work has been commissioned for the festival by composer Jesse Ayers. Based on the hymn tune AN WASSERFLÜSSEN BABYLON (A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth), the work will feature organ with wind band. MLC Adjunct Instructor Brent Nolte will serve as organist for this premier. Mark your calendars now for the concert Sunday, March 17, at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of the Christ.
The alumni photos at the bottom of each page are from the anniversary classes of MLC, NWC, and DMLC: ’38, ’43, ’48, ’53, ’58, ’63, ’68, ’73, ’78, ’83, ’88, ’93, ’98, ’03, and ’08. Thanks to Alumni Director Steve Balza ’93, who provided this random selection of alums.
Lloyd Hahnke NWC 1943 Litchfield MN
Heather Barron MLC 1998 Lakewood CO
3
here on the
Thanks to generous gifts from our graduates, the MLC Alumni Association gave the 60-year-old Center Street entry sign a major overhaul, including beam and sign replacement, new lighting, landscaping, tuck pointing, and a long-overdue power wash.
MLC Enrolls 1200+ Undergrad, graduate, and continuing education student enrollment this year is estimated at more than 1200. (Not all continuing education students have registered yet.) On-campus undergrads number 708: 393 from area Lutheran high schools, 200 from prep schools, 100 from public schools, and 15 from other. The students hail from six countries and all districts of the WELS.
4
4
Amanda Bater MLC 2003 Lansing MI College Martin Luther
Larry Cross NWC 1963 Grand Island NE
Stephanie Sellnow MLC 2008 Wyoming MI
Ernst Wendland NWC 1968 Lusaka, Zambia
Martin Luther College Choir Tour 2013 Fri, Feb 22, 10:30 am St. Croix LHS-West St Paul MN
Mon, Feb 25, 7:00 pm St. Peter-Fort Collins CO
Fri, Mar 1, 7:00 pm Gethsemane-Omaha NE
Fri, Feb 22, 7:00 pm Christ-Baxter MN
Tue, Feb 26, 10:30 am Rocky Mountain LHS-Denver CO
Sat, Mar 2, 7:00 pm Our Savior-Brookings SD
Sat, Feb 23, 7:00 pm Our Savior-Bismarck ND
Tue, Feb 26, 7:00 pm Fount of Life-Colorado Springs CO
Sun, Mar 3, 10:00 am Trinity-Clear Lake SD
Sun, Feb 24, 9:00 am Redeemer-Mandan ND
Wed, Feb 27, 7:00 pm Shepherd of the Valley Westminster CO
Sun, Mar 24, 3:00 pm Martin Luther College Chapel of the Christ
Sun, Feb 24, 7:00 pm St. Paul-Rapid City SD
Thu, Feb 28, 7:00 pm Bethel-York NE
MLC Schantz Organ Featured on MPR
New Ulm Day of Play: U.S. Surgeon General, Vice Admiral Regina Benjamin (pictured, middle) graced our campus September 29 for the first New Ulm Day of Play. With over 100 MLC students volunteering, we hosted this event in partnership with the Heart of New Ulm Project and the New Ulm Medical Center. About 1000 children and adults spent the day exploring activities that combined play and exercise. Professor John Gronholz DMLC ’68 chaired the steering committee.
Henry Engelhardt DMLC 1938 Elgin ND
Rachel Johnston MLC 1998 Spooner WI
Music from the Schantz organ in our Chapel of the Christ was heard on Minnesota Public Radio’s program Pipedreams®. Hosted by Michael Barone, the program included selections from both the Thomas Trotter concert (4/17/12) and the Wyatt Smith recital (2/12/12) the week of October 22. This is considerable air time for one instrument on a Pipedreams program. To listen to the archived program and read more details, visit pipedreams.publicradio.org.
James Hahm MLC 1998 Hilton Martin NY Luther College
Amy Martin DMLC 1973 Midland MI 5
5
Let the Children Come Martin Luther College invites you to partner with us in an exciting endeavor! Please help us build a new Early Childhood Learning Center.
Cynthia Holman WELS National Coordinator of Early Childhood Ministries
“
One of the challenges we face is providing directors and teachers who are trained for early childhood ministry. The new Early Childhood Learning Center at MLC will be a marvelous facility to provide the training and the field experience to prepare young men and women to serve his little ones and their families.
” Why does MLC Need a New Early Childhood Learning Center?
Jennifer Mehlberg Lead Instructor, MLC Early Childhood Learning Center
“
We get to teach these children about Jesus’ love for them. We get to show their parents how to start praying and ways to read Bible stories with their children. We build these relationships and then invite them to our church to learn more about Christ’s saving work for us.
”
6
6
Because early childhood ministries are exploding! In 2011-2012, over 12,000 preschoolers were enrolled in 403 preschools, double the number enrolled 10 years ago. These preschools need well-trained teachers, and those teachers come from MLC. Because early childhood ministries open doors—big, wide doors—to the gospel. Twenty-five percent of the children enrolled in WELS preschools are non-Christian or unchurched. Let’s think about that. One in every four little souls has little, if any, acquaintance with the Savior who loves them! And we might surmise that their families have the same great need. Preschool teachers are on the frontlines of kingdom work. Because your congregation may start a preschool. If so, you'll want well-trained teachers. MLC is where they receive that training. MLC graduates present themselves at Call Day firmly grounded in the Word . . . licensed by the Minnesota Board of Teaching . . . understanding early child growth and development . . . adept at creating developmentally appropriate learning environments . . . conversant with the latest in educational research . . . and seasoned with many hours of clinical experience.
Karl Schauland MLC 2008 Lewiston MN Martin Luther College
Philip Heyer NWC 1978 Fort Wayne IN
Gladys Lindloff DMLC 1943 Elkton SD
Daniel Habben NWC 1993 Tokyo, Japan
• 15,000 square feet plus room for expansion • Capacity of 93 children (age 0-5), plus staff and student teachers • Construction begins Spring 2013 • Occupancy planned for Fall 2013 Lobby and Gathering Area: Computer
sign-in, comfortable furniture, hot coffee!
Preprimary Spaces: Two rooms for
30 students each.
Cheryl Loomis
Infant and Toddler Spaces: Rooms in
MLC Professor of Early Childhood Education
close proximity allow for relationships among the groups—including siblings! Nap rooms assist with quiet routine.
“
Outdoor Play Spaces: One for preprimary
children and one for infants and toddlers, with age-appropriate equipment.
Art Studio: Abundant space and supplies to inspire imaginations. Motor Skills Room: Space and equipment for physical development.
When MLC graduates are assigned to begin an ECE ministry, they often start from scratch to find appropriate physical space, recruit students, develop mission statements, lay out curricula, meet countless government regulations, and do publicity. And they do that with confidence.
”
Higher Education Classroom:
For ECE majors. Easy access to children’s classrooms. Also wired for video technology so that our instruction will be available to anyone anyplace in the world!
Workroom and Curriculum Library:
Resources for teachers, student teachers, and parents.
Because your congregation wants a stronger preschool. Your teachers already love children and are serving faithfully. If they desire professional growth, we will train them—and offer them financial assistance as well. The result: a more effective—and licensed!—preschool, more confident teachers, and a big boost in your credibility in the community. Through MLC, your teachers can . . . • enroll in a full early childhood education degree program; • enroll in a few continuing education courses, either online or on campus; • register for webinars produced at the new center; • log onto our website to see short instructional videos/webinars on a variety of topics; or • visit our center and see first-hand what high-quality early childhood education looks like. As your center grows, MLC can then provide more staff—highly qualified teachers—just as we do for your Lutheran elementary school and Lutheran high school.
Christina Hains DMLC 1983 Santa Monica CA
Barbara Schultz DMLC 1978 Missoula MT
Rachel Lindwurm
“
MLC Junior, Early Childhood Education Major The financial assistance I receive allows me to dedicate more time to my studies rather than working all the time. It gives me confidence knowing that others out there are supporting my decision to teach early childhood.
Ronald Glock DMLC 1973 New London WI Luther College Martin
”
Marie Eiteneier DMLC 1963 Akaska SD 7
7
Let the Children Come Jennifer Uhlhorn MLC Junior, Early Childhood Education Major
“
I have seen the plans, and boy, that is the perfect preschool setup. It is a dream center! Our synod can look to the new center as an example, and it will give us students ideas of how we want our future classrooms to be.
”
You may be wondering . . . Is the new Early Childhood Learning Center for little children or for college students? Both. It will be a functioning early childhood center in New Ulm that also serves as a training center for MLC students. Educational parlance calls this a laboratory school.
Rebecca Rixe MLC ’08, Preschool Director, Crown of Life-Fort Myers FL
“
I was assigned to start a preschool in Wisconsin. I was a little fearful, but I found I was more prepared than I thought. MLC taught me how to design registration forms and handbooks, what items to purchase, how to set up a classroom, how to design a schedule, and how to teach developmentally appropriate lessons. In my second call here in Florida, I still use what I learned at MLC.
”
8
8
Do early childhood teachers really need special training? Isn’t nurturing children instinctive? A nurturing love for children does come naturally to some people. And if early childhood education were simply babysitting, that love might be enough. But early childhood education is not glorified babysitting. Nor is it a simplified version of teaching older children. Our early childhood education majors are trained specifically to nurture and teach children ages 0-8. They earn 33 credits in professional courses like Child Development (Ages 0-8), Preprimary Curriculum, Teaching Literacy, and Administration of Early Childhood Programs. “We need someone in every facility to have a 0-8 teaching license,” says MLC Professor Cheryl Loomis. “We train one teacher at a time. That’s how a whole school improves.” Shouldn’t infants and toddlers be home with their parents? The reality is, some parents will take their children, even their infants, to a care center of some kind. We’d like it to be a high-quality center where they’re safe, where they’re engaged in age-appropriate learning activities, and—most important!—where they’ll hear about the love of their Savior. And their parents will too; in fact, our teachers often talk about spiritual matters and parenting issues with families. This flows naturally as relationships grow between teachers and parents.
Amanda Miller MLC 2008 Douglas MACollege Martin Luther
James Strand NWC 1993 Racine WI
Milton Weishahn NWC 1938 Plymouth NE
Diane Kumm MLC 2003 Round Lake Beach IL
What is this senior living complex that I sometimes hear about in conjunction with the Early Childhood Learning Center? Is this part of the Let the Children Come capital campaign? No, the senior living complex is a completely different project. That facility will be developed by the Doneff Company and managed by The Lutheran Home Association. Having senior living and our ECLC in close proximity will present wonderful prospects for intergenerational ministry, and we are very excited about that. But the funds for Let the Children Come will be directed only to the ECLC.
Nancy Anderson
Jesus said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
“
Ministry, r College of ou t a Martin s r e or ed through ss Dear Lab le b s a h work God Come iced in the jo e r g n lo the Children ve t e L I ha r ou y nsidered Even ge. I also co ose efforts. th in in jo Luther Colle ors is ortunity to s and direct r onderful opp e w ch a a te n ig d a oo p cam . early childh in a donation at training d n th se ow to n k ve I though e initiati exactly never took th st ju I , leased was d e e r d e y e tl n n y ce e tl a r gre at was that gave t material th n a r g e the donors g n r lle fo l fu te a The cha r faith ded. I'm g ir works of ment I nee e e th g a y ur a co M n e . ly the so bold M all to challenged us d n a y sl oal of $1.25 ou g r e is th d e so gen e et and exc est donation hers to me ot e ir sp in ept this mod cc o a als se a le P esus. our Savior J the glory of goal. toward that In Christ,
ber WELS mem A thankful
3, a grou of anony p mous do nors will match gif ts for Let the Child Come do ren llar for d ollar, up to $1.2 5 million .
Kenneth Nolte DMLC 1963 New Ulm MN
Beth Lauersdorf DMLC 1983 Jefferson WI
When I accepted my call six years ago, I knew I needed more knowledge to do my job. And to have a licensed center, the lead teacher needs a certain number of credits in early childhood. I took MLC courses on campus, online, and here in Washington. I’m happy to report that I’ve met all the state’s requirements and Lambs of Faith is now licensed for all-day preschool.
”
Challeng e CHALLEN GGErGa R AN n tT! Through June 201
Please partner with us as we Thanks b build a new Early Childhood e to God! Learning Center! Send your mlc-wels .edu gift to Let the Children Come, 1.877.M LC.1995 MLC, 1995 Luther Ct, New Ulm MN 56073. Or give online at mlc-wels.edu.
Lead Teacher, Lambs of Faith-Tacoma WA
Seth Fitzsimmons,
“
Principal, St. Paul-Norfolk NE Our grade school has seen a more than 50 percent increase in enrollment over the past five years. Many of the new kindergarten students hail from the preschool classes—13 of the 19 kindergartners this school year attended Little Lambs Preschool. It’s all God, working through people.
”
Michael Novotny MLC 2003 GreenMartin Bay WI Luther College
Sara Mittelstaedt DMLC 1993 Largo MD9
9
Sixth Annual
Thalassa Prize 2012 Grand Prize Winner Pausing briefly, the laborer looked out longingly from the construction site where he worked. Below, his tired eyes could see shops cascading with fresh produce, colorful clothing, and sparkling crystal. Up wafted the smells of pork, sauerkraut, and dumplings from a nearby restaurant. Shoppers’ footsteps clicked across the cobblestones. He had come here from the East to work for higher pay. The money would make him wealthy back in his homeland. Perhaps he would use it to buy a place for himself when he went back – if he ever went back. Days later, I returned to share this photo with him, but he had moved. New workers had already filled his place. As the new workers and I spoke in a mix of broken languages, I invited them to come and visit our mission. All around us are people desperately searching for a better life. Teaching in a foreign mission field immersed me in an ocean of lost souls in search of a better life. Ordinary daily encounters like meeting the workers, greeting my neighbors, or even asking for help at a store, often started a conversation. Quizzically I was asked, “Why did you come to the Czech Republic?” My reply always included an invitation to visit our church, Bible class, or conversation club.
10
Many times the Lord led those invited guests to visit our mission unaware that hearing God’s word brought them closer to their goal of finding a betterMartin life. Luther College
“Searching for a Better Life”
By Paul Kelm DMLC ’86 — Czech Republic
What joy it brings when someone comes to faith in Jesus! I thank God for the opportunities he gives me and all his people to have conversations which lead to sharing his word. Through God’s word, the Spirit gives the gift of a “better life” to searching souls. To them he gives it eternally.
Paul taught the children of two missionary families in Japan from 1987 to 1989, and then he taught at Skola Martina Luthera, a K-9 school in the Czech Republic, from 1994 to 2006. He also led English Conversation club and English Bible classes in the Czech Republic, which is where he took his photo.
Through MLC’s Daylight International program, our graduates teach all over the globe! Nineteen 2012 grads chose international service last May, joining dozens of others who are already making their mark on the world—and on people’s hearts with the gospel. The 2012 Thalassa winner, Paul Kelm DMLC ’86, below left, gives us a glimpse into this kind of service. Paul Kelm received $1000 from an anonymous donor, $500 of which he directed to Thoughts of Faith.
2012 RUNNER-UP A parade is a sign of celebration in Mexico. But confetti and music are the roses whose sweet aroma hardly stifles the stench of bloodshed. Narco traffickers control the streets of Mexico. They own the highways and the byways. They pay off cops and mayors, children and businessmen to move and sell their illegal product. Recently, the Mexican government has tried to clamp down on the corruption and drug trafficking that have run loose in the country for years. This zealous attempt at reform has ended in grenades decimating shopping malls and machine guns riddling innocent bystanders. The country has erupted into a state of civil war.
“Confetti and Guns”
By Ryan Kolander MLC ’10 — Mexico
Such violence has shut citizens inside their homes. Such devastation has limited the outreach done by our missionaries. Such lawlessness has threatened the safety of our national pastors and driven our missionaries out of Torreon, the Lutheran “headquarters” of Mexico.
Shepherd takes care of his sheep. The church in Torreon continues to thrive, and has even seen new member gains since the departure of our missionaries. Because they had to leave Torreon, those missionaries settled in a new place. Leon, a city in Mexico’s most Catholic state, has witnessed a new Lutheran mission flower into a growing congregation.
Yet despite the apparent hopelessness of the political situation, the Good
The situation gives us a faint reminder of the early church. When
persecution pressed down upon believers, the faith spread to places they never imagined. This is how God extends his gospel to those who have never heard it—through unexpected ways. Ryan taught English in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico, from June 2010 to July 2011 as a way of building bridges between the church and the community to share the gospel.
Martin Luther College
11
Work While It Is Day
Students Assisting In Ministry Every spring break and summer vacation, dozens of MLC students hop on planes to the farthest corners of the US and go to work for WELS congregations, assisting them in their local ministries. We call this Daylight USA. Working under the motto “Work while it is day,” these students—about 150-200 a year—give their best for a week or a whole summer in a place far from home. The result: churches get an infusion of enthusiasm and energy from these young people, and the students get a big slice of ministry experience. Summer 2012 saw 70+ students assisting in 25 different locations. Here are a few highlights:
UTAH From July 28 to August 4, Provo and Salt Lake City were home to (pictured) Haley Roske (St. John-New Ulm MN), Aaron Kristopeit (Zion-South Milwaukee), Eric Fricke (St. John-Baraboo WI), Angelica Burk (Hope-Chino Valley AZ), Steven Millerman (Redeemer-Rice Lake WI), and Seth Meyer (Beautiful Savior-Green Bay WI). They canvassed four hours a day, speaking to Mormons about their Savior, Jesus Christ. “At MLC,” said Angelica, “it is easy to become complacent, because you are around people who believe and are saved. In Provo, the urgency of the need for the gospel just burns within you. You’re surrounded by people who are totally salt of the earth, the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and yet they do not know Jesus.” She continued, “I really learned how to share my faith in a way that is not argumentative. The biggest challenge of witnessing to Mormons is refraining from debating them. That is true of sharing your faith with anyone really. We are saved because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and we need to share that with others and let the Holy Spirit do the work. It is not us, it is him. This was a faith-building experience, and I am extremely grateful I was able to be a part of it.”
,
HAWAII
12
Martin Luther College
Luke Pudlo (St. James-Prairie du Sac WI), Alison Filter (St. Paul-Lake Mills WI), Charissa Scharf (Living Water-Hot Springs Village AR), and Ross Chartrand (Bethlehem-Manassas VA) spent their two weeks of Daylight ministry at Community-Honolulu HI. They organized and coached a soccer camp for kids 3-13. “The kids and parents all came from very different walks of life,” said Charissa, “and they were excited to be at the camp and to hear God’s Word. I loved being able to talk to them. Some of them had never even heard about Jesus.”
TEXAS Amber Flunker (St. Peter-Freedom WI) and Anne Jeffery (Shepherd of the Hills-La Mesa CA) spent the summer at Prince of Peace-Houston TX, where they filled many roles—preschool teachers, day camp counselors, and VBS coordinators—sometimes at the same time! The alarm clocks rang early, as they supervised a preschool for 3-5 year olds every day from 7 am to 6 pm. “We created and implemented daily lesson plans according to weekly themes: Dinosaur Week, Bug Week, Counting Week, etc.,” said Anne. “Every Monday was Art Day, Tuesday was Science Day, Wednesday was Cooking Day, Thursday was Splash Day, and Friday was Special Guest Day. We were educators and day care providers.” For four of the 10 weeks, they also operated a day camp for children 6-12 years old, creating activities and crafts for their weekly themes. “During these weeks,” Anne explained, “Amber and I would tag team running the preschool or being with the older children at the day camp.” One other week was Vacation Bible School, in which congregation volunteers helped Anne and Amber with the 50 children ages 4-14 who enrolled. “This experience gave me a taste of what the called servant’s life is all about—it takes a lot of time and energy,” Anne said. “And although it took a lot of patience and coffee, I learned so much about the impact a teacher has on a child. Each day, we provided these children with a safe and comfortable environment in which they could grow academically, socially, and spiritually. Seeing their development was the most rewarding experience I could have asked for as I study to become a teacher.”
COLORADO Seth Meyer (Beautiful Savior-Green Bay WI) and Eric Fricke (St. John-Baraboo WI) served the whole summer in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. They canvassed, taught VBS, coached soccer Bible camps, and did anything else requested of them by the 10 congregations they served. “We asked the MLC students to be ready to handle any duties a mission church, a mission board, or a summer camp threw at them,” said Pastor Wayne Uhlhorn WLS ’90 (Fount of Life-Colorado Springs). “They responded with enthusiasm, hard work, joy, and a servant’s heart. God has certainly blessed them with many gifts for ministry. I know that our mission district was served well.” Eric and Seth were served well too. “I learned what mission work is about, how to canvass, how nice people can be, how to witness to Mormons, and how ministry is done outside the Midwest,” said Eric. “I especially liked getting to see how different called workers serve with their different personalities and in their different locations.” This photo was taken at Our Savior-Longmont CO, where they coached a soccer camp. Seth explains: “To help sharpen the kid’s kicking skills, we threw together a game in which they did two activities they all enjoy, running around and kicking the ball at Coach. This picture was the aftermath of it.” And about the summer in general, Seth added, “We enjoyed everything about it.”
Martin Luther College
13
Focus On MLC Students “My Name Is Petra”
cannot simply choose by their own will to become a Shaman King.
By Petra Thao (St. Paul-Appleton WI)
My name is Petra, which means “rock.” Pastor John Boeder at MLC says that I’m a rock. I don’t know about that, but I do know that I rely on the Rock, Jesus Christ, my Savior. I first learned about him when I was 9 at the Hmong Saturday School of St. Paul-Appleton WI. Saturday School reached out to the Hmong community to share with them the love of Christ. This outreach opened the eyes of many Hmong families, including half of my family. I enrolled at St. Paul’s in 4th grade. I remember that when my teacher, Mrs. Lorry Voss, asked our class to open the Bible to a certain book, I didn’t know what was going on, but as the year went on that changed. The Holy Spirit worked faith in me, and I understood Christ’s death on the cross for me. I kept asking my mom, “When are we going to get baptized?” She told me to wait and the right time would come. Sure enough, in the spring of that year, half my family got baptized. It was the best day of my life, ever. I have three brothers and four sisters. I’m the second youngest. My younger sister and I were born in America; the rest were born in Thailand. When my family first moved to America 21 years ago, we still believed in the Hmong religion: Shamanism. Shamanism could be defined as paying respect to or worshiping the dead. Most Hmong households have an altar or shrine for rituals to show respect to dead family members. Rituals are performed for New Year’s, a marriage, a newborn baby, a death, and many other reasons. My dad was a well-known Shaman King, so people always asked him to perform rituals for them. Shaman Kings are mediators between the spirit world and the living world. They can talk to the dead and figure out why someone is sick, ask for a blessing, or ask for mercy. They are chosen by the spirits; they
14 14
Ardith Roehler DMLC 1968 Norfolk NE College Martin Luther
Donald Weston MLC 2003 Glendale AZ
My dad passed away in 1999, and as sad as it is to say, he is not in heaven. A few years later, Hmong Saturday School started, and my family was one of those who were touched by this miracle—half of my family, that is. My three brothers and oldest sister still hold strong to Shamanism, and two of them try to convince the rest of us to go back, but we are standing firm in Christ. They’ve made fun of God and said that in a few years we’ll stop going to church because we’ll realize there is no God. It’s very sad to hear these words from your own family, but we’re not backing away from our God. We know the truth, and we are standing firm in our Savior. Some of my family members questioned why I’m here at MLC when I can do so much better and get more money by doing something else. They don’t understand that I want to be here because of my love for God and my passion for sharing his Word with others. I’ve made my point clear, and now they know that no matter what they say, I’m not changing my mind. After I graduate from MLC, I want to go to China or Thailand. Maybe Thailand because I can speak Hmong and there’s a big Hmong community there who need to hear the Word of God. I always imagined going overseas for a few years, then coming back to the U.S. to see what else God has planned for me. I’m very excited about this adventure. I thank God for those in my family who are still strong in their faith, especially my youngest sister, Mai See; her faith keeps me going as well. I’m also thankful for my home congregation, my friends, my Luther Prep family, and my MLC family. It is such an honor and a blessing to know that there are so many people out there who are supporting me, pushing me along on my journey. I know that Jesus is my Rock. I hold onto him, and he holds firmly onto me.
Herbert Birner NWC 1938 Hendricks MN
John Parlow NWC 1983 Poughkeepsie NY
Focus On Staff Ministry “I Love Talking about Christ” By all measures, Chad White had a successful career in a lucrative field. An electrical engineer, he was employed by IBM and Motorola for 11 years, 1991-2002, working with computer chips. He worked his way up the ladder—and then realized his passion lay elsewhere. He’d been serving his home congregation, Holy Word-Austin TX, as a secretary and elder. “During that time I grew to love ministry,” he says. “While I still enjoyed engineering, I could tell that my heart was really in gospel ministry. I loved talking to people about Christ.” When the semi-retired Pastor Harold Johne decided to retire fully, Pastor Don Patterson asked Chad to consider a fulltime staff ministry position. In April 2002, Holy Word called Chad, and he accepted. As in many ministries, his duties have evolved. Initially, he focused on outreach and working with the elders. Now he is largely a youth and family minister, doing personal, pre-marriage, and marriage counseling; teaching Bible studies; leading youth ministry; heading up the Board of Evangelism, Assimilation Team, and Hispanic Ministry; frequently leading worship; and making shut-in and hospital calls. “The Lord has blessed me with so many incredible moments in my ministry,” he says. For instance, there is the story of “Jeff and Mary,” a young couple for whom he did premarriage classes. Mary was a lifelong Lutheran, Jeff an atheist. “My heart wanted so much to help Jeff back to a relationship with Jesus,” Chad says. “He was not very interested at first. He was supportive of Mary, but that was it.” Finally, Jeff asked to take adult confirmation class—if only to learn what Mary knew. After three lessons with Chad, though, a job called the couple north. Refusing to give up, Chad kept in touch over the years, and about a year ago, Jeff told Chad he was having more thoughts about faith. “His kids were starting to talk to him about it. Isn’t that cool!?” Chad exclaims. Jeff had a lot of questions. “I encouraged him to just read the Bible and let God work in his heart.” Jeff started adult confirmation class again with his pastor up north. And last April, the phone
Peter Panitzke NWC 1978 Redwood Falls MN
Chrysta Albrecht DMLC 1948 Glenwood MN
rang. Jeff and Mary Chad’s high school youth group, Youth in Christ, made told Chad they’d just their own glasses while discussing how to look at life through “The Jesus Lens.” White says the attendance had a baby girl. “And at the weekly group is about 25. here’s the best part,” Chad says. “Jeff and their new baby girl were going to be baptized that weekend. My eyes welled up with tears.” A staff ministry position necessitated a new kind of education for Chad. Already having a degree in electrical engineering from UW-Madison, in 2002 he enrolled in MLC’s staff ministry certification program, taking two or three courses a year, some online and some on campus. “The Bible and doctrine courses have greatly increased my understanding of the Bible, and they’ve given me more confidence in teaching Bible studies. And the professional courses have also been great,” he says, citing especially the courses in counseling, assimilation, and youth and family ministry. He finished his certification last summer. “I’m glad to be done but will very much miss coming up to MLC every summer to learn and spend that time with other students and staff ministers.” To others considering a second career in staff ministry, Chad says, “Search out your options, pray a lot, and seek guidance from strong Christian leaders you trust. Make sure your spouse is fully supportive, because ministry really is a partnership. I’m very thankful that my wife, Cindy, is not only supportive but also very active in ministry. She is my co-lead with Youth in Christ. She organizes fellowship events. She leads or co-leads Bible studies, parenting, and marriage classes. She counsels people daily.” White also urges those considering staff ministry to think about the life changes that will occur. “Your income may change dramatically. You will likely work a lot of evenings, weekends, and just plain weird hours. (Try staying up all night with high schoolers at a lock-in.) Your life in some ways is not your own anymore. You will not make everyone happy. You will be criticized by some and loved by some. But, with all that being said, I would never trade what I do for anything else. I love it. I get to follow Christ’s greatest calling as a career! How cool is that! God has blessed us and made us rich in many more ways than I ever dreamed possible.”
Fiona Tony Matlock Hansen MLC 2008 NWC 1988 Eau Claire WI Luther CollegeChugiak AK15 Martin
15
Focus On
Faculty Essay
MLCAA Supports Student Assistance
Over Homecoming weekend, October 12-13, the MLC Alumni Association gave $4,000 to help students who struggle financially. Aaron Hartwig MLC ’02 and Stephanie Grow MLC ’01 presented the check to Student Body Treasurer Aimee Ulm and Student Body President Philip Janisch. “Our alumni know how difficult it is to pay for college,” said Alumni Director Steve Balza DMLC ’90. “Many of them are still repaying their own college loans, but they appreciate what the Lord did for them at MLC. They believe in this place and its purpose, and they want to support today’s students who follow in their footsteps.”
Next Time You’re in the Attic The Alumni Archives Committee (Clarice Fastenau, Paul Fritze, Art Schulz, and Paul and Lois Willems) is looking for graduation photos:
Good to Have You Back for Homecoming!
Campus was packed October 12-14 as alumni, parents, and friends made their way up the hill for the Homecoming festivities. The gymnasium and auditorium were crammed with loyal Knights fans for Friday’s volleyball match and talent show. Over 125 started their Saturday with the one-mile Sprinter Campus Fun Run (pictured) while 1200+ fans enjoyed the football game. Sunday’s annual Homecoming worship service was also well attended. Thanks for coming, everyone! It’s always good to have you back.
Name the Spot Winners! Paul Micheel of Daggett MI and Dale Grove of Rochester MN were the big winners in the summer contest, and each received a prize package from MLC. Thanks to all who submitted guesses! Here are the answers:
Summit Hall Detail
16 16
Music Hall Sidewalk
Carol Kionka DMLC 1973 Maitland FLCollege Martin Luther
MLC Seal Detail(Via Veritas Vita)
La Vonne Becker DMLC 1958 Gibbon MN
Chi-Rho On Chapel Baptism Font
Robert Schroer DMLC 1968 Blomkest MN
1899: William Boelte, William Espenson, Oscar Frey, Claus Gieschen, Rudolf Jens, Charles Kelpe, Wm. von Renner, Walter Schroeder, Herman Stein 1900: Louis Broeker, Bernhard Hagedorn, William Krause, Hugo Krieg, Reinhold Kutz, Allen Steffen, Otto Volkert, Hugo Wachholz 1901: Frederic Gruber, Otto Schoenberg, Gustav Schulz And thank you to those who sent in photos the last time we asked! Your assistance is helping us complete the record.
James Rath NWC 1973 Lanark IL
Focus On
The Dr. Martin Luther College Class of 1962 celebrated its 50-year reunion at MLC September 20-22. The photo on the left includes spouses. The photo on the right, submitted by Alumni Director Steve Balza just for fun, is the same class at their 20-year reunion in 1982. The class enjoyed tours of campus, chapel, and New Ulm; a catered meal at St. Paul Fellowship Hall; worship in the Chapel of the Christ; and lots of time to reminisce. They also gifted the college with more than $1500 to Let the Children Come, our campaign for a new Early Childhood Learning Center. A match from the Challenge Grant brought their gift to more than $3000. (See more about Let the Children Come on pages 6-9.)
How Long Has It Been for Your Class?
If you’d like to get your class together for a reunion on the MLC campus, please contact Alumni Director Steve Balza at 877-652-1995.
The Dr. Martin Luther High School Class of 1956 reunited on campus September 13-14 to celebrate 56 years since their graduation. The classmates enjoyed a social gathering at Holiday Inn, a dinner at Kaiserhof, lunch in the MLC cafeteria, and a tour of campus, specifically the Chapel of the Christ. Their reunion concluded on a bittersweet note as they attended the funeral of their classmate Hap Raabe and sang, as a class, Hap’s favorite song, the “Hallelujah Chorus.” Several members of the class made memorial gifts to MLC in honor of Hap.
Robert Krueger NWC 1968 Milwaukee WI
Paul Ruege NWC 1948 West Allis WI
Thank You, DMLC Class of ‘61! The historical sign purchased by the DMLC Class of 1961 was erected this summer. The sign commemorates Old Main and the founding of DMLC. View it online at mlc-wels. edu/history/historical-signs. Representing the class are Arlen Koestler, Clarice Panning Fastenau, Paul Boehlke, Charlotte Rauschke Fritze, and Paul Fritze.
Clair Jammer DMLC 1983 Frankenmuth MILuther College Martin
Linda Ebert DMLC 1978 Ixonia WI 17
17
100 Years for the Sprinter! The Sprinter was a gift from St. Matthew-Milwaukee to Northwestern College in 1912. Representing the race we run as Christians (Hebrews 12:1, 1 Corinthians 9:24, Galatians 5:7), the statue has been a meaningful symbol to the young men studying to be pastors both at NWC and now at MLC. It’s also a favorite place for photos, and we thank everyone who submitted them for this commemorative page!
1916-1917 Karl G. Sievert in Full Military Uniform Karl G. Sievert WLS ’21 in his military uniform with gun. Submitted by his grandson, Neil Neumann, Adrian MI, who writes: “This was when NWC had a military company. My grandfather did not graduate from NWC due to the fact that it was war time. He left sometime during his junior year and went to the seminary, graduating in 1921.” *For more information on the military company at NWC during WWI, see chapter 29 of Centennial Story by E. E. Kowalke.
1928 Wietzke Family Anna Wietzke Everts with her two children and Minnie Everts Wietzke with her son, Will Wietzke NWC ’48, at age 4. Submitted by Charlotte Wietzke, York NE, who writes: “This picture was taken by Pastor William F. Wietzke NWC ’13 in 1928. He, his wife (Minnie), his sister (Anna), and their children were traveling from Nebraska to Michigan to visit relatives. He took a detour to show them his alma mater. Minnie Wietzke died that fall, about three months after this picture was taken. Will Wietzke was my husband.”
1948-1949 Three Lads: Eckert, Mahnke, and Bubolz Frederick Eckert (hand on Sprinter’s head), Frederick Mahnke DMLC '57 (standing on pedestal), and Karl Bubolz (front). Submitted by Frederick Mahnke DMLC '57, Cedarburg WI
18 18
Chester Zuleger NWC 1958 Medford WI College Martin Luther
Margaret Maichle DMLC 1963 Brillion WI
2010 Julius Buelow Julius Buelow MLC ’12 served as official “Sprinter” at the first annual Sprinter Campus Fun Run at Homecoming 2010. The run celebrated the NWC Alumni Association’s cleaning of the Sprinter and his move to a more prominent position on the southeast side of the Luther Student Center. Submitted by Alumni Director Steve Balza DMLC ’93, who adds, “The Sprinter Campus Fun Run was repeated at Homecoming 2012 in honor of the Sprinter's 100th birthday (b. October 20, 1912) with hopes that it will become an annual tradition.”
1924 Gieschen Family Photo John and Anna Bieck Gieschen (back left) and seven of their nine children: Werner, Edna, Marie, Emma, Dorothy, Ruth, and Herbert, along with Dorothy’s future husband, Harry Miller (front right). Ruth married Otis Stelljes, who was later called to DMLC as a music professor. Ruth worked as a secretary to the DMLC registrar, Arthur Schulz, from the early 60s until her retirement in 1979. She died in October 2012 at 98. Submitted by Heidi Stelljes Schoof DMLC '86, granddaughter of Otis (O.W.) and Ruth Stelljes.
1932 Meilahn “Paul” Zahn and Friends Meilahn “Paul” Zahn (left) and unidentified friends Submitted by Pastor Martin Wildauer, Port Washington WI, whose wife, Teri, is the granddaughter of Paul Zahn.
Emily Hieber MLC 1998 Goodlettsville TN
Thomas Flunker DMLC 1993 Dourados, Brazil
Meet the
Presidents
Dr. Martin Luther College
President C. J. Albrecht Pastor Christian Johann (C. J.) Albrecht (1847-1924) is considered the “Father of Dr. Martin Luther College.” Born in Eschenau, Germany, and educated at Krischona, a preparatory school for missionaries in Switzerland, Albrecht emigrated to the U.S. in 1872. He served in Lewiston and Greenwood Township, Minnesota, before being called to St. Paul’s-New Ulm in 1882. He was serving both as pastor of St. Paul’s and president of the Minnesota Synod when the synod resolved to build a ministerial training college. The St. Paul’s congregation offered several thousand dollars and four acres of land atop the hill, and soon construction of Old Main began. On November 9, 1884, Pastor Albrecht preached the dedication sermon for the new college, based on Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid” (KJV). Classes began the next day, Luther’s birthday. Albrecht served as the first director, or president, of the new college for one year. He continued to teach religion there until 1893, while still serving as St. Paul’s pastor, a call he held for 42 years. His obituary in the 1924 Northwestern Lutheran stated that at St. Paul’s, Albrecht baptized 2,583 children, confirmed 1,868, solemnized 646 marriages, administered holy communion to 82,744 communicants, and buried 935. He preached the funeral sermon for DMLC’s first music professor, Fritz Reuter, in June 1924, and just 28 days later, he died as well. Albrecht married Maria Frey before emigrating to the U.S. in 1872, and they had 10 children. Maria died in 1893. The Albrechts of Eschenau Memorial Fund was established to honor the memory of C. J. Albrecht, his sister, and his three brothers, who emigrated from Eschenau, Germany, in the 1880s and went into ministry in the Minnesota Synod. Income from the fund is distributed to students with financial need.
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 C. 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 1995-2007 Theodore Olsen
Our gratitude to Dr. Arthur Schulz, who conducted research for this biography.
Victoria Spaude DMLC 1953 Fairfax MN
Ian Watson MLC 2008 Temecula CA
2007-present Mark Zarling
Dawn Nollmeyer DMLC 1988 Spokane WA Luther College Martin
Daniel Johnson DMLC 1988 Phoenix AZ 19
19
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.
RM evr..SStteev veen SDtr.iB etoedre
with grat itud w rithi h sgrtiatreitleud shepherde fo ssewfoorr khi ingshGep odhe’srd as s wa or tekacof chinild g re her Gnodfo’sr pe To To tra thop tra eirleeternaand principal, in in fu futu Marartin M ture calle tinLu l good. Luth d thererCo workers Colle llege ,a ge ininhihiss hono ho no
a gift has been
rrby given to byGRo “We ar erbe aldrtan e gr anddJaLu nici celleBoLarget a faithfu ateful to Mr. wsc arhdt Strieter l teache “A be s r to six our sh cause of our epherd he has showin alon seven grhe has, been g sincer g w it in the cl in creasede concerh the Spandchild as ir re sr n ou it n, for them, of Goo and for rlove an odm ’s W d know ord anye le d ar wsillbe .” yond dge (G (Bob an.” erald and d Lucie) Janice Bo rgwa
rdt)
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 2012: 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 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
Congregation and/or school where called worker serves/served: ________________________________________
20
Martin Luther College
Tuition Freedom Day: January 24, 2013 This is the day when MLC students are officially finished paying tuition. The rest of the year is “on the house”—or more specifically, the financial burden of their education for the rest of the year is borne by donors, WELS members (through their congregational mission offerings), and the government (through Pell Grants, etc.). The student body will celebrate Tuition Freedom Day by personally thanking donors in written and video-recorded messages. Stay posted!
Golf Classic: Tom Keinlen, chairman of the MLC Golf Classic Committee, presented MLC Student Senate President Philip Janisch with a check for $48,239 in September. Since its founding by New Ulm business leaders in 1993, the Golf Classic has donated almost $600,000 to the college for campus improvements and student assistance. This year’s contributions will be used for campus beautification and student financial assistance. Pictured: Back row - Lou Geistfeld, Citizen’s Bank Minnesota; Bill Otis, NU-Telecom; Mark Petersen, United Prairie Bank; Randy Schroeder, Frandsen Bank; Jason Wohlers, Alliance Bank; John Gag, Gag Sheet Metal; Dean Laraway, Laraway Roofing. Front row - MLC President Mark Zarling; Wayne Klassen, Klassen Mechanical; Tim Rahe, M.R. Paving & Excavating; Peter Guggisberg, Bank Midwest; Dennis Jaspersen, Thrivent Financial. Not pictured – Jerry O’Brien, Heymann Construction; Bill Sinclair, Pioneer College Caterers; Paul Wessel, Thermal Barrier Solutions.
Christmas shopping? Browse the MLC Bookstore catalog, and you’ll be done in a snap! mlc-wels.edu/bookstore
In Loving Memory:
Last May, a pen like the one above was given to each graduate with the following message: CONGRATULATIONS from the families of Zach Moyle and Ryan Zweifel. They would have graduated with you, but God’s plan for them was different. It is in their memory we are giving you this pen. We know they would be first in line to “go and make disciples of all nations.” It is our prayer that as you begin this chapter of your lives, you will always keep this goal in your thoughts and prayers. A scholarship was also established in the young men’s honor after they died in a tragic car accident in 2009.
Click & Give! Giving to MLC is easy! Go to mlc-wels.edu and click on “Give to MLC.”
Martin Luther College
21
Professor Emeritus Bruce Backer WLS ’56 spoke at the Thüringer Museum in Eisenach, Germany, for a festival honoring the 100th anniversary of the birth of Heinrich Fleischer. Fleischer, a native of the Luther-Bach city, was Backer’s half-century teacher, mentor, and friend. Backer presented MEMOIREN: Eine halbjahrhundertlange Bekanntschaft mit Heinrich Fleischer (Reminiscence of a Half-Century Acquaintance with Heinrich Fleischer) on July 2. Professor Larry Czer DMLC ’79 presented “Managing Writing across the Curriculum” at the WELS Association of Lutheran Educators (WALE) Conference in October. He also presented the topic “Narrative Writing” to the WELS Multi-Language Publications Committee in October. Professor Joel Fredrich WLS ’82 served as a reactor to a paper delivered by Rev. Mark Mattes at the Lutheran Free Conference on the MLC campus in November. Mattes is Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Grand View College-Des Moines IA, and he spoke on Jurgen Moltmann’s view of justification and its impact on the ELCA. Professor John Gronholz DMLC ’68 presented two workshops on motor development to about 150 teachers on the island of Grenada as part of a WLC program in July. While there, he presented a SPARK P.E. curriculum workshop to the faculty of Grace-Grenada, West Indies. In August, he presented SPARK P.E. workshops to the KMLHS association teachers. Finally, he is chairing an organization committee for the first WELS Physical Education Conference scheduled for September 26-27, 2013, in Green Lake WI. Dr. James Grunwald DMLC ’78 presented “Utilizing Online Classes through ALHS Online” at the Association of WELS Guidance and Counseling Personnel Conference at WLC in June. He also presented “Integrating Technology Effectively for Increased Student Engagement and Achievement” at the Minnesota Teachers’ Conference at West LHS in October. Professor Lyle Lange WLS ’69 presented “Pietism: A Cancer Which Destroys the Life of Lutheranism” to the Chippewa and Wisconsin River Valley Pastors’ Conference in Menomonee WI in October. Dr. Mark Lenz WLS ’69 has published the book Four Portraits of the One Savior through Northwestern Publishing House. He also served as a contributing author for the Concordia Publishing House book The Apocrypha: The Lutheran Edition with Notes.
22 22
James Westendorf NWC 1963 South HavenCollege MI Martin Luther
Sarah Schultz DMLC 1993 Waukesha WI
Professors Cheryl Loomis DMLC ’77 and John Meyer DMLC ’87 presented the inservice topic “Assessment for Meaningful Learning” to 120 teachers in the Twin Cities in August. Instructor Lanita Nolte DMLC ’68 presented “One God, One Faith, Many Sisters” at the St. Croix Circuit of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society in October and at Christ-Zumbrota MN in November. She also serves on the Awareness Committee of the LWMS. Professor Jon Roux DMLC ’94 served on the steering committee of the WELS Leadership Conference in June and presented the sectional “An Introduction to the Common Core State Standards.” He also presented “Building Better Reading Comprehension: Strategies for Comprehension across the Curriculum” at the WLA Federation Fall Inservice in Fond du Lac WI in August. Finally, he presented “Getting to the Core of Common Core Standards” at the Central Wisconsin Curriculum Conference hosted by Trinity/St. Luke-Watertown WI in September. Dr. David Schroeder DMLC ’85 served as a Table Leader at the 2012 Reading for the Advanced Placement U.S. History exam, held in Louisville. Schroeder also is working on exam development for the College Board, writing questions for the revised AP U.S. History exam. Professor David Sellnow WLS ’86 published the article “Player Development for All Members of the Team” in the September 2012 issue of the Minnesota Soccer Times. Sellnow is the coaching director of the New Ulm Area Youth Soccer Association. He also presented the topic “Narrative Devotions” to the WELS Multi-Language Publications Committee in October. Professor Emeritus Ronald Shilling DMLC ’64 performed two organ recitals last summer, in the MLC Chapel of the Christ and at Bethlehem-Mankato (ELCA) for the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists recital series. Dr. Alan Spurgin DMLC ’71 was the morning keynote speaker and afternoon facilitator for the Christian Educators for Special Education (CESE) Annual Conference in Pewaukee WI in August. His topic was “RTI: Implementation Considerations for WELS Lutheran Elementary Schools.” Professors Steven Thiesfeldt DMLC ’74 and Lyle Lange WLS ’69 led a trip of 52 alumni and seniors to the Creation Museum in Kentucky in June.
Marlis Wrobel DMLC 1968 La Crosse WI
Tracey Hultman MLC 2003 Lenexa KS
Professor James Unke DMLC ’82 was elected chair of the Minnesota Valley Lutheran HS board. Professor Lori Unke DMLC ’84 completed training to become a New Teacher Induction Mentor through the Commission on Lutheran Schools (CLS). In partnership with CLS, MLC will implement the New Teacher Induction program synod-wide beginning next fall. Dr. Wayne Wagner DMLC ’72 was elected Dean of the Sioux Trails Chapter of the American Guild of Organists (AGO) in July. He also played three organ recitals last summer, at MLC Chapel of the Christ, at Bethlehem-Mankato (ELCA) for AGO, and at Trinity-Watertown WI.
Second Annual Summer Organ Recital Series: Seven recitalists performed on the Schantz organ in the Chapel of the Christ last summer: DMLC Professor Emeritus Ames Anderson, MLC Instructor Jeneane Thiesfeldt, MLC Professor Emeritus Ronald Shilling, MLC Professor Robert Potratz, MLC Instructor Brent Nolte, Bethany Lutheran College Instructor Judith Kresnicka, MLC Professor Dr. Wayne Wagner
Professor Publishes Historical Books Professor Emeritus John Isch, PhD, DMLC ’58 has written and published three books on the US Dakota War of 1862. A Battle for Living follows the life of war survivor Lavina Eastlick, beginning with her escape from her home in Shetek MN and ending with her death in 1923 in Alberta, Canada.
German: Door to the Future When Professor James Danell preaches at a German service, the congregation often consists of a handful of senior citizens. When he preached last Easter at Beautiful Savior-Clarksville TN, however, the congregation numbered about 200, ages 1-81. Clarksville is near Fort Campbell, a military base that straddles the Kentucky-Tennessee border. Although German services were not part of the original plan, Pastor Matt Brown’s canvassing of the area 12 years ago revealed that some 6,000 Germans lived there. Brown says it was the Lord opening a door. The congregation’s first German service was December 2001, and since then they’ve held them every Christmas and an occasional Easter. About 60 souls have become members after first coming to a German service, and Brown has ministered to many others. About 200 attend the Christmas service every year. “It has been amazing to see the Lord work in a way that we never imagined when our congregation started in 2000,” he says. He also admits, though, “My German is nicht so gut.” Enter Professor Danell, who is not only fluent in German, but who is training other young men to read, write, and speak the language. Many of MLC’s preseminary students minor in confessional languages, Latin and German, the languages of Lutheran theologians from the time of the Reformation. “Who would’ve thought that the German language and gospel
The Dakota Trials is an analysis of the 392 military commission trials of the Dakota Indians after the war. It is the largest and most academic of the books, popular with professional and amateur historians doing research on the war. Eight Days in August, which Isch co-authored with Darla Gebhard, is the best seller of the three. It describes the lives and deaths of the 123 casualties of the US Dakota War in Brown County, as well as the stories of their surviving family members. Many descendants of the victims have purchased the book. As the 150th anniversary of the Dakota War of 1862 was commemorated this year, Dr. Isch’s books, published by the Minnesota Historical Society, gained a large readership. He also spoke about the war at a dozen different forums, including local historical societies, libraries, and a symposium at Fort Snelling. Dr. Isch says he has long been interested in history, and his retirement from fulltime teaching at MLC in 2004 afforded him the time to write the books. Another book, yet unnamed, is in the works.
Jared Oldenburg MLC 1998 Appleton WI
Michelle Ninmann DMLC 1988 Beaver Dam WI
German members of Beautiful Savior-Clarksville TN, with Pastor Matt Brown, front left, and Pastor Kent Holz, back right.
outreach would be linked in the year 2012?” Danell says. “I tell my students that German is a door to 500 years of the history and theology of the Confessional Lutheran Church. But in some communities, it’s also a path to outreach.” Brown adds, “We are thankful that our schools still produce pastors who can preach in German. It seems like these services will continue here for quite a while.”
Jonathan Rockhoff NWC 1983 TawasMartin City MI Luther College
Rick Lohmiller DMLC 1978 Henry SD23
23
M A R T I N
L U T H E R
C O L L E G E
B L O G
NEW! A blog for WELS educators. Stay informed. Join the conversation.
VISIT NOW at blogs.mlc-wels.edu/wels-educator/ Issues in Lutheran Education is a new blog designed to promote the discussion of topics important to Lutheran education in the 21st century. In just 10 minutes, twice a month, you can become informed about issues affecting you and your school. Then leave a reply, and join the conversation! It's all free when you subscribe. Today's post: • What would Luther say about 21st-century Lutheran schools? Future topics: • Is there a leadership crisis in WELS schools? • Does a one-college preparation system fit the 21st century? • Do WELS school funding models make sense? • Are Lutheran early childhood ministries fulfilling their outreach promise? Subscribe via email, Twitter, Facebook, or RSS Feed.
Issues in Lutheran Education Subscribe. Stay informed. Join the conversation.
blogs.mlc-wels.edu/wels-educator/ 24
Martin Luther College