MLCReport_FALL-2026_ 9.3.26

M L C R E P ORT

Welcome Back, Knights!

Our friendly resident assistants (above) welcomed first-years and helped them move in over Orientation weekend.

FALL 2026

Find Comfort in God’s Real Promises An excerpt from a devotion President Rich Gurgel shared at “Preserving the Trust,” a retreat for senior education and staff ministry majors.

Watch two Move-In Day videos: MLC Parents’ Thoughts and MLC Student Recap.

New Called Workers

We think God has promised us that if we’re faithful in our ministry, if we’re diligent and do everything just the way he’s asked, everything will go well. But God’s never promised that.

Jeremiah was guilty of this faulty thinking. Hey, Lord, he said, don’t you see how faithful I’ve been? Why do these stubborn people keep treating me like an enemy? Surely, you’ve promised me something better than this!

Mark Parsons

Jack Heichelbech

Kevin Walker

MLC ’05, WLS ’09 English Professor

MLC ’22, WLS ’26 Dorm Supervisor/ Instructor

MLC ’95, ’03 Staff Ministry Director/Professor

Alyssa Warnke

Holly Dannecker

MLC ’13 Lead Teacher in the ECLC

MLC ’09 Special Education Professor

Fall 2026 Enrollment

New Staff Leaders

*

Education

458

Paul Manning

Pre-Seminary

170

Staff Ministry

20

Mission Advancement Executive Director

Staff Min & Ed

2

Other

9

TOTAL

659

*UNOFFICIAL ENROLLMENT FIGURES

Hans Steinbrenner Athletic Director

The person who needed to change, however, wasn’t the Lord, but Jeremiah. He needed to repent of this whining, of these false accusations. If you repent, the Lord said, I will restore you that you may serve me.

My dear brothers and sisters, if you haven’t been there yet with Jeremiah, the day will come. You will find your hearts accusing God of treating you unfairly when you’ve worked so hard and faithfully!

There will be days—weeks, months, even years—where you may falsely conclude that God’s not blessing your ministry. That he’s failed you.

But don’t let your heart fool you! God will never send you anywhere that he will not accompany you. He loves you too much and delights too much in the faithful sharing of his Word to do that. Even when your ministry seems fruitless, there is so much God is doing in his own time and his own way. Those are his real promises. And those will never prove empty!

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Debt Is Going Down, and the Future Is Looking Up!

P E LS B U P DAT E

Teacher Licensure at MLC In June, the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) voted to discontinue licensure eligibility for newly enrolled students in all MLC teacher education programs. PELSB’s decision does not impact our pre-seminary or staff ministry majors.

The numbers are in, and the news is good!

• Borrowers in MLC’s class of 2026 graduated with less debt than borrowers in the class of 2025—$2,320 less.

• The average debt of MLC graduate borrowers is about half of the US average of $40,467 (Education.org).

• Over the past eight years, the average debt of MLC borrowers has decreased substantially, from $26,268 in 2018 to $20,661 in 2026.

• In addition, 41% of the 2026 graduates took out no loans at all, graduating debt-free.

This decision does not call into question the quality of MLC’s education majors. Rather, it reflects our failure to demonstrate with clear, consistent evidence that our programs are meeting PELSB standards. One analogy is that of a math test: MLC is providing the correct answer, but we have not been “showing our work.”

Please note that our biblical teachings were not a factor in PELSB’s decision. Other Christian colleges have maintained licensure eligibility without compromising their theology.

We are already taking proactive steps, with the goal of restoring licensure

We’re grateful to our generous God for blessing us, to congregations participating in the Congregational Partner Grant Program, and to all donors who support financial aid at MLC. These gifts are making a real difference. Our debt numbers are going down, which means the future is looking up! For our students, less debt means less financial anxiety and more joy—in their ministry preparation at MLC today and in their ministries at WELS congregations and schools tomorrow.

Summer Service These MLC students (left) who canvassed in Cape Coral, Florida, this summer are two of the thousands of MLC students who have brought “Daylight” to congregations all over the country for 20+ years.

In this volunteer ministry program, they lead VBS, coach sports Bible camps, teach music lessons, assist at worship, lend humanitarian aid, and so much more.

Athletes Noted for Academics God has blessed MLC with amazing student-athletes who prioritize ministry training while competing in athletics at the D3 level. Four of our 2025-26 teams received national awards recognizing academic excellence: volleyball, women’s soccer, softball, and baseball.

for all candidates before our first-years graduate in spring 2030. We’ve appointed a new interim director and are strengthening our assessment, documentation, and continuous improvement practices in consultation with PELSB officials and other licensure experts. And this fall, we plan to call or hire a full-time administrator to lead assessment and licensure.

Finally, we recognize that, while licensure is an important aspect of teacher preparation, it is not the heart of MLC’s mission. Our mission is to prepare strong, gospel-filled candidates who are qualified to meet WELS ministry needs. Our students will continue to graduate with full ministry certification, be eligible for calls into WELS schools, and enter their teaching ministries well prepared in the subjects they teach, skilled in classroom management and instruction, and—above all—eager to share the gospel.

For more information, go to mlc-wels.edu/pelsb-update

Mark the Date MLC Tailgate Parties

SEP 5, 6, 12

Homecoming

OCT 2-4

Wind Symphony Concert

OCT 4

College Choir Fall Tour

OCT 22-26

MLC Auxiliary Annual Meeting

OCT 24

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

NOV 6-8

Christmas Concert

DEC 12-13

1995 Luther Court, New Ulm MN 56073 507.354.8221 If you have any questions, please contact us at mlcinfo@mlc-wels.edu.

mlc-wels.edu