InFocus - Spring 2019

Spring 2019

In This Issue...

Alumni Profiles

1995 Luther Court New Ulm, MN 56073

Faith in Action

Address Service Requested

To the Ends of the Earth

WRITER/EDITOR Laurie Gauger DMLC ’87 PROOFREADER Heidi Schoof DMLC ’86 STUDENT ASSISTANT Julia Schibbelhut MLC ’21 MLC PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM 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 Scott Schmudlach DMLC ’85 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 Chair Michael Woldt WLS ’81 Vice Chair Michael Seifert WLS ’03 Secretary Steven Rosenbaum DMLC ’86 Joe Archer DMLC ’77 Geoffrey Kieta WLS ’93 Dale Krause Michael Krueger Daniel Leyrer WLS ’89 Michael Lindemann WLS ’91 Timothy Petermann David Uhlhorn ’99 Michael Valleau Andrew Van Weele ’04 Mark Wessel WLS ’86 ADVISORY: Dennis Klatt WLS ’88 Randy Matter Paul Prange WLS ’88 Mark Schroeder WLS ’81 Mark Zarling WLS ’80

The Plans of God: Revealed and Hidden

By Rev. Mark Zarling WLS ’80, MLC President Surely, the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7)

Truly, you are a God who has been hiding himself, the God and Savior of Israel. (Isaiah 45:15)

So which is it? How would you reconcile the seeming discrepancy above? Is God revealed or hidden? The only correct answer is “both.”

Our dogmaticians speak of the “perspicuity of Scripture”—that Scripture clearly presents everything God wants us to know in order to spend eternity in heaven. One need not be a theology student to grasp it. Even a child can learn about sin and grace, the cross and the tomb, and the place Jesus has prepared for us.

I used to tell my Bible information classes that God does not throw surprises at us, nor does he ever want us to be in doubt about his plan. Everything important for our peace and joy now— and into forever—he puts on the table for us in Scripture. Where did I come from? Why is there sin and death and suffering? How do I get right with a holy God? What happens when I die?

Jesus is the evidence of the revealed God. 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? (Romans 8:32) Through this gospel reality, the Spirit of God creates trust in the heart. And that trust, based on divine reality, carries us when God is a hidden God. How long will I live? God reveals that I will live forever with Jesus in the place he has prepared for me (John 14:2-3). But he hides the length of my earthly pilgrimage and says, “Trust me.”

Will I have my health? God reveals that I’ll have perfect health in heaven, as Christ will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Philippians 3:21). But he hides the details of my earthly health and says, “Trust me.”

MLC students may wonder about God’s plan for them as they embark on their public ministries.

God reveals that he wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and that his Word will accomplish what he desires (Isaiah 55:11).

God hides just how each of them will fit into that kingdom plan. Where will they share the Word of God? Will they become a pastor in a growing metropolitan area, like Jon or Jesse (page 18-19)? A preschool teacher or director like Abby and Alison (page 14-15)? A student called to be an emergency teacher in Phoenix and then a student teacher in Antigua and Hutchinson, Minnesota, all within two years, like Faith (page 20-21)? Only God knows!

By the Spirit’s omnipotence, our students come with trust in their hearts that the Lord of the Church will use their talents, their enthusiasm, and their faithfulness to further the kingdom in whatever corner of the world he sends them. We at MLC do all we can to train them for these exciting futures! Please pray for us as we do!

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. Comments are welcomed and should be directed to gaugerlf@mlc-wels. edu or Laurie Gauger, MLC InFocus, 1995 Luther Court, New Ulm MN 56073.

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.

The mission of MLC is to train a corps of Christian witnesses who are qualified to meet the ministry needs of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

The alumni photos at the bottom of the pages are from the anniversary classes of MLC, NWC, and DMLC: ’39, ’44, ’49, ’54, ’59, ’64, ’69, ’74, ’79, ’84, ’89, ’94, ’99, ’04, ’09, and ’14. Thanks to Alumni Director Steve Balza DMLC ’93, who provided this random selection of alumni.

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Elizabeth Rodenbeck DMLC 1969 Avoca MI

Lucas Rodewald MLC 2014 Simpsonville SC

Stephanie Esmay DMLC 1994 Richmond, Surrey, England

here on the

Congratulations to MLC Midyear Graduates Thirteen students earned their diplomas at the December 13, 2018, commencement service. President Mark Zarling WLS ’80 preached for the service, and Dr. Jeff Wiechman DMLC ’92, vice president for academics, conferred the degrees.

Front row: Katherine Zietlow (Montello WI)-secondary chemistry ed; Hannah Arrowsmith (Fort Atkinson WI)secondary communication arts & lit ed; Elissa Koch (Summerville SC)-elementary ed; Cassandra Davis (Stacy MN)-early childhood ed; Hannah Koss (Rochester MN)-early childhood ed & elementary ed; Malaika Robinson (Madison WI)-early childhood ed; Rachel Hartwig (South St. Paul MN)elementary ed; Bethany Walsh (Onalaska WI)-staff ministry.

Back row: Christopher Beagle (Winona MN)-K-12 physical

education; Rudy Nelson (Robbinsdale MN)-elementary ed; Peter Nass (Manitowoc WI)-staff ministry certification; Joseph Keller (McLean VA)-elementary ed; Matthew Neumann (Fond du Lac WI)-elementary ed. Not pictured: Holle Rodriguez (Sacramento CA)-elementary ed.

Five assignments were also made at midyear: Hannah Arrowsmith to Salem LS-Milwaukee: gr 7-8 (spring semester); Elizabeth Broring (Rochester MN) to Trinity LS-Marinette WI: gr 5-7 (spring semester); Cassandra Davis to Samuel LS-Marshall MN: gr 1-2; Joseph Keller to Grace LS-Grand Anse, Grenada: gr 3 (spring semester); and Hannah Koss to Loving Arms Childcare Center-Wichita KS: ECE director apprentice (spring semester). Elissa Koch has opted to teach at Canaan Lutheran Academy-Seoul, South Korea.

Behold, the Lamb of God! Our Newest Devotional for You Behold, the Lamb of God! is MLC’s newest devotion book created for you.

From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures use the image of a lamb as a type of Christ and as a metaphor illustrating how he secured our salvation.

In these eight Holy Week devotions,we will follow John the Baptist’s imperative: “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

Tim Gumm NWC 1979 Milwaukee

After April 10, you may go to mlc-wels.edu/publications/ seasonal-devotions and request delivery of the book in several ways: - Read online - Download as PDF - Ask us to mail you a print copy - Sign up for daily emails of the eight devotions (Each email will include the full text of the devotion plus a podcast link where you can hear the author read the devotion.)

Youngsin Choi MLC 2014 Seoul, South Korea

John Stark DMLC 1974 Waukesha WI

Janet Maske DMLC 1959 Dakota MN

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here on the Making Music for the Church The Lutheran Church is a church that sings. It’s also a church that composes, and this year three MLC students learned the finer points of the composition process.

At the invitation of Professor David Bauer DMLC ’78 (music), Karissa Nolte (Beautiful Savior-Grove City OH), Raquel Freese (Abiding Word-Houston), and Josh Severeid ’17 used the summer of 2018 to compose new liturgical music for Compline, an ancient close-of-day order of worship.

After weeks of writing, they workshopped their compositions with each other—reviewing, recommending, revising—and then submitted them for evaluation to a group of 25 WELS musicians, who rated them and chose the highest quality piece of music for each of the musical settings. Finally, a small group of published musicians acted as editors with the three students, requesting revisions that raised the music to a higher level of excellence.

The result is a new Compline liturgy, about one-third of which is composed by each student. MLC students will sing the new liturgy at our regular 10:00 pm Monday night Compline services during the month of February.

Professor David Bauer, Karissa Nolte, Raquel Freese, and Josh Severeid

“I really enjoyed the opportunity to compose,” said Karissa Nolte. “In Music Theory 4 class, I learned I really enjoyed composing and wasn’t half-bad at it. I wasn’t quite sure how I would use that gift, and then all of a sudden Professor Bauer approached me about this opportunity. I was thrilled!”

MLC does not offer a degree in music composition, but music majors do compose and arrange music in their music theory courses, and some show strong aptitude. “The ability to compose and arrange music is not a common gift,” says Bauer. “Those with such gifts should develop and serve with their gifts.”

This was just such an opportunity. “It was such a joy and privilege to work on this project,” Karissa said. “I cannot wait to hear the student body singing it in chapel. The music was composed to worship God. I am just one of the instruments God is using to carry out his will in this beautiful way.”

MLC / WLC Retreat Sixty students from Martin Luther College and Wisconsin Lutheran College met at our annual retreat February 8-10 at the Wisconsin Lions Camp in Rosholt. The theme was [I’M]PERFECT, and the weekend was filled with a perfect combination of food, fun and games, Bible studies, and of course Sunday worship. Two MLC grads now serving as vicars at WLC joined the fun: Yaffet Gabayehu ’17 and Craig Wilke ’15.

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Julie Stieg DMLC 1984 Grand Forks ND

Mary Koelpin MLC 1999 Tucson AZ

William Scoggins MLC 2014 Austin TX

Sarah Wolfrath MLC 1999 Hortonville WI

A Key Gift to the Music Department The Lord of the Church has moved the heart of a generous anonymous donor to contribute $225,000 over the course of the next five years toward the replacement of aging pianos on campus.

A professional evaluation of our pianos through the All-Steinway Institutional Piano Program at Schmitt Music, Brooklyn Center MN, revealed that many were in poor condition, prompting the music department, along with the college’s administration, to develop a long-range replacement plan.

This donor’s gift will move that effort along considerably. In accord with donor intent, we first purchased a new Steinway D (9-foot) grand piano for service in Chapel of the Christ. New studio pianos in the Music Center will follow.

“Purchasing instruments of this quality would not have been possible, in either the foreseeable or the distant future, without this gift,” said Professor Grace Hennig DMLC ’89, piano instruction coordinator. “The pianos will truly enhance our arts programs and campus worship at MLC, and aid in our preparation of called workers who serve the church in music.”

Join us in thanking God for filling a significant need with this unexpected gift!

Kristin Mantey, Let the little children come

Luke Thompson, Lutheran Apologetics in the 21st Century

Cameron Underhill (Steinway piano selection consultant), Professor Adrian Smith (MLC music department), Alice Tillman (All-Steinway Institutional Piano Program representative at Schmitt Music), Professor Grace Hennig (MLC piano instruction coordinator), and Dr. Bethel Balge (MLC piano instructor, sitting at piano).

Paul Steinberg, Enhancing Staff Relationships for Accomplishing Congregational Evangelism

Fearlessly Proclaim the Gospel

Joel Gaertner, Reaching Out with the Gospel to Those with Special Needs

Students heard the voice of experience January 16 at our 14th annual Evangelism Day. Following the theme “Fearlessly Proclaim the Gospel,” 30 presenters gave 25 presentations, sharing their expertise and personal stories, and encouraging students to communicate Christ in their personal lives and their public ministries.

For the second year, we offered four evening presentations to the public: witnessing to Muslims, doing ministry in Spanish, sharing Jesus with little children, and the role of reason in Lutheran apologetics.

New this year is E-Day Action Day, a follow-up to Evangelism Day on April 10. Students will take their learning to the streets as Dave Malnes, a WELS staff minister and the founder of Praise and Proclaim Ministries, leads students and other New Ulm WELS members in an outreach effort. Participants will receive two hours of training before they begin knocking on doors and a debriefing session afterwards.

David Lohse DMLC 1969 Fond du Lac WI

John Zeitler NWC 1969 Pound WI

Janette Schmeichel DMLC 1984 Freeman SD

Lloyd Muehlfeld NWC 1954 Saginaw MI

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here on the MLK Day at MLC The campus family observed Martin Luther King Jr Day on Monday, January 21, with a special chapel service and keynote address.

President Zarling led the chapel service, based on Galatians 3:26-28: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Best Online Christian College in the Nation!

Then keynote speaker Greg Patterson (pictured) presented “The Measure of a Person,” in which he spoke about Dr. King’s concern for justice and unity in light of our Christian faith, and his own personal experiences as an African-American in business. Patterson is a community leader in Milwaukee, president of Great Lakes Training and Consulting, Board of Education chair at St. Philip-Milwaukee, and a graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran College.

SR Education Group named Martin Luther College’s Graduate Studies program the 2018 Best Online Christian College in the nation!

Using affordability and academic rigor as its criteria, this group evaluated all 328 accredited Christian colleges in the United States that offer at least one fully online program. MLC offers three degrees comprised of seven programs:

Patterson also led breakout sessions later in the day.

Wind Symphony Tour: “Music of the American West”

• MS-Education (ed tech, special ed, instruction, leadership) • MS-Educational Administration (principal, early childhood director)

Sun, May 19 10:30 am St. Mark LC-Lincoln NE (worship service)

10:30 am Mt. Olive LC-Lincoln NE (worship service)

• MA-Theological Studies Other colleges notching in the top 25 are Hamline University (MN), Augustana University (SD), and Valparaiso University (IN). Check it out at mlc-wels.edu/go/best-onlinechristian-college.

Mon, May 20 10:00 am Civic Green Park-Highlands Ranch CO (demo concert) Wed, May 22

7:30 pm Mt. Calvary LC-Flagstaff AZ (concert)

Thu, May 23

7:30 pm Redemption LC-St. George UT (concert)

Fri, May 24

7:30 pm Cross of Christ LC-Kingman AZ (concert)

Sat, May 25 7:30 pm Green Valley Church of Christ-Henderson NV (concert) Sun, May 26 8:00/10:30 am Beautiful Savior LC-Las Vegas (worship services)

8:00/10:30 am Water of Life LC-Las Vegas (worship services)

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Gregory Stahlecker NWC 1974 Naper NE

Irene Fehrle DMLC 1954 Ann Arbor MI

We are grateful to all WELS congregations and individual donors who support MLC. Your gifts allow us to keep our tuition low and the quality of our professors and programs high.

Joel Rakos NWC 1984 Anchorage AK

Rachel Lindwurm MLC 2014 Sioux Falls SD

The MLC Library Makerspace

By Linda Kramer, Director of Library Services What is a makerspace? It’s a place, often in a library, with equipment and workspace that people can use to create a variety of things. In our library, the makerspace primarily supports our students who are studying to become teachers. Our large tables provide room to spread out and work. The die-cut machines make easy work of preparing a bulletin board or poster; the paper, paper cutters, markers, and glue add to the project; and the finished product can be laminated economically—all in the MLC Library.

While makerspaces are a trend in libraries, the MLC Library has had this space since before the term was popularized. A work area where our students can create what they need for their classes has been in place for many years.

Some libraries’ makerspaces have 3D printers, sewing machines, shop tools, and soldering irons. Ours is geared toward our

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curriculum; in conjunction with the manipulatives and other teaching objects available in our curriculum library, it provides students with tools for creating a lesson for Early Field Experience, student teaching, or their future classrooms.

The MLC Library Makerspace, like the rest of the library, is open to the public, and we see a flurry of activity before school starts in the fall as teachers prepare their classrooms for the new year.

You are welcome to bring your own paper and use our tools for your next creative project.

While we do have some donated paper and craft items available for our students’ use, they are often clamoring for a wider variety of supplies, especially different kinds of paper. If you’re cleaning and find you no longer need some of your art or craft supplies, we would gladly accept donations of paper, glue sticks, markers, or other items in working condition. Our students are creative and will put them to good use.

If you’d like to learn more about our makerspace, please stop by the library. We’d be happy to show you how the library supports and enhances our students’ learning here at MLC.

AT MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE

MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES for Teachers and Staff Ministers

• Graduate-level study of Scripture with applications to life and ministry • Taught by 13 theologians from WELS / ELS colleges and seminaries • All courses online • Designed for those who have completed a college degree and college-level biblical studies

William Runke NWC 1979 Nicollet MN

SUMMER 2019 COURSES Systematic Theology Dr. Keith Wessel Heaven and Hell Dr. John Schuetze

FALL 2019 COURSES History of Christianity Dr. Joel Pless Ministering to Families in Crisis Dr. Joshua Mears

Elinor Weiss DMLC 1964 Livonia MI

Justin Gosch MLC 1999 Aberdeen SD

Laura Korth MLC 2014 Bay City MI

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Sports

Focus On

Barb Leopold Receives Special Minnesota Merit Award Barb Leopold received the 2019 Special Merit Award at the 33rd annual Minnesota Girls and Women in Sports Day held at the Minnesota History Center on February 6. The award is the highest honor given at the event organized by the Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership, and honors those who specifically worked to break barriers for girls and women in sport.

The honor came as a surprise to Leopold, who retired from teaching and coaching at MLC in 2014, after 40 years of service.

“When the call came, I didn’t recognize the number, and then they started telling me about this award and it was such a surprise,” Leopold said. “I was humbled, yet so privileged, to even be considered for something like this.”

Leopold started her coaching career at DMLC, one of MLC’s predecessor colleges, in 1974, right after her graduation, and she remembers a much different era than we see today for women’s sports. During that time, only 21 four-year colleges in the state of Minnesota offered women’s sports, and DMLC competed against the other 20 (which included much larger schools like the University of Minnesota) as part of the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).

“It was a simpler time in the early days, in a lot of ways,” Leopold said. “I never got the chance to play high school ball.

One of the reasons I went to DMLC for college was because they had basketball, and I wanted the opportunity to play. When I graduated, I wanted to be a part of giving more women the chance to play.”

“I don’t even remember much about our records or how much we won or lost,” she added. “Women didn’t really even have the chance to attend camps in the summer. They were just looking for any chance

to play, and I was thrilled to play any part in that.”

For more than 20 years, Leopold worked with DMLC Athletic Director Gary Dallmann, who she says played a critical role in the advancement of women’s sports in Minnesota and was responsible for setting up many of the opportunities the school had in women’s sports during that era.

Coaches during that era did more than coach, and those are some of Leopold’s fondest memories as she looks back at her earliest seasons.

“I never thought of it as a job,” she said. “We didn’t even really think about it. Almost all of the coaches from the different schools were also teachers. We were the bus drivers. We did the laundry. We set up for games. Like I said, in a lot of ways it was just a simpler time.”

While Leopold is excited about the honor, she says she has been overwhelmed by the number of people who have contacted her since the announcement. MLC Athletic Director Jim Unke DMLC ’83 is one of those people who is thrilled to see his former co-worker honored in such a way.

“We couldn’t be happier for Barb to be recognized like this,” Unke said. “We know how important Barb was to women’s athletics on our campus, but an award like this shows how much of an impact she made for women’s sports across the state of Minnesota.”

Leopold spent all 40 years of her teaching career in New Ulm at DMLC/MLC. During her tenure, she coached softball, cross country, women’s basketball, and volleyball. She also served as the school’s assistant athletic director for 35 years.

Leopold is best known for her 37 years as the head softball coach on campus. She finished her career with 419 wins, and was named UMAC Coach of the Year three times.

“The Lord always has a plan,” Leopold said. “Who would have thought I would get the opportunity to coach and work with so many great people? What a privilege! Sometimes you just can’t explain it, other than to say that God’s plan was there for me all along.”

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Eric Roecker NWC 1994 Slinger WI

Katie Fischer MLC 2004 South Milwaukee WI

Ronald Semro NWC 1964 Princeton WI

John Raasch MLC 2009 Sioux Falls SD

Fall All-UMAC WOMEN’S GOLF Alison Lindemann (St. John-Lewiston MN) – All-UMAC

By Sports Information Director Michael Gibbons

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Leah Miller (Shepherd of the Hills-Knoxville TN) – First Team Sydney Cody (St. John-Juneau WI) – Second Team

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY Ethan Carter (St. Mark-Eau Claire WI) – Second Team Ben Bitter (St. John-Milwaukee) – Second Team Ryan Gurgel (Christ Alone-Thiensville WI) – Second Team

MEN’S SOCCER Joe Graumann (Bethany-Fort Atkinson WI) – First Team & Offensive Player of the Year Gabriel Plocher (St. Luke-Vassar MI) – First Team Aaron Swanson (Resurrection-Rochester MN) – First Team Josh Koelpin (St. John-New Ulm MN) – Second Team Hugo Ugalde-Bemer (Good Shepherd-Cedar Rapids IA) – Hon. Mention

WOMEN’S SOCCER Lydia Bitter (St. Mark-Bemidji MN) – Second Team Sarah Kjenstad (Trinity-Aberdeen SD) – Hon. Mention

VOLLEYBALL Ruth Buchholz (Emmanuel-Tempe AZ) – Second Team Katelyn Aswege (Christ Alone-Thiensville WI) – Hon. Mention

FOOTBALL Mark Stein DMLC ’92 – Coach of the Year Austin DeNoyer (St. Paul-Lake Mills WI) – First Team & UMAC Most Valuable Offensive Player Ben Arndt (Good Shepherd-Burnsville MN) – First Team Josh Arndt (Good Shepherd-Burnsville MN) – First Team Zach Bloomquist (St. Jacobi-Greenfield WI) – First Team Keith Brassow (Zion-Osceola WI) – First Team Carrington Cunningham (WISCO) – First Team Josh Frailing (Riverview-Appleton WI) – First Team Dan Gensmer (Abiding Love-Cape Coral FL) – First Team Tristan Pankow (Trinity-Bay City MI) – First Team Mike Radue (Mt. Calvary-Waukesha WI) – First Team Derek Gulrud (St. John-Waterloo WI) – Second Team Andrew Owczarzak (Bethel-Bay City MI) – Second Team

Amy Erdmann DMLC 1989 Dakota MN

Jim Babler NWC 1964 Oshkosh WI

Academic All-UMAC MLC finished the fall sports season with 76 Academic All-UMAC honorees. Those 76 individual award winners ranked second among the nine UMAC schools, trailing only the 91 honorees from St. Scholastica.

MLC also finished the fall season with the highest team GPA in four of the eight sports. Volleyball (3.562), men’s golf (3.421), men’s soccer (3.367), and football (2.883) each took home that honor.

UMAC Names Knights to All-Decade Team The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) is celebrating its 10th season as an NCAA Division III conference. As part of that celebration, the conference introduced its All-Decade Teams, filled with the best players from across the conference in each sport.

This winter, Erica Babinec ’12 was named to the All-Decade Women’s Basketball Team. Erica joins five MLC fall athletes (see MLC InFocus Fall 2018) and spring athletes who will be named later this year. MLC InFocus will present a larger feature on all the All-Decade Knights in the Summer Year-in-Review issue.

For weekly updates, subscribe to the MLC SportsPage, an e-newsletter sent out every Wednesday. You can also follow us on Twitter @mlcknights. And for up-to-the-minute news, check out mlcknights.com.

Craig Wasser NWC 1989 Fontana WI

Gail Kitzmann DMLC 1974 Santa Barbara CA

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Faith in Action When summer break hits MLC, Justin Digman might pack up his books and drive back to his hometown, but he doesn’t turn his back on his called-worker training. Instead, he jumps into ministry at his home church, Faith-Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, which is more than happy to put his energy and ideas to work through a paid summer internship.

“This is like the Early Field Experiences that MLC education majors do,” says Justin. “It gets me out there, partnering with my congregation and doing ministry.” Here’s a look at the last three years: YEAR ONE: Soccer skills Justin refined at WLA and MLC came in handy as he ran a soccer Bible camp for about 185 kids. He designed the curriculum and then created a coaching book to train his assistant coaches—about 50 high school student volunteers.

Each day brought a mix of soccer and Scripture, drills and devotions, scrimmages and Bible songs.

to Winnebago Lutheran Academy, and working at Lighthouse Youth Center in Milwaukee.

Justin and Jonny also chaperoned the teens going to the WELS Youth Rally in Bowling Green, Ohio, and they prepped for the eight Family Bible Hours for the year, creating a box with a lesson and a craft for each session. “We’re creating Bible education that’s geared to whole families—kids and grownups together, connecting over spiritual issues. Hopefully, these boxes will make it easier for the teachers to step in and lead it.”

Spontaneous Mentoring: Then there are the all-important spontaneous events. Like when one of the pastors asks Justin to go along on a visit to a homebound senior citizen. Or when Justin opens up a conversation about the nuts and bolts of

YEAR TWO: Besides running round two of soccer camp, Justin also helped coordinate a mission trip for eight high school students to Abiding Grace-Georgia, where they assisted with vacation Bible school.

YEAR THREE: After looking forward to taking on the soccer Bible camp again, the camp was canceled because of a building project. “Whenever you think you’ve got everything all figured out,” Justin says, “God seems to have another plan.”

The cancelation quickly turned into a new opportunity though. Fifty teen volunteers were now out of work for the week, so Justin and fellow MLC student Jonny Pedersen, the new Faith-Fond du Lac intern, created another service and learning opportunity for them: a mission trip right there in Fond du Lac. The group served in the community in the morning, ate lunch, and then did a team-bonding activity in the afternoon, like bowling or going to a Brewers game. The community service included helping at Second Impressions, a thrift store connected

Thanks to Julia Schibbelhut ’20 for her assistance with this article.

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Nicole Stellick MLC 1999 Crete IL

Joshua Bishop MLC 2009 Port Orchard WA

Paul Wilde NWC 1949 Manitowoc WI

Sarah Kohls MLC 2004 Watertown SD

Pastors Teach the Little Children Too ministry: “How do you handle something like this in your ministry? Did you ever try this idea? What happened?”

Justin assisted Pastor Michael Weigand WLS ’01 in exploring how their congregation could better serve students attending the three colleges in town: Marian, UW-FDL, and Moraine Park Tech.

“We want these kids to feel involved with a church,” Justin says, “so we’re trying to form our own version of a campus ministry for them here at Faith.

“Working here shows me there are lots and lots of opportunities to share the gospel in interesting ways,” he continues. “Some ways don’t work, and those are good lessons to learn too.”

Lessons: Speaking of lessons, Justin tells about the time he produced a postcard for an end-of-the-year picnic. He designed them himself, checked them over, and got 300 of them printed—without including the date or time of the picnic. “It was a valid ministry lesson,” he says.

On a positive note, he remembers once having a heart-to-heart with one of the soccer campers, a first grader who was creating a little havoc. “I sat him down and asked him, ‘What do you think Jesus would want you to do here?’ He said, ‘I think Jesus would want me to be nice to everyone.’ And then a lot of other doors opened as this little boy talked about his life. We ended up with a solution. ‘Next time you find it hard to be nice to someone, I want you to come find me so we can talk about it.’ I ended up carrying him piggyback most of the camp.”

Last summer Justin Digman, along with Pastor Mark Parsons WLS ’09, enrolled in Professor Cheryl Loomis’s DMLC ’77 (pictured) summer course, Bible Storytelling in Early Childhood. “I learned so much about education,” Justin says. “What’s the mindset of kids at this age? What will kids take away from a lesson at this age? It made me much more prepared for writing Sunday school curriculum. . . . I don’t mind being in a pulpit. But teaching a Bible story to a bunch of teachers who do this every day? That made me nervous. It was extremely humbling. I’m sure I’ll get some training with young kids at the seminary, but nothing is better than getting instruction from a lifelong teacher like Professor Loomis, who works with children every day.”

Like all hands-on ministry experiences, including MLC’s Early Field Experiences and Daylight program, the benefits go both ways. Justin is serving Faith, and Faith is serving Justin, giving him valuable insights into congregational ministry. “It’s shown me that this is definitely what I want to do with my life.”

Faith’s internship program began with Santiago Botero ’16, a life science major who is now doing mission work with Hispanics in Los Angeles. “I really want to see this opportunity at Faith passed on to other MLC students, like Jonny and others after him,” Justin says. “This is a great opportunity for them to see if ministry is really what they want to do.”

Running a soccer Bible camp is just one aspect of Justin Digman’s ministry internship at Faith-Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

Would your congregation like to give an MLC student ministry experience? We can help! Through the MLC Daylight program, dozens of MLC students travel to the farthest corners of the US and abroad to assist WELS congregations in their local ministries.

During spring and summer 2019, more than 200 students will serve—some for a week, some for the whole summer. Some of them will be paid, but most will volunteer.

If your congregation would like to learn more, contact Pastor John Boeder or Ms. Angela Scharf at 507.354.8221 or go to mlc-wels.edu/daylight.

James Radloff NWC 1959 Brookfield WI

Lori Hoover DMLC 1989 Stetsonville WI

Herbert Walther NWC 1944 Wisconsin Rapids WI

Michelle Moeller DMLC 1979 Shawnee KS

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ALUMNI

E K N U E JAK ‘A’ for Adventure He Gets an

These eight pages are adapted from the Spring 2019 issue of MLC KnightWatch, our recruitment magazine. To see more student and graduate profiles, check out that issue at mlc-wels.edu/ publications/knightwatch.

And then be sure to share it with a high school student who might want to learn more about preparing for the public ministry at Martin Luther College.

BACK AT MLC

JAKE UNKE ’12

Activities: Basketball, football, talent shows (“but my talent was questionable”)

The second week of school, Jake Unke took his seventh and eighth graders on an adventure. They traveled five hours north from Divine Savior Academy-Sienna Plantation, Texas, to Camp Shiloh for an outdoor retreat (pictured).

Mr. Unke was diving into Adventure Education, a learning model that takes kids out of their comfort zones—and away from their devices—to break down interpersonal barriers and create a cohesive group. Jake explains that by removing the pressures and assumptions of social media, and by putting students together into awkward or difficult situations, they learn to work together, to trust one another, and to have fun.

It’s teambuilding for teenagers. “My goal is to have students learn about their classmates on a deeper level,” Jake says, “and to respect one another as individuals who are blessed differently by God’s abundant grace.”

Jake explored Adventure Education during his first master’s program at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and it’s become a highlight of his ministry. “I love the outdoors, and I get to take kids camping and on retreats to cabins on a lake. Does it get any better than that?”

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The adventures don’t end when the bus leaves Camp Shiloh though. This is middle school, after all. “In grade 7-8, students are on a rollercoaster of emotions and hormones,” he says.

“I buckle myself into the same thrill ride every day, to endure all the highs and lows along with them. My role changes by the day: role model, father figure, shoulder to cry on, court jester, dose of reality . . . you name it!”

While he continues in this ministry, Jake is also working on his second master’s degree through the WELS 21st-Century Principal Cohort. “This is a synod-funded training program,” he explains, “for people who’ve been nominated for their leadership skills. I’ll receive a second master’s degree, an MS-Educational Administration through MLC, and I’ve attended national conferences and built relationships with other aspiring educational leaders within our synod. I was very honored to learn I’d been nominated. This program has truly been a blessing for my ministry!”

Mr. Unke’s advice for you is simple: “It doesn’t hurt to give MLC a try. I had no intentions of being a teacher when I enrolled at MLC. I simply wanted to continue competing in sports, and I knew that through MLC these opportunities would be available. By the end of my freshman year, I had such a tight-knit group of friends, there was no way I was leaving.”

Jake also advises you to be ready for anything. The one thing he never expected to do as a teacher is to plunge toilets.

“I don’t remember that in the MLC curriculum,” he says.

But that’s okay. It’s all part of the adventure.

S S A N H LEAing, Adulting

Teaching, Coach

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BACK AT MLC

LEAH NASS ’17

Activities: Volleyball, basketball, Student Senate, Admissions Student Ambassador, volleyball & track coach at MVLHS, piano, choir, intramurals Leah Nass—she’s the one wearing sunglasses—says one of the biggest surprises about her call as a teacher, coach, and dorm supervisor at California Lutheran High School is the adulting suddenly expected of her.

“Some days I just scratch my head and wonder, ‘Wow. I have all these high school kids looking to me to make a decision and to constantly be a good example. No pressure.’ At only 24 years old, that much responsibility can feel pretty surreal.”

Don’t worry. She can handle it. While at MLC, Leah double-majored in elementary ed and secondary life science ed, she coached high school students in volleyball and track, and she took herself to London for a little study abroad. This teaching, coaching, and “dorm supe” stuff—like making sure kids get up on time, finish their homework, do their chores, and eat—she’s got it.

And she loves it. “It might sound cliché, but I genuinely enjoy getting to know and helping the students,” she says. “For starters, the students help me grow as a person and a teacher, so helping them is the very least I can do to say ‘thank you.’

“More important, in one year of teaching, it has become very clear to me that each student has been uniquely crafted by God. Not that I never knew that before, but talking with them, laughing with them, teaching them is just like this awesome, daily testimony of God’s creativity, power, and abundant grace.”

Though she’s only been at Cal Lutheran a short time, she already knows that she enjoys counseling kids, helping them sort out their lives, even more than teaching them in the classroom. So she’s started an online master’s program in school counseling at Concordia University Wisconsin. “This will be a useful dynamic to add to my ministry,” she says.

Already she applies the new psych concepts she’s learning to her classroom teaching style.

As you consider your post-high school options, Leah understands the conundrum: “It’s tough figuring out the rest of your life at 18. I myself never knew if I wanted to be at MLC until maybe sophomore or junior year of college. I wasn’t sold on being a teacher—even while I attended MLC—but I don’t regret attending for a second. I was given so many opportunities to grow as a person and grow in my faith so I could be better prepared to share that gospel message in non-classroom situations.

“Regardless of the career path you choose,” she continues, “God will work through you and give you countless opportunities to fulfill this exciting calling we all have as Christians. We make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”

That’s some very adult advice.

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D N A G R E B L H E M Y B AB Ministry Is a Construction Business

They’re not even 30, and they’re starting a school.

When Abby Mehlberg and Alison Kolander graduated from MLC in 2013 with early childhood education degrees, they were not surprised to be assigned to prekindergarten and kindergarten ministries, Alison to Trinity-Kaukauna, Wisconsin, and Abby to Trinity-Marshfield, Wisconsin.

What they could not have foreseen, though, is that five years later, they’d end up together in Delray Beach, Florida, as the two-teacher faculty of a school still under construction.

Alison (pictured on right) was called in 2017 as director of Divine Savior Academy (DSA)-Delray Beach Campus. While the building was going up, she was going out, meeting families, promoting the school, and enrolling new students for the following fall. It’s not a hard sell when you yourself are sold on the blessings and benefits of this ministry. “We’re excited to offer the families around us an excellent education,” says Alison, “while also meeting their spiritual needs.”

When Abby (pictured on left) came to Delray Beach in the summer of 2018, she joined Alison in the construction business. The women assembled a lot of furniture while also constructing lesson plans and designing their classrooms.

They also built relationships and constructed marketing platforms on social media. Abby says public relations, marketing, and social media are not the first things that come to mind when you’re thinking about being a teacher, but they’re important parts of ministry too.

Now they’re up and running in a shiny new facility. They opened in fall 2018 with prekindergarten and kindergarten classes. Another grade will be added every year, beginning with first grade in fall 2019. And they’re still building.

“I love building relationships with people,” Alison says, “whether that’s fellow teachers and staff members, children in the classroom, parents, called workers in other locations, or members of our congregation.

It’s a privilege to see God at work in his people and to show his love to others.”

This is actually Alison’s second building project. She may be young,

BACK AT MLC

ABBY MEHLBERG ’13

Activities: Resident assistant, intramurals, Anchor, piano, choir

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but she knows her soffit and fascia. “Being part of a brand-new ministry and a mission church setting from the beginning has been exciting,” she says. “It helped me think about new ways to do ministry. We’ve been blessed with the opportunity to build a beautiful facility our academy can use to provide families in our community with a high-quality Christian education for their children, and those families then become part of the mission field for our church.”

Divine Savior Academy-Delray Beach is one of four DSA campuses, two in Florida and two in Texas. The other campuses are in Doral (near Miami), in Sienna Plantation (near Houston), and in Santa Rita Ranch (near Austin). Doral is the first—and largest—campus.

Santa Rita Ranch will open in fall 2020. The schools serve a combined student body of more than 1,000, and that number too is building. To educate these children, additional faculty members are called every year, and the odds are high that several of you reading this article right now will be among them one day.

“I’m excited about the whole mission of DSA!” Abby says. “We’re here to reach people in the community, provide them with an excellent education, and share God’s Word with them.

I love getting to know each student as a child of God. And many of these children are hearing these Bible stories for the first time. It’s amazing to watch the Lord work through this ministry!”

Abby’s Advice for You: “MLC allowed me to make lasting friendships with others who share the same faith and interests as me! MLC fueled my passion for teaching and sharing God’s Word with others and equipped me with the knowledge and skills to do that!”

Alison’s Advice for You:

“I wasn’t sure about MLC at first either, but I knew I wouldn’t regret giving it a try. Visit the campus, talk to students and faculty, pray about how God can use your gifts to serve others. Being at MLC is a wonderful opportunity to be in God’s Word, learn from Christian professors, and build friendships with other people who know and love Jesus.”

BACK AT MLC

ALISON KOLANDER ’13

Activities: Student Senate, resident assistant, teacher’s assistant (TA), writing coach, handbells, organ, intramurals 15

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Z S A A M A D MHuImRbleAd bN umor H f o e s n e S ’s d o G y

BACK AT MLC MIRANDA MAASZ ’15

Activities: Student Athletic Advisory Committee, teacher’s assistant (TA), volleyball, intramurals, piano, choir

Growing up in tiny Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, Miranda Maasz never would have foreseen what she’s doing today. She’s surprised and humbled by God’s wisdom—and his sense of humor as well.

“So many things have surprised me,” she says of her ministry at Divine Savior Academy (DSA). “High School? Florida?

MIAMI? I previously served in Waco, Nebraska, a town with a population of, yes, 236. Teaching in Miami? Yeah, right!

Yet here I am, humbled by God’s sense of humor and the opportunities he gives me to learn new things and to trust him.

“Also,” she adds, “I never thought I’d see the day where I would teach a high school English class. My high school English teachers never thought they’d see that day either.”

At DSA-Doral (a Miami suburb), Miranda also teaches social studies and coaches the JV squad of a volleyball program that won state this year.

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Whether in the classroom or on the court, Ms. Maasz is grateful God’s given her the opportunity to be a Christian mentor.

“I love being a role model for teenagers who are trying to figure out who they are and what their place should be in the world,” she says. “I love being able to witness to mold-able, eager hearts every day at my job. I love when my students ask, ‘Ms., why are you always happy?’ and I can tell them, even on my bad days, ‘Because I have Jesus in my life!’ I love that God gives me small victories each day that allow me to see he is helping me make a difference in teenagers’ lives.”

Miranda’s story is a lesson in trust. What you will be doing five or ten years from now may be something you never would have imagined. Embrace the adventure, and don’t be afraid of the unknown.

“If you aren’t yet sure what you want to do,” she says, “you’re not alone. You are a teenager! Even 25-year-olds don’t have that figured out yet. God puts forks in our path, and we get to decide which fork to take. Choose the one that means joy. You will serve the Lord best when you are filled with joy! Not sure which path means joy yet? Choose MLC. What better place to figure out what your path is than where you’re surrounded by people who will support you and guide you to your joy-filled path?”

R R A F P D JARRO

rong W t I g in o D e ’r u o Y g Fun, in v a H t o N e ’r u o Y f I

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BACK AT MLC JARROD PFARR ’14

Activities: Resident assistant, Forum, College Choir, Student Senate, Admissions assistant, track, women’s volleyball student coach Jarrod Pfarr’s ministry at St. Peter in Appleton, Wisconsin, illustrates one of MLC’s favorite taglines: “One Mission-Endless Opportunities.”

His endless opportunities fall into these categories: assistant principal; athletics and activities director; basketball, volleyball, and track coach; musical director; Junior Choir director; curriculum developer; and worship team member.

On the side (ahem), he teaches fifth grade—mostly religion, social studies, and language arts.

“I’m very passionate about many things,” he says, “and I’m involved in almost all of them at St. Peter. I have amazing opportunities each and every day.”

It’s serious business, but it’s fun too. “Each day I get to come in and work with a wonderful group of students who honestly just tolerate how ridiculous I am 90% of the time,” he says.

“I try to live by the idea, ‘If you’re not having fun, you’re probably doing it wrong.’”

Although he teaches grade school, Jarrod mentors older teenagers too. Many of you met him when he spoke at WELS

Youth Rally last summer. And you’ll soon come across his new launch, Project 4:12. “It’s an online platform for student leadership,” he says, “where young leaders can share opportunities, find encouragement to step out of their comfort zones, and explore ways to Believe and Be Love in our world. This generation has so much to offer, and I want to encourage them to go make a positive difference in their churches and educational communities.”

Looking back, Jarrod recognizes mentors who helped him understand the value—and the fun—of ministry. He’s so thankful for Pastor Dustin Sievert, Paul Strutz, Dan Schulz, and Charlie Kuether.

And he offers some humble advice to you too: “It took me a long time to figure out if ministry was right for me.

This world also needs Christian doctors, plumbers, graphic designers, and accountants. Wherever your gifts lie, use them to their fullest.

“And enjoy the journey on which God will bring you,” he adds. After all, if it isn’t fun, you’re probably doing it wrong.

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ALUMNI

R E T N E JON Thing as a Cookie-Cutter Pastor No Such

BACK AT MLC

JON ENTER ’00

Activities: Student Senate, Admissions assistant and tour guide, choir, security guard, cafeteria worker

Jon Enter learned long ago that there are a thousand different ways to be a pastor.

He encourages you to get beyond your own cookie-cutter view: “Don’t look only at the small cross section of pastors and teachers you know and think you have to be like them,” he says.

“Whatever your drive, your passion, that will be the focus of your classroom or your church. So if you’ve got a deep love for helping the homeless, or for working with the elderly, or for music, or whatever—we need you. We need all different kinds of preachers and teachers, so that the body of believers is stronger.”

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Jon’s own passion is working with youth. He had a flourishing youth ministry as a parish pastor at Divine Savior-West Palm Beach, Florida, and served as district youth coordinator. This year he’s at St. Croix Lutheran Academy (pictured), working with teens throughout the day. “I now have a church of 101 seniors in religion class. And since the underclassmen are basically prospects, I figure I’ll have a 100% conversion rate. Of course, come graduation, I’ll also have 100% backdoor losses. But that’s okay.”

Pastor Enter knows the importance of this ministry. “Youth aren’t the future of the church. They’re the church now. We need to get them active now, or—statistically and sadly—we’ll lose them.” One way he strives to do this is by creating a safe space for teens. “Teens don’t care how you look or how cool you are,” he says. “They can smell bogus a mile away. But if you genuinely care about them, they begin to trust you. They share their fears and insecurities. They talk about their struggles in the faith. And we all can be honest about the complexities of life. God’s Word is black and white, but living in God’s Word is messy.”

Teaching high school is a big change for Pastor Enter, but it’s not the only surprising part of his ministry. He never would have imagined he’d flip on the TV and see himself guest-preaching on Time of Grace, a national worship program . . . or that he’d preach to 2,000 teenagers at youth rallies . . . or that he’d fly around the country, encouraging and leading and sharing Jesus.

So he encourages you to jump into this ministry adventure, where there are no cookie-cutter patterns, where you don’t know what surprises God has in store—maybe a TV ministry, or a Minnesota high school, or a church near the beach in Florida. After all, he says, “Someone’s gotta preach to the tan people.”

N R E T S E S S E J cally o L d e w e r B y r t is Min

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BACK AT MLC

JESSE STERN ’03

Activities: Intramurals, tennis

Pastor Jesse Stern serves two congregations in very different Colorado communities, and he’s working hard to meet the gospel needs of both. He calls it ministry brewed locally.

He describes Boulder as “heavily spiritual, but decreasingly religious.” His goal, then, is developing relationships— meaningful and repeated—and then “using those connections to connect hearts to Jesus.” Two ways that Peace-Boulder initiates relationships: a community garden and a drop-in center for kids. “Think: a McDonald’s play-place or a dog-park for children,” he says.

At Our Savior-Longmont, where Jesse is vacancy pastor, they’re working on a concept they call “Boomers & Beyond.” Noting that other Longmont churches focus on youth and young families, Our Savior reaches out to “the venerable generations who have age-experience on their side,” he says. Each session of Boomers & Beyond includes a Bible class and then a presentation by a local with professional, practical advice or a story and wisdom to share.

“Different communities,” Pastor Stern says of Boulder and Longmont, “different spirits, different styles, different

dynamics . . . but the same powerful Word and wonderfully patient people.

“In a non-creepy way, people fascinate me,” he continues.

“Their histories and habits, their personalities and professions, their cultures and communities. It’s a stunning thing to lean in to these wonderful communities and listen to what’s on the heart, and listen for opportunities to lay the good news on hearts, hearts that so desperately need to hear what the Friend of Sinners has done for the world, for them. So it’s about people . . . and something brewed locally.”

Because he cares about people, Jesse invites you to text or call him to talk about your own journey. (Yes, he asked us to print his phone number: 720.315.0910.) And he encourages you not to be afraid to talk to others too—your peers, your pastors and teachers, your family, and especially “the One who knows his plans for you.”

And an important closing note: “It’s totally ok if you go to MLC and then decide to serve the Savior in another vocation,” Jesse says. “Please, please, please don’t feel ministry-guilty if that’s what you decide to do!”

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TO THE ENDS “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(Acts 1:8) Our Lord spoke these words before he ascended to heaven, and the church has been reaching for the ends of the earth ever since.

The International Services Office at Martin Luther College is dedicated to this reach, facilitating study abroad and teach abroad experiences, and assisting international students on campus.

In the fall 2018 issue of MLC InFocus (mlc-wels.edu/go/infocus-fall18), we featured some facets of MLC’s global reach: • Teaching abroad (Vietnam, Peru, Chile, Ethiopia, Finland, Southeast Asia) • Studying abroad (Ireland, Italy, Germany, Jamaica, and Spanish immersion in Argentina) • International students (China, Colombia, South Korea) • Second-generation Americans at MLC (South Sudan, Laos) In this spring 2019 issue, we’ll feature these: • Our first international student teacher (Antigua)

• Archaeological Dig (Israel)

• Third-culture kids on our campus (Zambia)

• World Mission Service (Mexico)

• Spanish immersion (Argentina)

• International Education Week

These pages can’t contain the whole of our global reach, but they give you an idea. Pray for us. Partner with us. Let us walk and witness together . . . in New Ulm and Mequon, and in all the United States, and to the ends of the earth.

First INTERNATIONAL Student Teacher Antigua We thanked God for another “first” in fall 2018. As senior Faith Schroeder (Good Shepherd-Novi MI) can tell her grandchildren someday, she was Martin Luther College’s first international student teacher.

Faith student-taught grade 6 at St. John-St. John’s, Antigua, in the classroom of Joycelyn Christmas-John ’15, ’18.

MLC already has an excellent relationship with St. John’s Lutheran School. For several years, we’ve assigned graduates there for one- or two-year stints so that the Caribbean teachers can enroll at MLC to finish their degrees. Currently, six MLC graduates teach in Antigua, and five Caribbean

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teachers are enrolled at MLC. But Faith is the first student teacher at St. John’s—or anywhere else outside the US. “Between Joyce and those 28 sixth graders, they made me a better teacher,” Faith says. “No matter where you student teach, you grow in your faith and in your teaching. But when you’re able to see the power of the gospel working in other parts of the world, it’s absolutely incredible. There just are no words.”

Since she’d served as an emergency teacher in 2017-2018, this was not Faith’s first classroom. But teaching PE and grades 1-2 at Emmaus-Phoenix as an emergency teacher was quite different from teaching grade 6 in the Caribbean as a student teacher.

OF THE EARTH Here are some of Faith’s notes from abroad: • This was the largest WELS school I’ve ever been to. St. John’s has 333 students and is still growing. I taught in the primary school (PK-6). In Antigua’s system, they also have secondary school (grade 7-11), and then local state college.

• All primary school graduates take a national exam to determine whether they’ll go to a Level 1 (the best), 2, 3, or 4 secondary school. Of Mrs. John’s 27 students last year, 23 went on to Level 1 schools and four went to Level 2.

• All students and teachers wear uniforms.

The sixth grade class of Mrs. John and Ms. Schroeder.

• I had to correct spelling tests carefully, because many of my students used British spellings like behaviour, colour, and judgement.

• Ice cream costs $8 a scoop, but that’s Eastern Caribbean dollars, which is only about $3 US. • During my second week, I experienced Culture Day and Independence Day for Antigua and Barbuda. My students wore traditional dress, ate traditional food (red herring, boiled dumplings, fried dumplings, spinach, plantain, and sugar cake, which we made the day before using a coal pot), played traditional games (cricket and rounders), and marched in a parade.

• Buses are a popular mode of transportation. And all vehicles are driven on the left, as in England.

• Schools don’t have smartboards, Chromebooks, or even an adequate number of textbooks. I learned that while having access to different kinds of resources and technologies is a huge blessing, teachers don’t need them to be great teachers, and Joyce is a great example of that.

Like all student teachers, Faith worked not only with her cooperating classroom teacher, Mrs. John, but also with her MLC supervisor, who was Professor Jennifer Krause ’96.

Professor Krause flew to Antigua in September to meet the staff and acquaint herself with the curriculum. But that was the only flight she made. Her four teacher observations of Faith during the semester were virtual visits. She used Google Hangouts to

observe Faith teaching in real time and discuss the lessons.

The benefits of completing clinical experiences abroad are many, Professor Krause explains. “This gives our teacher candidates the opportunity to experience a new culture, gain confidence and independence, and develop a deeper understanding of classroom management and instruction as they are exposed to new ideas and different teaching styles. Most important, it allows them to share the love of Jesus in a mission setting and encourages them in their growth as ministry-minded and servant-hearted individuals who will soon become called workers.”

Joycelyn Christmas-John, cooperating teacher, and Faith Schroeder, MLC’s first international student teacher.

Director of Clinical Experiences Paul Tess DMLC ’77 agrees.

“I think of teaching abroad as a win-win. Student teachers practice skills in settings different from their own backgrounds and broaden their perspective of ministry. And student teaching abroad can also strengthen the ties between MLC and international schools.”

Professor Tom Hunter DMLC ’74, MLC’s director of international services, is working on extending the student teaching abroad experience. Eventually we’d like to send two student teachers each term to the Caribbean—Antigua, Grenada, St. Lucia—and maybe send some students to student teach in WELS schools in Asia as well.

Meanwhile, Faith Schroeder is “excited, honored, and humbled to be chosen” as the first international student teacher. “I guess what I’ve learned about myself is that I’m able to handle being far from home and serving as a teacher in a different part of the world. No matter where God places me, I will never truly be alone. He will put the right people in my life to support, encourage, and help me. Plus, he will always be there to guide me, so I don’t need to be afraid.

“At MLC, we talk about world missions and the gospel being spread all over the world,” she continues, “but it’s a really cool experience to actually witness the work of the gospel in another country, and to worship and confess the same faith with fellow Christians.”

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TO THE ENDS “WHERE ARE YOU FROM?” Third-Culture Kids Zambia SOPHIE BIRNER The question that always stumps MLC senior Sophie Birner is “Where are you from?”

She was born and raised in Zambia, but her parents, Philip and Susan, aren’t Zambian. They’re American, and her dad was a pastor in America for a full decade before he and Sophie’s mom took a call to the Lutheran Church of Central Africa.

Sophie’s passport says American, and she went to high school and college in America—Luther Prep and Martin Luther College—but “home” is Zambia, and that’s where she goes when school’s out.

“When I was younger, I insisted I was Zambian,” she says, “but my brothers would get angry and tell me I was American, because that was what was listed on my passport.”

Sophie is a third-culture kid (TCK). TCKs are raised in a culture other than their parents’ culture or the culture of the country listed on their passport. They shift between two cultures during their formative years. The amalgamation of the two cultures in their developing identities is considered a third culture, one with both challenges and advantages. And some MLC students grew up in several countries, making their origin stories even more ambiguous.

“I really struggle with the question, Where are you from?” Sophie says. “Quite honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to confidently answer it. Half the time people don’t believe me.”

TCKs sometimes experience isolation, feeling they don’t fit into either culture they’re associated with, but Sophie says her feelings of awkwardness have been minimal. “When I first started at LPS, I called napkins serviettes and swimsuits swimming costumes. It took me a while to figure out how to speak like everyone else. The only other challenge is when I try to tell a story about home and remember that they might have no idea what I’m talking about. Even little things, like the fact that we have different cartoons or that we have backyard monkeys instead of squirrels.”

TCKs have advantages too—like extensive travel experience and greater cultural competence. Sophie took her first

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Sophie pets a lion in a wildlife center in Livingstone, Zambia.

international flight by herself when she was only 9 years old, and since then she has traveled farther and more frequently than most.

“I don’t necessarily feel like I’m more sophisticated, but I feel blessed to have opportunities to travel the world and experience a number of different cultures,” she says. “I’m very open to other people’s cultures because I know how it feels to be . . . not necessarily the outsider, but the new face.

I can incorporate other cultures into my church and future classroom because I’ve experienced and participated in foreign ministry firsthand.”

OF THE EARTH Make Their Way in America—and at MLC Zambia JONAH KROLL MLC senior Jonah Kroll was also born in Zambia.

His American-born parents, Dan and Karen, were also missionaries in Zambia for 17 years. They adopted Jonah at age 2.

In 2009, the Krolls moved back to the US, where Dan served as pastor at St. John-Lake City MN. In 2014, Dan was called to Africa again, and the family now serves the Cameroon mission field.

“Being a TCK was not something I thought about at first,” Jonah says. “When I moved to America, it was both scary and exciting, as I was leaving the only life I had known but was about to go to America, which was known as ‘the place to be.’”

One of the biggest challenges for Jonah was the adjustment to the fast pace of America. He admits he struggles with punctuality. “Everything has to be on a specific schedule here.

To me, time is fluid, and I have the mindset that things will happen when they’re supposed to. My family and I, upon returning to America, would go to church every Sunday well aware of when church started, but without fail we’d show up late and have to make that walk of shame down the aisle to sit in the front.”

Jonah sees blessings too, including a greater appreciation for the world and the people around him. “I find that I can relate to others on a more personal level, especially if they’re not from America. Being a TCK enables me to adapt to different cultures and to situations that are not familiar.

“I don’t want people to think that being a TCK makes us helpless or always in isolation,” he continues. “Being a TCK gives us joy and a desire to share our experiences with others.

It provides us with a view of life that enables us to take a step back and enjoy the time that is before us instead of rushing to get things done. Being a TCK is essentially a life away from home.”

Jonah Kroll (right) with his brother Elijah, both current MLC students.

MLC has over a dozen TCKs from eight different national cultures on campus this year. Our International Services Office helps them address any difficulties regarding identity, isolation, or loneliness, and also invites them to all international student activities on campus.

TCKs add dimension and diversity—and wisdom!—to our MLC student body. We’re grateful for their flexibility, their fresh perspectives, and their warm and open hearts, and we can’t wait to see how the Lord of the Church will use their gifts in his kingdom.

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TO THE ENDS International Education Week

Antigua

By Julia Schibbelhut ’21 When International Education Week rolled in, students noticed.

Familiar foods on the dinner line were swapped out for exciting foods from Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Cameroon, and the Caribbean, and students loved it! Besides new supper options, IEW also offered MLC students international trivia night, lunch with a panel of international students, and presentations from students who had studied abroad and students who had taught for a year in Peru.

“I think IEW is important to celebrate—especially in a small community setting with a small portion of minorities,” said Korean student Sora Lee (California LHS / Living Hope-Wildomar CA). “By celebrating IEW, domestic students can learn not only about the culture and food but also about the students at MLC who come from other countries.”

And what did the domestic students think? IEW provided them with tons of stories and facts about other cultures, but they couldn’t help but focus on the food!

Urvin Lewis, Jr. (LPS / St. JohnSt. John’s, Antigua) said, “For Caribbean night my fellow Antiguan friends and I pulled together a killer recipe for brown stew chicken and Johnny cakes. It’s truly an amazing dish that Antiguans enjoy. I hope the caf did too!”

Soojung Lee (MLS / Seoul LC-Seoul, Korea) and Sora Lee (California LHS / Living Hope-Wildomar CA) picked out recipes for egg drop soup and bulgogi (Korean BBQ) and then tested the dishes to make sure they tasted like home.

“All the food was excellently spiced,” said Caleb Paul (Rocky Mountain LHS / Lord of Life-Thornton CO). “On Pakistan night they had naan bread and curry chicken. It was different and so good.”

Micah Biesterfeld (LPS / St. John-New Ulm MN) added, “I really liked the spicy beef stew from Cameroon night. It broadened my horizons and my palate.” And Katelyn Raddatz (Luther HS / St. John-Sparta WI) said, “All the Russian food was super good, and I loved the Korean BBQ too. It was all so yummy!”

Traveling to New Ulm, Minnesota, USA, to train for ministry is a huge commitment for many of these international students, but MLC is so blessed to have them here! This year we serve 12 international students from five different countries on campus.

And if you’re an international student reading this, then please know this: The International Services Office is here to help you before, during, and after your time at Martin Luther College. We will assist you with the admissions process, help you adjust to campus life, be here for you as you work toward completing your degree, and work with you as you make plans after graduation.

We know your stay with us will be a positive, life-changing experience. And we know we’ll learn a great deal from you as well! (mlc-wels.edu/international-services) Reprinted from KnightWatch Weekly

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Russia Christina Wolfgramm (Lyceum #6-Russia / Zion-Clatonia NE) has grown up in Russia—where her father serves as a missionary. She brought a taste of her culture to the MLC caf with Olivie salad and a hearty Russian stew.

Korea

OF THE EARTH Israel

Summer 2019: Digging into Holy Land History

This summer, several MLC students will participate in an archeological dig in Israel. In this joint venture with students and professors from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Luther Preparatory School, Michigan Lutheran Seminary, and Wisconsin Lutheran College, the students will do some supervised digging at Khirbet el-Mastarah, believed to be an early Israelite settlement in the Jordan Valley.

Tentative plans include trips every other summer to the area, giving a large number of students hands-on history lessons in the Holy Land.

When Your School Wants to Add Spanish . . .

Argentina

When Bay Pines LS-Seminole FL discussed adding Spanish to their curriculum two years ago, they looked to their new teacher from MLC, Rachel Kulhanek ’16. Rachel knew Spanish, but since she hadn’t studied it since high school, she wanted to update her skills. The solution: MLC’s summer 2018 immersion trip to Buenos Aires.

“I was concerned I’d feel out of place with younger undergraduate students, but everyone was friendly, welcoming, and patient with me!” said Rachel (pictured back right in a Spanish class). “My husband even joined me in Buenos Aires for the end of the trip. I’m so excited to incorporate this knowledge and practice into my teaching this year.”

World Mission Festival Service

Mexico

In October, we welcomed Pastor Andrew Johnston WLS ’06 (pictured) as guest preacher at our World Mission Festival Service. Pastor Johnston serves as a missionary in Leon, Mexico. This annual Word and Sacrament service in Chapel of the Christ introduces our students to a different world mission field every year and inspires them to ponder how they might obey the Great Commission in their future ministries.

Call for Thalassa Submissions Martin Luther College has now begun accepting submissions for the 13th 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: mlc-wels.edu/thalassa SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: mlc-wels.edu/thalassa DEADLINE: April 30, 2019

2018 WINNER: MICAH RICKE “Auntie Nancy” – Southeast Asia

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MAY 2, 1, 2018 2019 MAY Promote and celebrate ministerial education by hosting an MLC Day in your congregation!

PRAY for our mission and ministry SHARE our story GIVE to support ministerial training Help us celebrate at MLC too! Anytime between now and May 1: PHOTOGRAPH your school, class, or faculty creating an MLC greeting.

VIDEOTAPE an MLC shout-out, song, or skit.

WRITE a prayer for our students and staff.

SHARE all of these with us by email or Facebook!

GATHER an offering for your College of Ministry. Your gifts on MLC Day will help fund the Congregational Partner Grant Matching Fund, directly supporting MLC students!

FIND more ideas at mlcday.com!

On MLC Day, May 1, we’ll have a grand unveiling of all the schools’ and congregations’ prayers, posts, shout-outs, and songs!

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Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, The words are powerful. Set to the tune of an Angoni war song, the hymn cheers the hearts and homes of believers everywhere: His battle ended there, death was overcome.

Jesus, alive again, wore the victor’s crown.

Clearly sin had failed; Goodness had prevailed. Alleluia!

Such confidence was expressed by believers of old as well.

Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!”

(Psalm 118:15) Throughout Scripture the Spirit emphasized that the Savior God vanquishes death. Two believers went to heaven without ever experiencing death. Three bodily resurrections are recorded in the Old Testament, and five more in the New Testament—as well as the “many holy people” who rose and appeared in Jerusalem when Jesus died. And then, of course, there is Christ’s own triumph over death!

Do we see the Lord’s repeated reassurances? Our Savior God overcomes death! When Satan tempts us to fear or despair because of the sting of death, Jesus brings us victory. He says, “Because I live you also will live.” Tabitha says, “Amen.” Eutychus and Lazarus and the Shunamite’s son say, “Alleluia!”

Please pray that your WELS College of Ministry remains the Spirit’s tool to instill Christ’s victory in the hearts of our students . . . and through them into the hearts of millions, so that they also live in the joy that death has been swallowed up in victory.

Please support MLC’s message of Easter triumph through your prayers. If you’re able, we invite you to also support this ministry with your gifts. mlc-wels.edu/donate In the joy of Christ’s bodily resurrection, and thus our eternal triumph,

Rev. Mark Zarling,

Martin Luther College President

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Focus On

By Director of Alumni Relations Steve Balza DMLC ’93

Alumni Commencement Dinner This year’s presenters:

Friday, May 17, 2019, 4:00 pm Your RSVP is free and saves your seat for the fellowship and presentations.

Pay just $5 upon arrival (cash or check to MLC) to enjoy a delicious cafeteria meal.

Rev. John Boeder Campus Pastor

In addition to the meal, you’ll have time to visit with old friends, meet other alumni, and hear presentations on MLC programs and progress.

Stick around after the event to enjoy the eagerly anticipated Commencement Concert in the WCC auditorium at 7:30 pm.

(The same concert is also performed at 4:00 pm.)

Dr. John Meyer Director of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education

The alumni dinner capacity is limited and RSVP is required.

RSVP online at mlc-wels.edu/alumni/events/alumni-comm-dinner/ or contact Steve Balza in the Alumni Office at 507.217.1731 or alumni@mlc-wels.edu to reserve your spot.

Mrs. Linda Kramer Director of Library Services

Come back Saturday for the Commencement Service at 10:00 am. and the Call Service at 2:00 pm.

Both will occur in the gymnasium, and all are welcome. Seating may be limited, so please arrive early.

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Focus On

By Director of Alumni Relations Steve Balza DMLC ’93

There Still Is Room The 2019 MLC Alumni Tours are open and available for registration. As of this publication date, there are still some spots open on the November 2-9 trip to Missouri. The weeklong tour will show you and other members of the MLC family the highlights of the Show Me State. The June trip to New York is sold out, and a waitlist is forming. Learn more about both tours or register today at mlc-wels.edu/alumni/tours.

The Way We Were Check out the MLC history web pages at mlc-wels.edu/history to find items such as digitized versions of MLC, DMLC, NWC, and MLA yearbooks. In order to complete our collection, we are in need of MLA yearbooks from 1970-71, 1971-72, 1975-76, and 1977-78. If you can spare yours (as a loan to scan or a donation to keep), please contact the alumni office at 507.217.1731 or alumni@mlc-wels.edu.

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Nathan Bode MLC 2004 Saginaw MI

Helen Klug DMLC 1949 Juneau WI

Philip Fischer DMLC 1989 Lewiston MN

Veronica Tesch DMLC 1994 Watertown SD

2018 REUNIONS

Together Again Each year, the MLC campus is happy to host alumni groups that gather to celebrate and reminisce about their days here on the hill. Is your class due to celebrate a special milestone? Interested in learning more about how to get the ball rolling for a reunion at MLC? Contact Steve Balza in the alumni office at 507.217.1731 or alumni@mlc-wels.edu. The Alumni Relations Office is eager to assist and can provide help with . . .

DMLHS 1953

• Class member listings with contact info when available (Free) • “Save the Date” postcards and invitation mailings (Free) • Meeting spaces on campus (Free) • Registration assistance and welcome packets (Free)

DMLHS 1956

• Chapel and campus tours (Free) • Class gift planning (Free) • Community tours (Fee) • Meal and reception planning (Fee) • Name tags and reunion booklet keepsakes (Fee) Many groups choose to come in September when the weather is nice, school is in session, cafeteria meals are available, and opportunities exist to worship and connect with our students.

Other groups come in summer when campus is quiet and schedules may be easier to work around.

DMLC 1968

Here are the reunions already in the works: DMLHS 1959 Jul 31-Aug 2 Location: MLC Chair: Carole Harries 507.847.4322 lcharries@yourstarnet.net

MLA 1969 Sept 14 Location: MLC Chair: Pat Schulz 612.910.8195 koalapat51@gmail.com

MLA 1979 Aug 3-4 Location: MLC Chair: Mark Henrich 647.546.8257 pastormark.henrich@gmail.com

DMLHS 1961 TBD 2021 Location: MLC Chair: Lauris Plath 928.537.1598 loplath@frontier.com

MLA 1972

MLA 1978

Dan Luetke NWC 1969 New Ulm MN

Kaylen Orr MLC 2009 Wasilla AK

Bob Timmermann NWC 1984 Wauwatosa WI

Bobbi Schmidt DMLC 1994 Grand Island NE

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Meet the

Northwestern College

Presidents

Northwestern College

President Robert J. Voss (1987-1993)

President Robert J. Voss (1926-2012) served as pastor of Faith-Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and Siloah-Milwaukee before becoming president of Wisconsin Lutheran College, a two-year teacher-training college that shared facilities with Wisconsin LHS from 1960 to 1970.

When the synod voted to move all teacher training to New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1969, Pastor Voss became the administrator of the WELS Board for Worker Training. Then, in 1987, he became the sixth president of Northwestern College and served until his retirement in 1993.

President Voss was known as a servant leader who loved his Savior and the college he was called to serve. His love for his Savior was reflected in the devotions he presented in chapel and the enthusiasm with which he approached the teaching of 1 Corinthians. His love for Northwestern College stemmed from his days as a student and as a tutor. He sported “WLC” on his license plate as well as the many plaques and memorabilia in his office and home.

His love for the students could be seen in his friendly smile, approachable demeanor, and open-door policy. He bowled in NWC’s intramural league and regularly attended athletic contests, plays, and concerts. He even participated in a halftime free-throw contest with Dr. Gary Greenfield, president of the new Wisconsin Lutheran College.

President Voss’s dedication to his Savior and to Northwestern College was also reflected in his commitment and work ethic. His organizational skills and attention to detail served him well as he interacted with faculty and staff and as he strove to balance the needs of Northwestern College with the overall needs of the synod. A phrase from a recruitment video produced during his tenure reflected well the spirit of his presidency: “Because we care!”

The Northwestern College Alumni Society honors the NWC presidents through memorial scholarships. President Voss is honored by two grants, the President Robert J. Voss Grant for Student Government and the President Robert J. Voss Grant for Student Life. Each is awarded annually to a preseminary student based upon his general academic achievement, campus citizenship and participation, potential for pastoral ministry, and participation in student government and/or student life.

1865-1869 Adam Martin 1869-1870 Lewis O. Thompson 1871-1919 Dr. August F. Ernst 1919-1959 Erwin E. Kowalke 1959-1987 Carleton Toppe

1987-1993 Robert J. Voss 1993-1995 John Braun

Dr. Martin Luther College 1884-1885 Christian J. Albrecht 1885-1893 Otto Hoyer 1893-1908 John Schaller 1908-1918 Adolph Ackermann 1918-1920 Johannes P. Meyer 1920-1935 Edmund Bliefernicht 1936-1966 Carl L. 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

Northwestern 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.

Our gratitude to Professor John Schmidt WLS ’74 for contributing to this biography.

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Amanda Yets MLC 2009 Muskego WI

Kenneth Lehman DMLC 1984 Jefferson WI

Beth Gillmer DMLC 1979 Poway CA

Craig Born MLC 2004 Cleveland WI

“Equipping Christian Witnesses” A Silver Anniversary Campaign With the permission of WELS Conference of Presidents, we will conduct a two-year capital campaign in conjunction with the 2020 silver anniversary of MLC. The title, “Equipping Christian Witnesses,” reflects not only the mission of our institution—to train a corps of Christian witnesses to meet WELS ministry needs—but also the pillars of this campaign: • Recruitment: We will ask every WELS member and congregation to proactively recruit for ministry—both traditional students and second-career students. It is our prayer that MLC enrollment will reach 900-1000 students within five years of the campaign.

• Financial Aid: We have set a goal of $3 million to $5 million to enable MLC to continue matching the Congregational Partner Grant Program (CPGP) gifts for up to 10 years.

We will also encourage participation in CPGP by all congregations with eligible students.

• Facilities: We have set a goal of $9 million to $12 million to build two new facilities: a residence hall ($9 million) and a turfed recreation facility ($3 million).

“Equipping Christian Witnesses” is a celebration of God’s goodness—not only for 25 years of MLC ministry, but also for more than 150 years of the unconditional gospel in our midst.

At this time, we are recruiting conference coordinators to serve as communication facilitators and encouragers for congregational liaisons in their conference. This will assist us in keeping communication channels open between the college and the local congregations.

Pray boldly that we use this celebration to recruit with rigor countless Christian witnesses . . . to increase our financial support of our students . . . and to provide the necessary facilities to equip our students for their future ministries.

Please watch for details in the coming months. Please also consider becoming a liaison for MLC in your congregation.

David Hanke NWC 1974 St. Peter MN

Lisa DeJarnett MLC 2004 Kennesaw GA

Thus far, the following men have agreed to serve as conference coordinators: COORDINATOR

CONFERENCE

Raymond Beckmann

Eastern

Randy Blackwood Nathan Buch Charles Buege Jeffrey Davis Alan Draeger Douglas Enter Dale Feddersen Curtis Fischer Robert Fischer Philip Glende Gary Gray Karl Hochmuth Bruce Janisch Thomas Koepsell Jonathan Kolander Michael Krueger Daniel Lefevre James Leonard Michael Lindemann Harold Mears James Nelson Andrew Olsen Duane Polack Douglas Rall Kurt Rosenbaum Silas Schmitzer Benjamin Schmudlach Daniel Sims Gregory Thiesfeldt Michael Valleau Terrance Vasold David Waege Patrick Walker

Daniel Hennig DMLC 1964 Morton Grove IL

Southeastern California South Cottonbelt Central Eastern Fox River Valley Colonial South Western Fox River Valley Ohio Black Canyon Saint Croix Saint Croix Saint Croix California North Northern Southeastern Black Canyon Mississippi River Valley Red Wing Mississippi River Valley Chippewa River Valley Northwoods Cottonbelt Black Canyon Mississippi River Valley Mississippi River Valley Manitowoc California North Saint Croix Northern Manitowoc California South

Jane Campbell DMLC 1979 Waukegan IL

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Professor James Carlovsky ’02 (mathematics and instructional technology) presented “Mathematics for Today” (keynote) and “Making Mathematics Meaningful” at the Lake Lutheran Teachers’ Conference at Wisconsin LS-Racine in February.

Dr. Robert Klindworth DMLC ’70 (education) was elected vice chair of the Minnesota Nonpublic Education Council and chair of the Accreditation Subcommittee of the council.

Appointed by the governor, the council advises the Minnesota education commissioner, currently Mary Cathryn Ricker.

Professor Benjamin Clemons ’03 (dean of education and director of urban ministry) presented “Class and Culture in Education” as a two-day workshop at Our Savior LS-Peridot AZ in July 2018, and also presented “Class and Culture” as a sectional at the Minnesota District Lutheran Teachers’ Conference in October.

Dr. Kari Muente ’99 (social sciences) delivered three presentations at both the Southwest Minnesota Social Studies Curriculum Conference (at MLC in January) and the Southeast Minnesota Social Studies Curriculum Conference (at Rochester in February): “Why Teach Social Studies? Historical Thinking and the Inclusive Classroom” (keynote); “Inclusive Practices for the Social Studies Classroom”; and “Eliminating the Textbook: Adapting Primary Sources toward Meaningful Learning.” Professor Peter Baganz DMLC ’87 co-presented “Eliminating the Textbook” with Muente at both conferences.

In March Dr. Muente also presented “Engaging All Students: Universal Design for Learning and the Social Studies Curriculum (6-12 grades)” at the Minnesota Council for Social Studies Annual Conference in Duluth.

Professor Larry Czer DMLC ’79 (English) presented “Enhancing Classroom Talk” at Wisconsin Lutheran State Teachers’ Conference in Milwaukee in October.

Professor Rachel Feld ’06 (education) presented “Creative Uses for Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom” at the Minnesota District Lutheran Teachers’ Conference in October.

Laurie Gauger-Hested DMLC ’87 (writer/editor) presented “Walking with Jesus in Prayer” at the Ladies’ Symposium of St. Paul LC-St. James MN in November.

Professor Daniel Gawrisch ’08 (physical education) delivered two presentations at the Milwaukee Metro Teachers’ Conference in Waukesha in February: “The Need for PE and Movement Throughout the School Day” and “Teaching PE: Strategies for Maximizing Movement and Participation.”

Dr. Timothy Grundmeier ’07 (history) co-authored the article “Print Media and Religion in America” for the Oxford Encyclopedia of Religion in America. He also presented “‘As Far from the Romish Church as Any Other Protestants’: Anti-Catholicism and Lutheran Identity in Antebellum America” at the American Society of Church History in Chicago in January.

Professors Emeritus Susan Haar DMLC ’65 and Carla Melendy presented “Early Childhood Science” at the Western Wisconsin District Teachers’ Conference at Eastside LS-Madison in February.

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Anita Lemke DMLC 1964 Greenleaf WI

Brent Miller MLC 2009 Traverse City MI

Dr. Mark Paustian WLS ’88 (English and Hebrew) presented “Here I Stand: Lutherans Finding Their Voice in Christian Apologetics” at a February 21 event sponsored by True North, the WELS campus ministry of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He also wrote the preface to the book Quick to Listen (Northwestern Publishing House, 2018).

Professor David Scharf WLS ’05 (theology) presented “Getting Outreach” at the Pacific Northwest District Pastors’ Conference in January and “Luther and Paul as Paradigms of Shepherd Leadership” at the Minnesota River Valley Conference in February. He’s also part of the Time of Grace Ministries team, sharing the gospel in video devotions called Grace Talks (formerly known as Your Time of Grace).

Professor Nicolas Schmoller WLS ’10 (theology and foreign language) co-authored Quick to Listen (Northwestern Publishing House, 2018), along with Samuel Degner WLS ’05, Christopher Doerr WLS ’00, and Luke Thompson WLS ’13.

Charissa Neumann MLC 1999 Melstone MT

Douglas Fillner DMLC 1974 West Salem WI

Welcoming Your New Teachers

By Professor Jonathan Schaefer ’02 Director, New Teacher Induction

Professor Tingting Schwartz ’15 (Chinese) and her husband, Dan, presented “Best Practices for Culture Learning and Acculturation” at the Friends of China Retreat in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in February.

Professor Steven Thiesfeldt DMLC ’74 (science) presented a keynote address, “The Foolishness of God: A Biblical Perspective on Science,” and two subsequent discussion sectionals at the Western Wisconsin District Teachers’ Conference at Eastside LS-Madison in February. He also led two workshops, “Desktop Investigations for Upper Grade Science: A Three Dimensional Approach” and “Using Demonstrations and an Observation Notebook to Teach Science Process Skills.”

Professor Emeritus Wayne Wagner, PhD DMLC ’72 (music) served as consultant to Salem-Woodbury MN as they selected a new digital organ and grand piano for worship.

Professor Emeritus David Wendler, PhD DMLC ’70 (education) was appointed chair of the National American University (NAU) Board of Governors in January. NAU is a regionally accredited, proprietary, multi-campus institution of higher learning offering associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs in technical and professional disciplines.

Dr. Jeff Wiechman DMLC ’92 (VP for academics) presented “Utilizing Essential Questions and Big Ideas in Social Studies” at the Southwest Minnesota Social Studies Curriculum Conference at MLC in January.

In May 2019, your school may be one of the many WELS schools all over the country receiving brand-new teachers. These teachers will be well trained and enthusiastic—and a little overwhelmed.

During their first year in the classroom, new teachers operate in several different worlds. One answers the question, “What am I teaching?” That includes curriculum, procedures, and ways the school operates.

Another answers the question, “How am I going to teach? How do I bring my own style to my teaching?”

As they consider both these questions, they also wonder, “How will I find time to carry out all these different aspects of teaching?”

These are big questions. If your congregation or school is receiving a new teacher, consider these two ways to offer support: • Limit or eliminate additional responsibilities for the first year.

It gives new teachers time to wrap their minds around these big questions.

• Provide a day to observe in another school. By observing another experienced teacher who teaches at the same level, new teachers can glean strategies and make connections to their own classrooms.

New teachers also reflectively ask themselves another big question: “How do I fit into the ministry at my new congregation and school?” It’s such a blessing that we all share a common faith and doctrine. Yet this is separate from the culture that exists at our various ministries. Each congregation has its own personality.

To help your new teacher connect, consider these tips: • Invite new teachers to faculty meetings and summer events.

Faculties often have end-of-year meetings in late May or early June, which coincide with the gap between the new teachers’ graduation and the start of their calls. So invite new teachers to your meetings—and to other summer events as well. Even if the teachers can’t make it, your invitation sends the explicit message, “We’re excited you’re coming to be a part of our ministry!”

• Provide financial support for new teachers to have a mentor.

Research clearly indicates that new teachers who are mentored have better success in the classroom and have students who perform better academically. WELS New Teacher Induction is in the top 5% of induction programs, based on our well-trained mentors, new teacher webinars on timely topics, reimbursement for new teachers to observe in other classrooms, and administrator training and support.

We’re excited for all the congregations and schools who will receive the blessing of new teachers this summer. May God bless you as you give your new teacher time to answer all the big questions.

Carol Schultz DMLC 1959 Jefferson WI

Jonathan Zietlow NWC 1994 Soldotna AK

Marilyn Orth DMLC 1969 Sleepy Eye MN

Dennis Harbach NWC 1989 Kenosha WI

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Though the photo’s lovely, the weather forecast this winter has been anything but! The historic polar vortex plunged the mercury down to -35 and the “feels-like” to nearly -70. We also recorded the snowiest February ever—well before the month was over. As you can see from this junior broomball team, however, our hardy MLC students say, “Bring it on!”

507.354.8221 • mlc-wels.edu