IN THE PIPELINE
This series profiles the men and women who are in their final year of preparation for the public teaching
or preaching ministry at our Immanuel Lutheran College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Age: 28
Program: Seminary
Year in School: Senior
Where were you born?
Liberty, Missouri.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a town called Norborne, Missouri.
Where is your current home? Your home congregation?
I am a resident student on the Immanuel campus, and a member of Messiah Lutheran Church of Eau Claire.
Married? Unmarried? Tell us about your family.
My parents’ names are Gerald and Kimberly. Dad does road work for the county, and Mom has been a teacher for quite a while. I also have two older brothers, Jordan and Devon. Devon is two years older than I am, and Jordan is two years older than Devon.
What hobbies, sports or extracurriculars interest you?
Fishing, football (more so playing than watching), model railroading, things like that.
Tell us one thing about yourself that most people don’t know.
For whatever reason, when I was in 4-H years ago, I took a clowning course. Because of that I know some basic tricks ranging from pantomime to making simple balloon animals. Unsurprisingly, there aren’t many needs for these skills.
Which academic subjects especially interest you?
I found Christian dogmatics especially interesting because it covered a lot of ground on many subjects.
How did you first come to consider the public teaching or preaching ministry as a career?
I was a sophomore in high school when the ministry first seemed like an actual possibility as a career path for me. Prior to that point, I saw ministry as a necessary job but not a job I’d be willing to even consider. I’m not entirely sure why it clicked that day, except for some of the Christian instruction I had growing up. I wasn’t sure it was a good choice for me. Over the years following that moment, I tried teaching at various opportunities, and I participated in different speech contests. To my surprise, I quite enjoyed those endeavors. These things, along with prayerful consideration, helped on the way here.
What have you appreciated most about
your time at ILC?
It goes without saying that we are beyond blessed to have a school that is Christ-centered and does not budge in that stance, but I will say it anyway. The fact that all of the classes, the teachers, the students, and the staff go out of their way to demonstrate their love of God in all that they do, teach, and study both on and off the campus itself is something worth noting. To be a part of this school is an added statement to our already wonderful confessions of faith. Though we may take such things for granted, it is good to know that the Lord has blessed us with this gift.
What qualities do you think will most be needed
by the future leaders of the church?
Leaders of the church need willingness and humility. There must always be that willingness to study and apply God’s Word daily and to do so faithfully. There must be the willingness to not only speak but also to listen, to not just teach but to be taught, to accept our wrongdoings as the past and focus on the saving words of the Gospel as the present and future. The future leaders of the church will also need humility, the recognition that God is the One in command, and that we are the mouthpieces. The focus of leaders now and in the future should always be on Christ and His message.