Want to meet the person who may be your next pastor or Christian day school teacher? 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: 25
Program: Seminary
Year in School: Senior
Where were you born?
I was born in St. Joseph, Michigan.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Okabena, Minnesota, and lived there for over twenty years.
Married? Unmarried? Tell us about your family.
I’m single. I have five older brothers, four nieces, and two nephews.
What hobbies, sports or extracurriculars interest you?
I like anything outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, baseball, and football.
Tell us one thing about yourself that most people don’t know.
I am an avid cook and baker. My grandma wanted me to go to culinary school when I was younger.
Which academic subjects especially interest you?
History, Psychology, and Sociology.
How did you first come to consider the public teaching or preaching ministry as a career?
It has always been in my mind since I was little. Seeing the ins and outs of a pastor’s work while growing up had a big influence on me. But it was really in college where the Holy Spirit made it clear that the public ministry was a worthwhile calling for me.
What have you appreciated most about your time at ILC?
I’ve always appreciated the activities one can be involved in at ILC. Even more so, I’ve loved being able to give back by teaching things I enjoyed like theatre, basketball, and baseball. Over the years it’s been amazing to witness kids passing through ILC and becoming Christian adults.
What qualities do you think will most be needed by the future leaders of the church?
Shrewdness and patience. The society we live in today is one supposedly marked by love, but it is a love promoted by the world. It is important for leaders of the church to remember and hold fast to the foundation set by our Lord through the Apostles and Prophets against the false love of the world, no matter how appealing such love may be to the flesh. But it is also important for a leader to patiently instruct his flock in the truth God has given us.