Every other month we get an update on what’s been happening recently at our Immanuel Lutheran High School, College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
The growing number of pastor and teacher calls and vacancies recently in our churches and schools attest that the need for young people to prepare themselves for the public ministry has never been greater. The aim of this article also is to encourage our youth for such preparation by showing the financial support our church body is providing to young people enrolled in ILC’s pre-theological and education programs.
Public Ministry Preparation (PMP) Program
In addition to the Student Aid Fund (SAF) available to all students in the ILC high school, college, and seminary departments through SAF student loans, family multi-student grants, and campus student employment (work study), special financial aid is available for students preparing for the public ministry. That program is aptly named “Public Ministry Preparation” (PMP).
The PMPE represents the Endowment invested portfolio part of the PMP fund. The PMPG represents the Grant part of this fund, namely, the annual earnings of interest and dividends only, (not capital appreciation) available from the Endowment portfolio. These earnings are granted routinely each year to all full-time ILC public ministry students.
Since its inception in 2000, the PMP Endowment portfolio has grown to $2 million, largely from bequests, but also from memorials and offerings. Earnings vary each year, of course, and the amount of grants awarded each student depends on the number of public ministry students enrolled full-time each year. Some years have provided as much as half of a student’s tuition. This year’s earnings are providing about 56% of the tuition for our full-time education and pre-theological college students. Over the last four years, the PMP has provided from 73% to 81% of seminary students’ tuition.
Partners in Ministry (PiM) Program
Another encouragement for students preparing for the public ministry is to be aware that our church body has also established a financial program to help students after they accept a call and become CLC pastors or teachers in our congregations. This program is called “Partners in Ministry” (PiM), which helps CLC called servants pay back ILC student loans. From inception of the program through the end of December 2024, funding of $85,077 from eight donors has been used to match $65,455 of called worker loan payments to help them pay off $130,910 of their SAF loan balances. Nine SAF loans have been repaid to date, and seven are still making payments and receiving matches. The current balance of donor funds on hand is $19,621 which obviously is insufficient to match beneficiary balances totaling $52,287. Funding is always welcome and needed to continue this special program of support for active CLC pastors and teachers who used ILC SAF loans to prepare for their pastoral or teaching ministries. If you would like information on being a donor, please contact ILC Business Manager Steve Lentz (715-836-6622 or steve.lentz@ilc.edu).
Beneficiaries of both these programs have expressed their appreciation that the CLC has established these programs, and their gratitude to the Lord and the donors for providing the funding. Offerings for these programs may be designated and sent c/o the ILC Business Manager, 501 Grover Road, Eau Claire, WI 54701. Student aid applications for the 2025-26 school year are due May 1, 2025.
We are truly thankful that the Lord not only provides those willing and able to serve in the public ministry but also the means and willingness of our members to support them. “Let him who is taught in the word share in all good things with him who teaches.” (Galatians 6:6).
is President of Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.