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 ascension of Jesus, which we commemorated a few months ago, marked several key points in the Savior’s work. It was the acknowledgment that Jesus had successfully completed the work of salvation for all mankind. He was received triumphantly back into heaven as the mighty Victor over sin and death. Jesus took on the active role of Prophet, Priest, and King for us, God’s people. As Prophet and Head of the Holy Christian Church, He sends out preachers and teachers as gifts to His Church (Ephesians 4:8-15).
Professor Daniel Sullivan and family
In 2019, Dan Schierenbeck was given by God to serve as a professor on the campus of Immanuel Lutheran High School, College, and Seminary. He became one of the few profs who have served over ILC’s 60+ year history to hold a doctorate. Over the years, the students have come to refer to him affectionately as Dr. Dan. This fall something special is coming to our campus when another Dr. Dan arrives. Let’s meet him.
Gifted to be a Gift, Blessed to be a Blessing
It is the way of our God to equip His children with gifts so that He can use them as gifts to serve others. The Lord gifted Dan Sullivan with life when he was born in 1978, a gift to Paul and Jan Sullivan. Dan is the middle child of four sisters, Rachel, Hannah, Tabitha and Elizabeth. He was blessed to have godly parents who provided a Christ-centered home. Dan was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. He spent most of his childhood in eastern Wisconsin while being homeschooled. When his father accepted the call in the Fall of 1997 to serve as a professor at ILC, the family moved to Eau Claire.
Among the gifts the Lord gave to Dan was the special talent for music. Dan continued his education at Oberlin Conservatory, graduating in 2002 with a Bachelor of Music degree. He went on to Yale School of Music, graduating in 2004 as a Master of Music and then to the Juilliard School, graduating in 2006 with an Artist Diploma and in 2010 as a Doctor of Musical Arts. He performed throughout the US and Canada, giving organ recitals. Eventually, he returned to Eau Claire and went to work at Menards as an industrial mechanic. During these years, he taught music at Messiah School and took turns on the organ bench for worship services. The Lord also used the gifts He had given Dan to bless Messiah congregation, where Dan served faithfully on various boards, and for several years on the committee that developed Messiah’s new hymnal, O Sing of Christ, for which Dan even wrote some original music.
In 2013, the Lord gifted Dan with a godly wife, Amanda Stratton, and has blessed the couple with two children, Gideon (10) and Margaret (6).
The Lord has also blessed Dan with a love for the Gospel, a solid foundation in the Bible, and a desire to serve Him and God’s people. And now the Lord has given to our campus and our fellowship the one He has gifted. Welcome to campus, Dr. Dan 2—and thank you, ascended Lord Jesus for yet another special gift.
., is a retired pastor. He lives in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.