SA国际传媒

By Kim Plummer Krull

As Lutherans throughout the world celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, Seminary students are preparing to carry forth the Reformation鈥檚 Gospel message, each with their own hopes and dreams of preaching and teaching.

Here鈥檚 what four current students say about how they hope to touch lives and share the Good News of Jesus Christ in the years to come:

Transient past shapes church work future

By age 12, Adam Rodriguez had lived in half a dozen cities and knew how to 鈥渢alk to new people and make new friends鈥� easily. Now this once-transient kid looks forward to serving in pastoral ministry or perhaps even church planting.

鈥淎s I go forward, I hope I can teach and preach the message of the Reformation 鈥� Jesus 鈥� to people wherever they are, in the best way that they can understand,鈥� said the second-year seminarian, who was born in Panama City, Fla., but lists a string of cities when asked where he鈥檚 from.

鈥淧eople say, whoa, that must have been hard, but actually it gave me the experience and abilities I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 otherwise have,鈥� said Rodriguez, whose father鈥檚 vocation led to multiple family moves.

Despite his changing address, Rodriguez grew up with a solid faith foundation 鈥� Lutheran congregations. Now he wants to 鈥渕eet people where they are and bring them the life-giving words of Jesus,鈥� he said.

He appreciates the 鈥渟imple message鈥� of the Synod鈥檚 tagline for the Reformation anniversary celebration 鈥� It鈥檚 Still All SA国际传媒 Jesus 鈥� and finds strength knowing that 鈥渟o many people have gone before me doing what is not an impossible task. We鈥檙e all standing at the foot of the cross and carrying that same message.鈥�

One such person is his father, Rev. Jimmy Rodriguez, associate pastor at Immanuel Lutheran in Seymour, Ind. The elder Rodriguez鈥檚 path toward pastoral ministry was the reason one city where Adam lived as a child was St. Louis, when his father was a SA国际传媒 student.

Today, Adam Rodriguez prays that he uses 鈥渢he gifts and abilities God has given me to reach people, wherever He places me.鈥�

From military service to serving 鈥榳herever God plants us鈥�

Iraqi Christians inspired a 鈥渟piritual awakening鈥� in Dawn Werner while she was stationed in Baghdad with the military 鈥� and the desire to strengthen her own theological foundation so she can help strengthen others.

鈥淭hey were so joyous in their faith despite the uncertainty and violence in their lives,鈥� Werner said of Iraqis she was privileged to fellowship with during her final deployment with the U.S. Air Force.

Now this retired lieutenant colonel is a second-year Seminary student, pursuing a Master in Spiritual Care as part of the Deaconess Studies program.

Luther worked to steer the church to God鈥檚 Word, and she鈥檚 working to grow in her understanding of that Gospel.

鈥淚 love to teach, and by having a stronger theological grounding, it will make a huge difference in how I can approach teaching,鈥� Werner said. She is helping teach an adult Sunday school class at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Collinsville, Ill., near Scott Air Force Base where her husband is stationed.

Noting that Bible studies and other classes she has taught over the years included many non-Lutherans, Werner appreciates how the Seminary is equipping her to 鈥渆nter into intelligent and faithful conversations.鈥�

鈥淚 want to be strong in my faith and not condemning,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 want to help people see the truth and help them grow in that truth.鈥�

While her husband remains on active duty, Werner and her family likely will move again with the military. Even so, she looks forward to 鈥渂looming wherever God plants us.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 always a church looking for a Bible study leader, always the need for someone to visit shut-ins,鈥� she said. 鈥淗owever I can contribute is what I want to do, helping to make sure faith is strengthened and the truth revealed.鈥�

Using experiences to connect with the frustrated, alienated

Adam Woldt grew up in a variety of faith denominations. For years he considered 鈥渢he organized church broken and not a system I wanted to be involved with,鈥� he said.

Today as this fourth-year seminarian prepares for his first call in the spring, he looks forward to connecting with people who may be struggling with similar frustrations and disappointments.

鈥淚 definitely think that my experiences and perceptions can help me help people who see the church as broken or who have turned away from Christ,鈥� Woldt said.

He notes that the need for the Gospel that helped fuel the Reformation remains strong.

鈥淔ive hundred years later, people who feel alienated and separated from the church still need to hear the promise of Christ,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ven when the organized church has problems, the Gospel is still about Christ and His love for us.鈥�

Woldt knows the difference an encouraging congregation and pastors can make. He was in high school when he began attending King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Neb. As a college student, he joined the church staff.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 grow up Lutheran, and I really appreciate these people who walked alongside me and encouraged me,鈥� Woldt said of congregants and pastors who recognized 鈥済ifts for pastoral ministry in me鈥� and pointed him toward the Seminary.

The support he received as a high school student has deepened his desire to connect with those who 鈥渄on鈥檛 understand Lutheran theology and let them know that鈥檚 OK.鈥�

鈥淚 want to help them understand and then keep walking with them in their journey,鈥� said Woldt, whose own journey includes pursuing a Master of Divinity. 鈥淚 want them to know that the church isn鈥檛 about pushing them away but pulling them back into a life worth living.鈥�

Good works lead to good conversations

Martin Luther never shared popsicles and Gatorade with airmen, but Travis Ferguson might assume that the reformer would approve of such opportunities to 鈥渃onnect with people and start conversations that lead to deeper conversations.鈥�

An Air Force reservist and member of the Air Force Chaplains Corps, Ferguson served on active duty last summer at five bases where he discovered a thirst for more than cold treats.

Serving in chaplaincy includes what he calls 鈥渁wesome challenges.鈥� Chaplains aren鈥檛 allowed to proselytize, he explained, but 鈥渇aith can come up organically, through conversations.鈥�

鈥淕ood works can lead to good conversations,鈥� said Ferguson, who is in his
final year toward a Master of Divinity. 鈥淕ood works is a huge part of chaplaincy, opening up so many conversations that otherwise wouldn鈥檛 happen.鈥�

He reflects on Luther鈥檚 writings on vocation and how 鈥渁ll are called to show that love, whether a pastor or a plumber.鈥�

鈥淢artin Luther was looking for a savior, found Him and wanted to tell others,鈥� he said. Sharing Christ doesn鈥檛 require 鈥済randiose theological lectures,鈥� but 鈥渓oving our neighbors.鈥�

Growing up 鈥渨ith a lot of trials and errors,鈥� the Kansas City, Mo., native said 鈥渢he one thing that kept me going was knowing that Jesus loves me, no matter what. I think that鈥檚 a message our reformed-yet-catholic theology teaches so well,鈥� he said.

Today, Ferguson said he鈥檚 thankful for 鈥渟ome great pastors from home and great pastors here at the Seminary who have instilled that message in me.鈥�

Although unsure where God will lead him this spring, he looks forward to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. And, perhaps, sharing more popsicles.