American Lutheran
Theological Seminary
"...train(ing) pastors to establish and equip the church to reach and disciple the next generation." (Ephesians 4).
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Meet Another Future Pastor
Dean Stoner has completed
his vicarage and continues his studies through our distance video conferencing curriculum. He is currently serving at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Napo-leon Township in Napoleon, Ohio as a Minister-In-Training. When asked about his decision to join the ministry, Dean replied, "Unlike most who pursue pastoral ministry, I am what is known as a 'second career guy.' For most of my adult life I fought with this sense from God that He wanted something 'more' from me, and after 10 or so years of resisting, I was eventually led to Seminary. Although then still unsure where school would take me, I was confident that the Holy Spirit would eventually bring me to discerning His will, what-ever that may be. My journey soon brought me to the realization that my calling was to serve a church. And although this reality is challenging at times, it is also very exciting! ... I finally sense that I've 'come home,' so to speak, following Christ's call to serve Him in this manner. What a privilge, what an honor! Thanks be to God!"
Do you have a desire to be a pastor?
Has anyone ever told you, "You would make a great pastor" or that "you should consider this as your career path?" Have you ever wondered what your vocation might be after college? Or, do you already have a career that is not fullling and you're wondering about pastoral ministry? St. Paul wrote, "If anyone sets his heart on being an overseerer, he desires a noble thing" (1 Tim. 3:1). If you have answered "Yes" to any of these questions then give us a call or send us an e-mail. We would be happy to speak with you. As we look down the road the need for pastors in our Church body is great. Perhaps you are one whom God is calling to serve Him in His harvest field.
The Future is Now
The American Lutheran Theological Seminary exists to train pastors to serve in our congrega-tions. The good news is that we have young (and older) men who are studying to be pastors. Is this part of your future? Contact us by phone or email. |
Are You Called to be a Pastor?
The Need:
Your Church body, The American Association of Lutheran Churches, has a great need. Did you know that within the next 5–15 years many, if not most, of our current pastors will retire? Just think of all the congregations that will need pastors.
Meet One of Our Current Vicars:
Michael Badenhop is  Vicar
at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, San Diego, California in his third year of seminary studies. When asked about his decision to become a pastor, Vicar Badenhop said, "To be honest, there are a lot of different things I could have done with my life. For the longest time, I thought I would be an engineer or a teacher or a writer, but through years of slowly leading me to the point where none of these seemed like they were a good fit for me, God led me to the only thing I could do with the rest of my life and actually enjoy it: pastoral ministry. That's not to say it comes entirely naturally or that it's not a challenge, but it is a challenge filled with the joy of delivering the promise of the Gospel to people desperately in need." |
