[ FROM OUR PRESIDENT ] I remember walking down the hallway that day knowing that what I was about to say would crush them. But when I looked into the eyes of Peter Pan and Captain Hook and the other Children’s Theater castmembers of Pan! and told them that they could not act out their fairytale in front of hundreds of eager grade school children that morning, the disappointment in their eyes made mine well up with emotion too. I wasn’t ready for that. Little did I know how many hearts would be broken in the weeks that followed. The District Championship boys basketball game would never be played. Classes were moved online. Spring sports would be cancelled. The Concert Choir tour would be cancelled. Even the culminating event of four years of academic achievement would eventually be stripped away from our seniors as graduation was scheduled to go entirely virtual. It was impossible to predict how dramatically our students’ lives would change in an instant. Everything changed in an instant for them too. One moment they were on the shore after a grueling night of fishing futility. The next moment they were reaping a harvest that would make even the most experienced fishermen tell tales. But it was what happened next that changed everything. “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” (Mt. 4:19). I don’t think I can fully understand the gravity of what Jesus was asking them. He called them to leave a fortuitous fortune right there on the shore, to leave the way of life that was their livelihood, and to follow him into unknown persecution and poverty. And because they saw something in Jesus that was more than what this vain life could offer, they followed. I don’t think our students can fully understand the gravity of the choices that they are making now. Many of them are wrestling with life decisions that far outweigh their life experience. How can anyone know for certain at age 18, much less at 14, what they want to do with their lives? That’s why this school is so important. Michigan Lutheran Seminary exists to encourage teenagers to consider public ministry as an option for their life. Will all of them follow that path? No. And God be praised for their time spent here surrounded by God’s Word and Christian role models that will encourage and educate them for life as leaders and encouragers in congregations where they live. But some of them will hear that encouragement and set their mind to explore what public ministry might be like for them. Some of them will continue their studies at Martin Luther College and maybe even Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to be “fishers of men.” And the reason they will do that is not because this place was a picture of the perfection that is public ministry, but because each and every day they will be confronted with the Gospel that changes hearts for a higher purpose.
CARDINAL CONNECTION
SUMMER 2020
Chief Editor Rev. Mark T. Luetzow Graphic Design Michael D. Priebe, MLS ‘94
www.mlsem.org Cardinal Connection is published in winter and summer free of charge for MLS alumni and friends. SUBMIT NEWS ITEMS TO: Michael Priebe, Public Relations mdp@mlsem.org SUBMIT ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Cathy Rothfuss, Mission Advancement car@mlsem.org
It may take years for that change to happen, and then again, it may all happen in an instant. Whenever and however God works, we simply pray that God would raise up another generation of fishers of men. Loving and serving Him,
ON THE COVER Aubrey Cole, MLS ‘20, poses for a photo after her virtual graduation wearing an MLS inspired mask. Photo by Corey Mayeda
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Hannah Kieta Memorial Scholarship Hannah Kieta loved MLS. When she was in college, making the difficult transition to a new world of thoughts and experiences, she once wrote on her Facebook page, “I miss Sem so much!” Although she chose not to study at MLC, her heart was always in the teaching ministry. Hannah was born in Bogota, Colombia, where her dad was serving as a world missionary. Even though the family returned to the US when she was three, she always treasured her connection to that country. While she was at MLS, she got to participate in a Project Titus trip to Bogota and serve in the congregation where she was baptized. Hannah loved church music. She studied piano and organ at MLS and became an organist, playing almost every Sunday at her home church or another one in the area. One of the joys of her life was making the Concert Choir her junior year. Hannah took German, Latin and Spanish at MLS and earned a bachelor’s degree in German and History at Wayne State University. Her work at MLS prepared her well for Wayne State’s scholarship competition as she won the President’s Scholarship there. She spent a year studying at the University in Munich. While she was in Germany, she attended worship services at a congregation of our sister synod, the ELFK. She was quickly asked to play piano for the worship services of the small congregation there. Hannah’s love for languages and history included alphabets, old documents and maps. She was hoping to earn a master’s degree in library science and become an archivist. She was visiting UW Madison to pursue that goal when, at the age of 24, her Lord called her home to heaven in a car accident. After Hannah went to be with her Savior, several of her classmates wanted to do something to remember the salutatorian of their 2013 graduating class. They approached her family with the idea of starting a scholarship either for students studying German or studying organ. The family chose German to encourage students to study that language in the hopes that it would contribute to future students growing in their appreciation of their Lutheran heritage in history, writing, and music. Thanks to many generous donations, this scholarship is now endowed and will continue to support MLS graduates as they pursue the public ministry. Donations in memory of Hannah are encouraged and can be made to this scholarship through the MLS Foundation Office. Please contact Josh Wakefield in the MLS Foundation office at 989.793.1010 x245 or by email jrw@mlsem.org.
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT In June you retired from ministry. What plans do you have in retirement? Spend some time with our children and grandchildren. What made MLS a special place to go to high school? I remember the profs who knew me by name, took time to learn about my interests or worries, and constantly held up the reality that God uses sinners to handle the glorious gospel, so there is no doubt where the power really lies. It is in the message, not the messenger. So, work hard, do your best, and relax – let the powerful Spirit do his miracles. I also remember the close friendships with classmates and schoolmates. What does the ministerial educational system of WELS mean to you?
Rev. Mark Zarling (Class of 1972) grew up in Benton Harbor, MI where his father served as pastor at Good Shepherd. He attended St. Matthew’s Lutheran School and then headed to MLS in fall of 1968. After graduating from MLS he attended Northwestern College and then Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. His first assignment into ministry was to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Danube, MN (1980-1984.) He then served at Bethany Lutheran in Fort Atkinson, WI (1984-1996.) Following those parish experiences, he served two synod schools: professor at WLS from 19962007, then president at MLC from 20072020. Mark married Colette Beth nee Sulzle in 1979. She is a 1972 graduate of Northwestern Lutheran Academy in Mobridge, SD, and a 1976 graduate of DMLC. They have four married children, and twelve grandchildren.
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I see an amazing gift from God to our little church body. For over 150 years, we have been entrusted with the gospel of unconditional grace. With the Word in our midst, we know the Spirit is unleashed, using the powerful law to convict and condemn us sinners. Then he uses the healing gospel of Jesus our Substitute to bring new life and eternal hope to human souls. We have the privilege of entrusting to another generation the saving “sola’s”: sola gratia, sola fide, sola Scriptura, soli deo gloria. It is also amazing that our three-tier system is not only aligned in our teaching efforts, but unified in a common faith and mission. What might you say to teens who are contemplating attending MLS? What a wonderful opportunity to consider. You will be living and learning in a place permeated with the most powerful truth – the living and enduring word of God. That power used by God to call forth his universe is the same Word whose power will touch your heart, mold your life, and keep you close to the Savior who has loved you with an everlasting love.
What might you say to parents who are contemplating sending their children to MLS? It’s hard to have your son or daughter away from you. God has filled your heart with love and concern for your child, wanting only what is best for them. Remember that the Savior God loves them perfectly and powerfully. He loves them unconditionally and eternally. He promises that his Word will not return empty, so the time at MLS will be a rich blessing to your child, who will be surrounded daily with the one thing needful. Do you remember one MLS professor that made an impact on your education? Why? It’s hard to pick one. Paul Kuske’s doctrine class taught not just saving truths, but also how a Spirit-worked sanctified life reflected those truths in a disciple’s pilgrimage. I still remember Martin Toepel’s Latin class and our “walking memory recitations” of Latin declensions. Tutor Vasold and Tutor Zeiger always displayed firm yet evangelical friendship with us and so modeled ministry to another generation. Share one particular ministry experience that you think our readers would appreciate. I made a hospital call to a cardiac intensive care unit at a hospital about 70 miles away from my home. A man listed as a member of my church suffered a severe heart attack coming back home on a trip. The hospital called me and asked if I knew him. Though he was rarely in church, I did know him, having visited him in the VA hospital quite often. You see, the man was a veteran of WWII. He had numerous health issues prior, due to many poor choices and less than sanctified living. Now this—he had suffered a major heart attack. As I drove, I wondered what Scripture to use for a devotion. The man rarely came to church. His life was littered with good intentions, yet he continued to
succumb to sinful choices and the sad consequences. When I walked into that hospital room, I prayed for wisdom to speak the Word clearly to a man close to death, using law and gospel to reach a soul. I prayed he might echo the confession of the thief on the cross. Yet I never got to give the devotion. The man looked at me and recited, “Jesus, thy blood and righteousness, my beauty are, my glorious dress. Midst flaming worlds in these arrayed, with joy shall I lift up my head.” The man went on to recite all seven verses of that hymn. My mouth dropped open in surprise. I asked him, “When did you learn that hymn?” He explained that he went to a Lutheran grade school and learned hymns every Friday. Here, so many years later, the
Spirit called forth the truths planted so long ago. It is as Jesus promised, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” What’s the value of Christian education? Souls with the Savior through the Spirit’s miraculous work with the Word! What is your "go to" passage in Scripture? Why? Sorry – I have more than one. When facing trials and difficulties I remember that whom the Lord loves, he disciplines. Or, as the psalmist declared, in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my
comfort. When wondering whether what I’m doing makes any difference, I remember Your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Facing a new challenge, I think of Paul’s inspired words, it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. When thinking about self and sense of worth, I remember all of you who are baptized into Christ are clothed with Christ. And when my conscience bothers me, I find great joy in knowing that the omniscient One promises to forget. Jesus will not remember my sins, for he promises I will remember their sins no more.
THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS Tribute gifts given to MLS from January 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020. Gifts to the MLS Foundation are found on the Foundation website www.mls-foundation.org
In Honor of...
KENNETH R. ANDERSON Ethel Anderson WALTER F. FRIEBE Ruth E. Berkobien John G. Mahar
ROBERT P. MUELLER St John Lutheran Senior Choir, Bay City Terry and Onalie Baker Carolyn M. Birkholz Gregory and Susan Gibbons Daniel and Debra Gibson Paul and Julia Mueller Casimer and Pamela Nowak Rachel Schroeder Erhardt and M.R. Schultz Kevin and Kay Sonnenburg Daniel and Eunice Westendorf Walter J. Oelhafen Daniel and Linka Schroeder Erhardt and M.R. Schultz
STEVEN GERWOLLS Lois W. Bradtke
ARMIN W. SCHUETZE Marcus and Karen Bode
CARRIE L. HENNIG Barbara M. Hennig
JEROME E. SPAUDE Alfred and Susan Cereske Loren C. Dietrich Paul and Naomi Doehling Gregory and Susan Gibbons Cynthia Hein Gary and Patricia Johnson Judith L. Kruse Brian and Catherine Mowers Philip and Sharon Pitt Larry and Diane Poch Randall and Diane Rathje Lawrence and Kay Retberg David and Christina Scharrer
PASTOR AND MRS. PAUL KUSKE Rachel S. Ventura
In Memory of...
ELAINE HOLTZ Philip Holtz STEVEN L. KORTH Ned and Nancy Kleinke William S. McKee LOIS J. KRAUS Charles and Darla Edwards Ryan and Carla Gray Marla R. Ohrmundt
Rachel Schroeder Lily V. Spaude Philip and Susan Spaude Loraine L. Stindt Joel and Karen Thomford Steven and Mary Jo Westphal James and Rebecca Wilsmann Robert and Diane Wozniak Richard and Joan Zeeb William E. Zeiger MARGARET R. SERGISON Katherine Stollsteimer Donald E. Weber ARLINE G. THOMFORD Joel and Karen Thomford JAMES THOMFORD Joel and Karen Thomford
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