Alumni Stories
Judy Reitz
Master of Divinity Alum
Being a commuter student was challenging at times, but there is a gift in being a commuter student because you recognize how unique the Luther community is ... We talk, think, pray and worship together every day. I saw that as such a positive gift so it was a good experience.
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Judy Reitz
Master of Divinity Alum
Being a commuter student was challenging at times, but there is a gift in being a commuter student because you recognize how unique the Luther community is. As a student, coming in from a world where people weren't always thinking about God in any way, shape, or form, I had the chance to come to a community where we talked, thought, prayed and worshiped intentionally together every day. I saw that as such a positive gift so it was a good experience.
Also, Luther's move to accommodate commuting students was very helpful and healthy. The school supports them by trying to make this do-able for students who simply cannot move here and live. There are commuter rooms for students who need to stay overnight. There are also courses that draw commuters to campus once a week instead of four days a week.
This is a very good thing because there will always be a mix of people at seminary --- there will be those who know right away that they have been called to ministry and are able to pack up everything and move. And then, there are others like me who never ever thought they would get involved in ministry and know they need to find a way to work this into their life. The seminary was very helpful with this.
Jon Campbell
The MSM program really gave me a sense of vocation. I grow as a person of faith as I do what I love.
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Jon Campbell
Jon came to seminary well prepared, having spent his youth active in choral music. There are few sacred music programs available in the U.S., and Luther Seminary shone like a beacon. "Just to have the audition was a thrill to me," Jon says. "I was passionately excited afterward. The MSM program really gave me a sense of vocation," he says. "I grow as a person of faith as I do what I love."
A lot of what Jon took away with him from Luther is an awareness of new connections-- a personal network that allows him access to industry experts and consultants, but also a sense of being a connector for others. "Being pastoral and musical, I understand the pastor's language and the concerns of theology," he says. "But I also understand the concerns of other groups-- the artists and lay members. Because of the MSM program, it's easier for me to be a bridge between the two."
Doing what he loves has brought Jon much joy. One of the delightful surprises has been working with kids. "Although not my specialty in training, the enthusiasm of the young people has been more than I expected," he says. "Adults tend to be a little set in their ways, but kids don't have any prejudices. They don't know something's hard, they just do it." Jon makes daily use of the philosophy he learned at seminary: "Give them something to grow into instead of grow out of. Give them the best."
Elaine Brandt
Diaconal Minister and Chaplain, Hospice Homecare
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Elaine Brandt
Diaconal Minister and Chaplain, Hospice Homecare
"Diaconal Ministry isn't very well known or understood, so I'm constantly explaining it to people," said Elaine Brant, a Diaconal Minister serving as a chaplain. But being an ambassador for Diaconal Ministry isn't a problem for Elaine: "I was one of the first ones at Luther Seminary planning to go into Diaconal Ministry. There were only three of us on campus at the time, so I had to explain it to the professors too!"
Elaine is currently assigned to 'home care.' Homecare nurses from Lakeview Hospital Homecare (Stillwater, MN) inform her of those patients who would appreciate visits from a chaplain.
In 1997, Elaine earned an MA degree with a concentration in ministry with the aging. She said that her education at Luther has helped her tremendously in her work. "I really liked everything," she said. "I wouldn't say that any of it was irrelevant. I'm glad to be better grounded in theology and the Bible."
Since her graduation, Elaine has spoken with many people about the possibilities for rostered leaders in the ELCA. "If the agency you're working for is interested in having you as a representative of the church, there's a wide variety of mission roles you could be doing."
The MA program was flexible enough for Elaine to finish her degree-- including a full-year clinical pastoral education residency-- in just two years. "I had credits from other places, including the University of Minnesota," she said. "They took all that in for me, so I was able to do three years' work in two!"
But Elaine has had some second thoughts about the speed of her studies. "I enjoyed it and wondered, 'Why did I hurry through this?'" she said. "But I'm glad to be out serving."
Carol Pyeatt
Director of Children and Family Ministry
American Lutheran Church
Grand Junction, CO
Children are not only the church of the future, but are the church now.
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Carol Pyeatt
Director of Children and Family Ministry
American Lutheran Church
Grand Junction, CO
As Director of Children and Family Ministry, Carol Pyeatt's life is all about serving children. All of her responsibilities take a lot of effort, but for Carol, it's worth it. "Children are not only the church of the future, but are the church now," she said. "I want to be part of helping children in their faith journey."
Carol found her studies at Luther Seminary to be well suited to her present calling. "Bible study and theology training have provided a most useful background when writing my devotional booklets and Bible studies, and when selecting appropriate materials for use with our children and families," she said. "Church leadership classes have helped me not only to understand my role on a church staff, but also to better understand the interactive roles and overall functioning of a large, multi-staffed church."
But seminary education wasn't her only preparation for this call. For a time, Carol was called by the Division for Global Mission to serve in Papua New Guinea as a teacher to the children of missionaries. "The experience of working in such an undeveloped country gave me an increased appreciation for the joy that comes from living a simpler life, a life of meager material possessions, but rich in the awareness and enjoyment of the basic good things in life," she said. "This has helped me work with our children to instill values and awareness of other cultures." Her children's programs include significant mission projects.
For individuals considering a seminary education, Carol has this advice to give: "Seek counsel from one or more pastors, AIMs or diaconal ministers whom you respect and who is/are respected in the field. Look at your gifts. Look at your interests. Listen to God. Listen to your heart."
Ivy Borgstrom
Associate Pastor
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Brainerd, MN.
Look up "church" in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, says Pastor Ivy L. Borgstrom. Borgstrom, a 2004 Luther Seminary graduate, serves as associate pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran.
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Ivy Borgstrom
Associate Pastor
Bethlehem Lutheran Church
Brainerd, MN.
Look up "church" in the dictionary and you'll find a picture of Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church, says Pastor Ivy L. Borgstrom. Borgstrom, a 2004 Luther seminary graduate, serves as associate pastor at Bethlehem Lutheran.
You can forgive Borgstrom for her exaggeration when you learn that, indeed, it seems that those things that signify "church" in our culture are happening at Bethlehem. Families spanning as many as five generations worship together. The church's food shelf, "Peggy's Pantry," is well stocked. Members are eager to bring in new people. A $1.1 million building project is underway. Bethlehem, in conjunction with Brainerd's other three ELCA churches, are starting a fifth church. A local nursing home's "volunteer of the year" is among its parishioners.
All that's going right at Bethlehem stands in contrast to the plans Borgstrom had for herself. Over the years people told the Roseville native she'd make a good pastor. But she fought it "tooth and nail," she said.
After earning a degree in communication studies from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1998, Borgstrom took a job as a youth worker at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Chicago with Lutheran Volunteer Corps. A strange thing happened while she was there. Teeth and nails were of no use as she found herself wanting to preach and lead worship. So, in 2000, she headed to Luther Seminary for a joint youth ministry/master of divinity degree.
"I may have walked into it feeling alone, but God shows up and gives what's needed-- courage," she said.
For internship, Borgstrom served at Luther Place Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., where "Vicar Ivy," as she was known there, worked with the church's mental health, substance abuse and shelter programs.
All her experience and passion pointed toward urban ministry. But upon graduation, she found herself in Brainerd, population 13,722. Again, she overcame that disinclination and threw herself into the work. One of two pastors at Bethlehem, Borgstrom is primarily the youth pastor. She shares confirmation class duties and runs the youth group. She is involved in discipleship and outreach. She also supports the "church in society" group, which runs the food pantry and participates in the ELCA "Quilts and Quarters" hunger drive. It is rewarding "to see how they're giving of themselves," she said of parishioners.
Should one need further proof of her flexibility, consider the fact that Borgstrom is taking guitar lessons in order to lead a guitar youth group. After the six participants played for a recent worship service, interest was so intense that she extended the group into the fall. "It's so exciting when kids start to see and hear the music of God's heart coming through them," she said.
While her heart was set on urban ministry, Borgstrom has learned that there are many similarities between the most and the least populated places. "In urban and rural contexts it seems like the problems are more 'in your face' than in the suburbs where everyone puts on a good front," she said. "In both urban and rural, I think people feel like they're stuck in systems that they can't get out of -- either too poor to move to a better neighborhood or don't know any different way of living."
Borgstrom has managed to do a little urban ministry while in Brainerd. One summer she took a group to Benton Harbor, Mich., with Youth Works, an organization that plans and leads youth mission trips. There, Bethlehem youth not only observed the affects of extreme poverty and racial tension, but experienced it firsthand.
"Several times through the day ... people from the community would remind us to leave before dark," she said. At times, members of her group endured racial slurs while hanging out with neighborhood children "because of the color of their skin," she said.
"It really affected the kids," she said. "Now I know why racism is wrong," they told her after the experience.
It may not fit the dictionary definition of "church," but that suits Borgstrom just fine. "I have been pleasantly surprised and pleasantly challenged," she said.
Christian Holleck
Pastor
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Harwich, MA
Studying another belief system has enabled me to come to a deeper understanding of Christianity's unique claims. Faithful Christians are called to love their neighbors, and understanding our neighbor is the first step to love.
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Christian Holleck
Pastor
St. Peter's Lutheran Church
Harwich, MA
"Studying another belief system has enabled me to come to a deeper understanding of Christianity's unique claims," said Christian Holleck, a graduate of Luther Seminary's Islamic Studies program ('99). He added, faithful Christians are called to love their neighbors and "understanding our neighbor is the first step to love."
Holleck points out that the Islamic world encompasses one-fifth of the human race, and in the U.S., Muslims are the second largest religious group.
He gives presentations on Islam and Christianity at various Lutheran Churches and senior living residences, has taken confirmation students to a mosque, and helped organize an interfaith walk against domestic violence. "Here in the U.S., we have a unique opportunity to build bridges between Christians and Muslims," he said.
Holleck was inspired by the example of his professors at Luther Seminary. "They have extensive experience living in Islamic countries and are attuned to Christian and Muslim relationships in different parts of the world," he said. "They believe that an often tense relationship can be transformed into one of friendship and understanding."
Dennis Larson
Minister of Worship and Music
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
Greeley, Colorado
In the beginning I was primarily interested in the music classes, but discovered that I thoroughly enjoyed the theology classes as well.
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Dennis Larson
Minister of Worship and Music
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
Greeley, Colorado
As Minister of Worship and Music for a 1,200-member congregation, Dennis Larson keeps very busy. "I am organist and choir director, as well as director of the adult handbell ensemble and worship band. I supervise those leading the children's musical groups, and am responsible for all the participants present in worship (ushering program, altar guild, banner committee, communion assistants, readers, worship leaders, etc.). I plan and prepare all elements of the worship services with the exception of the sermon."
A 1996 graduate of Luther Seminary's Master of Sacred Music Program, Dennis daily uses the skills and knowledge he gained as a student. "All of the educational objectives -- musical and theological -- are called upon for planning worship. Not only were practical musical skills honed, a solid foundation for strong theologically-based worship planning was provided. This enables me to plan services of variety and substance, well-grounded in Lutheran doctrine. In a world of wide-ranging worship styles, it is important to know WHAT should be a part of worship, and WHY. And, if anyone questions something in the service (or not in the service), I can give a good theologically-based answer. This background was very important to this congregation, and extremely instrumental in securing my present position."
Attending Luther Seminary's Ventures in Vocation weekend helped Dennis clarify his sense of calling to music ministry. "When I finally accepted God's calling to this vocation, the fine instructors and the excellent MSM program combining music and theology, Luther became the obvious choice for me."
Dennis describes the MSM program as "small but highly effective. Small class sizes offered great faculty-to-student ratios, resulting in much individualized attention. In the beginning I was primarily interested in the music classes, but discovered that I thoroughly enjoyed the theology classes as well. Having classes together with M.Div. students was highly beneficial in providing a solid theological groundwork for planning worship."
Dennis praised the faculty at both Luther Seminary and St. Olaf College. "The professors were first-rate all the way. Highly qualified in their fields, they shared their passion and zeal with their students, instilling and motivating constantly. Instructors were very approachable and well-respected; life-long friendships developed with several. Their personal faith and deep commitment was apparent and impressive; what students learn from them goes far beyond one field of study."
Kristine Stache
Doctor of Philosophy Student
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Kristine Stache
Doctor of Philosophy Student
"The first on-line course I took was the Pentateuch course with Dr. Richard Nysse. It was a combination class, meeting on site once a week with discussion groups working online. I chose the course because I was already working full-time and had a child at home. Finding a class to fit my schedule was difficult."
"The second course I took was completely online. It was on the Book of Matthew. In fact, I didn't see the course instructor until after the class had ended. It was also a positive experience for me, since my family size had increased and my schedule at work was getting more difficult. The online course allowed me to work in the evenings, after my children were in bed."
"This helped me accomplish what I needed to do at school, as well as meet the needs of my family."
Hal Dragseth
President, Seraphim Communications
St. Paul, MN.
There is a great deal of noise in the culture that pumps out louder sounds and more active and eye-catching images. There is, however, a deep desire to hear and see stories that connect our heart to the heart of God.
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Hal Dragseth
President, Seraphim Communications
St. Paul, MN.
With his deep, resonant voice, broadcasting seemed the perfect career opportunity for Hal Dragseth. But as a college student he became disillusioned about the business. "I recalled a pastor's urging to consider full-time ministry in the church. I transferred from a state college to California Lutheran College. There I changed my major from communications to history with a pre-seminary focus. When I decided to go to seminary, my pastor said, 'Well, you'll want to go to the best.' I said, 'OK.'"
Dragseth entered Luther Seminary intent on becoming a pastor. Little did he know that a visit to the Department of TV/Radio and Films of the American Lutheran Church, whose studios were located on Luther Seminary's lower campus, would call him back to the communications field. "A new rock and roll radio show was just being developed and syndicated nationally and the producer needed immediate help. I started the next day and was surprised by God's direction. I knew early on that I had found my calling in communications ministry."
Dragseth worked nearly full time in media ministry while attending seminary. "The professors were very supportive and allowed me to develop a communications theology while learning the classical material. In the late 1960s cities were burning with racial riots and Vietnam war protests were raging. The world intruded on the seminary and to the credit of the professors, they let us take notice and integrate what was happening in the world into our studies. I was able to read scriptures in the light of the conflict and upheaval of that time. I still think of text and context when I do my communications work. This understanding came from my experience at Luther."
After working for the ALC for 25 years in radio, television, film and video, Dragseth and a colleague started Seraphim Communications in 1987. Working in the same building that Dragseth visited decades ago, Seraphim serves not-for-profit and church-related organizations in their communication needs, especially in electronic media.
"The technologies change at a rapid pace, and that is challenging, but paying attention to the meta-narrative of scripture and connecting it to the narratives being written in the lives of individuals and communities is very exciting and always new. We use marvelous digital technologies that increase efficiencies and effectiveness but the real power is in the underlying message. For all the power in the tools, it pales compared to the power of the Word to transform lives. There is a great deal of noise in the culture that pumps out louder sounds and more active and eye-catching images. There is, however, a deep desire to hear and see stories that connect our heart to the heart of God.
"That's what we get to do everyday and we love it."
Daniel Rakotojoelinandrasana
International Alum
I am from Madagascar ... from a village where the first Lutheran Norwegian missionaries made their station. Active involvement with the church gave me the desire to be a missionary and to be involved in the ministry of the church.
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Daniel Rakotojoelinandrasana
International Alum
"I am from Madagascar. I was born into a Christian family, a third or fourth Christian generation. I came from a village where the first Lutheran Norwegian missionaries made their station. Active involvement with the church gave me the desire to be a missionary and to be involved in the ministry of the church.
My passions in ministry relate the church to healing ministry, preaching and teaching. I want to see how the gospel is saving human beings fully, both in the here and now and in the hereafter, with regard to what human beings need individually and as a community.
I learned many things at Luther regarding academics, but also about Lutheran confessions and the 'Lutheran' approach to church ministry. As an international student, coming to Luther was an eye-opener to another world. Luther was different from what I was used to seeing in my country and in my previous educational world. Cultural and technological novelties were big at Luther. Trying to know and to relate to people was a tremendous enterprise.
I plan to ultimately return to Madagascar. Before that, I would like to stay a few more years either in the United States, Canada, or in a mission field."
