On Easter Sunday, after celebrating a risen Christ, I was thrilled to receive an email from Mark Swanson, a colleague at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. He had just spent Holy Week with his wife, Rosanne, in Malaysia, where she is teaching.
While accompanying Rosanne on assignment to the Sabah Theological Seminary, Mark met a number of Luther Seminary alums. His delight at their ministry in Malaysia is a reminder to me of the fantastic work our alums are doing abroad.
On just one Easter Sunday, Mark witnessed the work of many Luther Seminary alumni, including:
- The Rev. Dr. Chung Song Mee, Ph.D. ‘02
Upon Song Mee’s return to Sabah in 2001, she was “immediately made vice president of academic affairs and academic dean, a post in which she continues to serve.” Mark also pointed out that the seminary at which she teaches is now a thriving ecumenical institution and one in a network that offers a Doctor of Theology degree. Her husband, who earned a Master of Arts at Luther Seminary, pastors four churches.
- The Rev. Dr. Thomas Tsen, Ph.D. ‘07
Thomas is now bishop of the Basel Christian Church of Malaysia. His wife, Laura, an M.A. and M.Th. alum of Luther Seminary, is on the faculty of Sabah Theological Seminary.
What a gift to be reminded of the critical work our graduates do both here and abroad. I thank Mark for passing along this reminder of the impact of our mission.
Peace,
Robin Steinke