On June 24, nearly 50 ELCA pastors gathered in the library of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They were preparing to process into the first of two memorial services honoring the Rev. Paul Youngdahl, their colleague, mentor and friend.

If we can help with this, it is like we are helping the whole church, Charles and Sharon Olson said of their gift toward a major renovation of Luther Seminary’s Olson Campus Center.

By providing the lead gift for the project, the Olsons have made a commitment to strengthen community life at Luther Seminary.

“We both felt in our hearts that there was this need,” they said. “It felt good to support it.”

The foreword to “The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry,” a book written by Luther Seminary Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean Roland Martinson, along with Wes Black and John Roberto, begins with one three-word phrase: “This changes everything.”

Rev. Robert Paul Roth, ’45, Luther Seminary professor emeritus of systematic theology and ethics, died March 23 at his home in Wayzata, Minn. He was 91.

Roth served at Northwestern Seminary in Minneapolis from 1961 to 1990. From 1968 to 1976, he was Northwestern Seminary’s academic dean until the merger with Luther Seminary, where he continued teaching and served as the director of the graduate school.

Jesus used the festival to give one message to his disciples—and to us: If you are looking for joy and harvest, even in shaky times, “come to me; believe in me.”

It’s this message that marks the professors and teachers at Luther Seminary. Today, they are equipping a whole new generation of leaders with joy for the harvest.

On May 29, Luther Seminary celebrated its 142nd Commencement at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. Degrees were awarded to 148 students, including 77 Master of Divinity and 35 Master of Arts recipients. There were 19 Doctor of Ministry graduates recognized. Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy degrees were also awarded.