Community pets blessed in popular chapel event An energetic group of dogs, cats and even a hamster joined their LSTC families Tuesday, Oct. 4 in the quad for the annual “Blessing of the Pets” chapel service. Erik Christensen, pastor to the LSTC community, said each year’s gathering is different. Now in his sixth year, Christensen […]
A public pastor for a public church More than 50 years ago, in 1968 to be precise, Brian Eklund (MDiv 1970) was a spritely 20-something seminarian. Axel Kildegaard, professor of theology and director of contextual education at LSTC, approached him for a conversation that would change his life. Kildegaard had been ready to send Eklund […]
Vance Blackfox: Shifting the narrative of mission and service From an early age, Vance Blackfox (2012, MATS) felt a call to help others feel included. Blackfox has fulfilled that call in many different roles across the church: as a youth leader and a director of youth programs, in positions at Women of the ELCA and […]
Ji Bu: from Myanmar to Chicago to become a theologian Only a few months into her studies at LSTC, Ji Bu was eager to share gratitude for the chance to be here. Bu was born and brought up in the Mungbaw Village along the China hill border in Myanmar, the eighth child of a Kachin […]
Lois and Bill Williams: Giving as a way of making the ordinary extraordinary The great Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once said, “It takes three things to attain a sense of significant being: God, a soul and a moment. And the three are always there.” For Lois and Leon “Bill” Jackson, the wisdom of Rabbi Heschel […]
Seminary ambassador: How Lane Lewis jumped from limited seminary knowledge to telling LSTC’s story When Lane Lewis was encouraged to consider volunteering with LSTC in 2019, he realized he hadn’t ever given much thought to where pastors come from and how they are trained. A member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Naperville, Ill., he was nudged toward LSTC by […]
Hendels privileged to share gift they hope will inspire others “Dedicated” and “love” sum up the Hendels’ relationship to LSTC, to the church, and to each other. Together they have supported the seminary and the church in many and various ways. From the 1970s and continuing beyond his retirement in 2015, Kurt Hendel has been […]
‘Thanks, bishop.’ A gift officer reflects on a lifelong ministry and a pastor’s legacy “I’m here to see Eugene Brodeen,” I said to the friendly attendant at the front desk as I removed my sunglasses. The sweltering sun was baking the Florida concrete outside, and the airconditioned lobby was a welcome escape. “Ah, the pastor. Just a […]
Sarah Stegemoeller shares her ‘My LSTC story’ “Remember, Jesus loves you.” These words, accompanied by a dollar bill, were inscribed on every birthday card Grandma Mueller ever sent me. The flowery cards never much impressed me as a child—I was far too preoccupied thinking about the money. Though my parents made me save a dime […]
