For our synod, the start of the school year is not just an annual date on the fall calendar. What happens in our schools is vitally important to the health of our synod and to our ability to carry out the mission that God has given us.
Think for a moment of when and where you first learned the basic truths of Christianity. For most of us, that learning took place first in the home, as faithful Christian parents brought up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. There as a child you learned about God who created you and the world you live in. There you learned to know your Savior who loves you and died to save you. There you learned to know him from Bible stories and from the prayers and songs your parents taught you at bedtime.
But for many of our WELS members, that learning about Christ continued in Lutheran elementary and high schools. It’s for that reason that we spend vast amounts of resources and energy to establish and maintain one of the largest private Christian school systems in the country—because it’s important and valuable. That work continues with the start of this school year.
And we also provide the kind of Christian education that will supply our synod with well-trained and motivated pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. We do that on three levels. On the high school level, we operate two preparatory schools—Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wisconsin, and Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan. At those schools, students are encouraged to prepare to serve someday as full-time called workers. Many graduates of our prep schools do just that. That work continues this fall.
In New Ulm, Minnesota, Martin Luther College continues its work of serving as our WELS college of ministry. The vast majority of its graduates go on to serve as teachers and staff ministers. Others will continue their training to be pastors at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin. This fall, another group of students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary will continue their journey on the path to becoming WELS pastors.
What is happening in all of our schools this fall is nothing routine. It is a special blessing from God and helps our synod to carry out the mission that God has called us to carry out.
Serving together with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder
If you or someone you know is considering ministry, visit wels.net/consider-ministry.
