PLYMOUTH, Minn. — When the last presentation in his Leadership and Discipleship class wrapped up class 45 minutes early, Seminary Dean, Dr. James Molstre, dismissed students, assuming the seminarians would be excited to get back a few additional minutes. Instead, the entire class stayed an extra hour and a half to take advantage of Molstre’s knowledge of pastoral ministry.
“They all sat around and they asked me questions,” Molstre said. “They had the opportunity to get out of class early and they didn’t. It was fun for me that they actually really enjoyed the process of learning. They wanted to be there.”
Molstre’s enthusiasm for teaching is encompassed in equipping his seminarians, just like he did that day in their casual Q&A. “One of the things that’s motivating is to see them grow spiritually,” Molstre said. “To grow in their understanding of God’s Word, and to grow in humility: the understanding that they don’t know it all. After three years, they’re just learning just how much more they need to know.”
After spending three years with them in the classroom, Molstre said a highlight this year was hearing about the fourth-year seminarians’ experiences on internship. “They were so excited about being in the congregation,” Molstre said. “They all had so much fun actually doing the ministry that they’d been preparing for so long.”
Molstre starts teaching the seminarians from their very first semester. In fact, he teaches six of the 14 required credits in their first semester. He said some of his favorite moments are watching the students try preaching for the first time and then tracking their growth. Not only does Molstre encourage his students to improve in homiletics, he also encourages them to embrace their distinctness. “I always tell them to find their own voice,” Molstre said. “I don’t want to make a bunch of cookie cutter preachers out of them. I want them to use the gifts that they have.”
For all the men considering seminary, Molstre says to ignore the monetary practicalities of coming to seminary, and to simply heed God’s call. “Forget everything you know about life and trust God,” Molstre said. “Everybody that comes in is scared to death that they’re not going to be able to support their families.”
This spring, Molstre interviewed all the graduating seminarians, and all six were in equal or better financial standing than before attending. He said the men shared that they did not know how it was possible to come out ahead financially, but they had. “God provides for those that He calls,” Molstre said. “If finances are the barrier, don’t let it be the barrier, because it’s not going to be a barrier. God will take care of you.”
As he reflects on the past year and looks to the fall ahead, Molstre plans to continue to lead the seminary with joy and alacrity as he gains motivation from the spiritual growth and stories of God’s provision all around him.
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