By Dr. James Molstre

At the Free Lutheran Seminary we realize that there are many options as men consider training for ministry. There are other Lutheran seminaries other modality options. Why would a student choose the Free Lutheran seminary with all the options available? One of our newer students suggested that he hadn’t even considered another seminary since this was the school he was familiar with. He had attended our Bible College and had always considered the FLS as his next step to the vocation God was calling him to. Many of our students have attended AFLC congregations all their lives, gone to the FLY convention and AFLC Bible Camps, attended the Free Lutheran Bible College with little experience outside of the AFLC. Another of our “older” students was familiar with the Free Lutheran Seminary only through a friend. His dad was a great proponent of residential seminary training and since his denomination only offered online seminary courses, he decided to attend FLS.

Students find the experience at the seminary somewhat surprising. One of our students was surprised that the instructors were so willing to answer questions, even difficult questions. He didn’t feel foolish asking questions calling our professors “humble and willing to patiently answer questions.” Another of our students was appreciative that he was given freedom to ask questions. He described the seminary as a “safe place”. He said the classes were like “lab mode” in which they could take risks, ask questions without feeling that they were breaking a confession.

It is very important that students have freedom to grow in their understanding of Lutheran doctrine, but also Pastoral Ministry. Freedom to disagree and ask questions is vital to spiritual growth as a man, and in the vocation of Pastor. We ask that our students be humble and teachable. We ask the same of our instructors.

Pastoral Ministry is exciting. One of our men said that he is especially excited about sharing the Gospel, “it’s what gets me up in the morning”. He can’t wait to share the Word of God with the congregation he someday hopes to serve. Another student is excited about generating people’s interest in discipleship. He is excited to have people discover a love for their calling to disciple people in the faith.

Our seminary program will likely have between 20 and 25 students attending this fall. Our students are from seven different states and three countries. They range in age from 22 to 54. Some of our students are single, some are married, and some have large families. These men and their families learn together, grow together, and sharpen one another as “Iron sharpens Iron”.

Our prayer for the men and their families here at the Seminary is that they are encouraged in their studies and grow as men of God and ministers of the Gospel. From 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”