Preparing students for the public ministry

The mission of Michigan Lutheran Seminary (MLS), Saginaw, Mich., is to prepare high school students for the public ministry of the gospel. Currently 58 of its graduates are attending Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn., and studying to be called workers. Here you can meet two 2015 graduates, Brittany Boyd and Anne Russell, who share some of their thoughts on MLS, MLC, and the goal of serving as WELS teachers.


 

BRITTANY BOYD

Home congregation: Christ, Oakley, Mich.

On why she attended MLS: “It looked like a place where I could be part of this amazing family. Every time I visited MLS, I fell more in love with the campus and teachers.”

On how MLS prepared her for MLC: “The Bible courses at MLS fully prepared me for my Bible classes here at MLC. Throughout my sport team experience at MLS, I learned teamwork and how to set a goal and accomplish it. Throughout my theater and music experience, I learned how to be myself and see the world from someone else’s point of view. From all my classes, I learned good examples of teaching for myself in the future.”

On becoming a teacher: “I have known since third grade that I wanted to be a teacher. All of the teachers at MLS were great examples of called workers, and I strive to be like them one day. After my junior year, I had the privilege to travel to Colombia, South America, through Project Titus. There is when I fell in love with Spanish and the Latin American culture. That is when I knew I wanted to major in Spanish at MLC.”

Advice for students considering attending MLS: “Do it! MLS is such a great place to grow up at. You learn so many life lessons. You will make so many friends and memories. Get ready to be part of a family!”


 

ANNE RUSSELL

Home congregation: Emanuel First, Lansing, Mich.

On why she attended MLS: “My decision to go to MLS came very late in my grade school years. I think my biggest influence to go was that I had a lot of friends who would be attending, and I was drawn to the family atmosphere.”

On her decision to attend MLC: “I have always wanted to be a teacher, but I struggled for a long time with the idea of attending MLC. I think what finally gave me the push I needed was a Project Titus trip to St. Marcus, Milwaukee, Wis., to help out in their urban summer school. After that small taste I was hooked on urban education and knew that MLC would be my best option for one day, God willing, entering into an urban ministry field.”

On what she appreciates most about MLS: “One of the biggest blessings is the family atmosphere. Among students and faculty you can always find someone to mentor you and who is there to help. I have memories and friends from MLS that I know I will never lose.

“I would like to thank everyone at MLS for all that they did and continue to do to support me and prepare me for my future ministry, and I would like to encourage any students there now not to shut down the idea of MLC. I almost did, and now I consider it one of my greatest blessings.”

Learn more about Michigan Lutheran Seminary at www.mlsem.org.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Do you have a manuscript, idea, or story from your own life you’d like to share for use in Forward in Christ or on wels.net? Use our online form to share it to our editorial office for consideration.

SUBSCRIBE TO FORWARD IN CHRIST

Get inspirational stories, spiritual help, and synod news from  Forward in Christ every month. Print and digital subscriptions are available from Northwestern Publishing House.

 

Author:
Volume 103, Number 04
Issue: April 2016

Copyrighted by WELS Forward in Christ © 2021
Forward in Christ grants permission for any original article (not a reprint) to be printed for use in a WELS church, school, or organization, provided that it is distributed free and indicate Forward in Christ as the source. Images may not be reproduced except in the context of its article. Contact us