Vicar year experiences

Russell Scoggins (pictured) was born and raised in Austin, Texas. For the 2016–17 school year, he and his wife lived in the Washington, D.C., area where he served as a vicar at Grace, Falls Church, Va. During his vicar year, he put into practice what he had learned in the classroom at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.

Reflecting on his vicar year experiences, Scoggins says, “The Washington, D.C., metropolitan area has a little over six million people. Here, on any given day, we would drive past hundreds of thousands of people who are navigating through life without the true forgiveness, hope, and comfort that is found only in Jesus. On the one hand, that is a bit of a discouraging thought; on the other hand, it is motivation to keep moving forward and keep finding new ways to bring the Good News to those around us. There are almost an infinite number of barriers between you and others in the area—race, language, culture, or socioeconomic status. Even if it appears you have nothing in common with someone, you must remember that you have the need for a Savior in common.”

While serving as a vicar, Scoggins also worked closely with some who were fighting addiction. “With the growing opioid problem in America,” says Scoggins, “I think that it will be important for our churches to turn more attention to ministry to addicts in the coming years. After the seminary, I intend to continue study in addiction and counseling.”

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Noah Willitz spent a year as a vicar in a mission setting at Victory of the Lamb, Katy, Texas. Willitz notes, “In all our classes, professors often say things like, ‘In your ministry, you’ll find people who . . .’ or, ‘Someday, someone in your church will . . .’ Serving in a congregation has allowed me to replace hypothetical situations with real names and faces. I often remember a specific piece of advice offered in the classroom and apply it to an interaction with the man standing in front of my desk or the woman lying in the hospital bed.”