Concordia TheoBLOGical Seminary

Concordia Theological Seminary

Fort Wayne, Indiana

ePILGRIMAGE

Information and inspiration for the future you as you consider the seminary . . . this is ePilgrimage.

Last month’s inaugural issue can be found on our blog www.seminaryblog.com or click here.

Christianity and the Challenge of IslamApril 19, 2008

Dr. Adam Francisco, guest professor of historical theology here at Concordia Theological Seminary, will lead a one day seminar on Islam and the challenges churches face in reaching out to Muslims with the Gospel of Jesus.This day-long seminar will focus on these pertinent issues:

• Muhammad and the Origins of Islam
• A Christian Response to the Challenge of Islam
• Political Islam Today
• Muslims and the Gospel

To register e-mail retreats@ctsfw.edu or

call 260-452-2266.

Brochure in pdf format

Spring Invitational Campus Visit - March 27 – 29

Register here.

This is your opportunity to visit Concordia Theological Seminary. Our spring ICV will give you the opportunity to:

• Worship with the seminary community
• Meet your brothers and sisters in Christ who are considering the seminary just like you!
• Sit in on classes
• Meet your professors
• Tour the campus
• See the Food and Clothing Co-ops in action
• Find out about Financial Aid
• Hear about the new curriculum
• Check out the affordable housing options in Fort Wayne
• And so much more!

Register here or call 260-452-2155.

Come see for yourself!

Come away with me . . . and rest a while

By Deaconess Intern Melissa DeGroot

Twice a year, our deaconess students are whisked away from campus to retreat, re-charge, and re-connect with each other. Why? Well, with competing full- or part-time course schedules,
working, childrearing, and being a wife, deaconess students’ training at graduate school can be quite a challenge, even if it is found among these many blessings. Even Jesus withdrew from the crowds (Luke 9:10 [show]Luke 9:10 On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. (ESV)
; Mark 3:7 [show]Mark 3:7 Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea (ESV)
, Mark 6:31 [show]Mark 6:31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (ESV)
) to rest and be with His disciples. Retreating from the everyday is just what
the good doctor (Dr. Arthur Just, that is) orders for the benefit of the students. Along with some down time, each retreat focuses on discussing pertinent vocational topics along with the daily prayer offices (with Dr. Just at the helm) to facilitate the students’ time away together.

These excursions are done twice a year. The first is a joint retreat with the other deaconess training programs of the LCMS. This has served our ladies well as an opportunity to meet others in the same vocational training, and secondly, it helps to form a wider support system within our Church at large, especially as deaconesses approach their future internships and placements.The last joint retreat was October 2007 in Springfield, Illinois, at Camp Cilca, with approximately thirty women in attendance. The Associate Directors of the two seminary programs, Dcs. Gloria DeCuir and Dcs. Rose Adle, each led a topic for discussion, respectively “Art Therapy” and “Deaconesses and Depression.” There was an overwhelmingly positive response, and many relationships were formed from the retreat. The goals of the weekend had been accomplished!

The second of the two retreats is done exclusively with our program as time and opportunity permit. After a long winter of snow and cold—especially this year—it is not difficult for our women to look forward to coming out of hibernation of Phoebe House (our on-campus residence hall) to get out and play. Our next retreat is fast approaching at the end of this month.

We are delighted that St. John’s in Columbia City, Indiana, is allowing us to utilize their fellowship hall and chapel. Also, Deaconess Intern Rachel Thompson will be leading the discussion topic, “Diaconal Care to the Sick and Dying,” a topic in which she has been specializing in during her internship this year at Meriter Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

While discussing intriguing topics, re-charging and renewing in the hope of life eternal is all the more vital. Retreats are good and healthy and they offer new perspectives. Yet we know that we all are still sinners. Even in our healthiest states, we recognize that our commissioned and consecrated labors are still the Lord’s work. We, and all believers, are motivated by the Gospel, and faith is given to our Triune God’s children only by Him through His Word and Sacraments.

We rejoice in the gifts God provides (daily bread) to our students to get away, so they might be refreshed to learn these things and make them their own, even as they are formed into caring, compassionate, and theologically trained servants for Jesus Christ and His Church (1 Timothy 4:6 [show]1 Timothy 4:6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. (ESV)
–16).

Deaconess Intern Melissa DeGroot just returned from three weeks in South Africa. There she took a class taught by CTS’s own Dr. Lawrence Rast at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane. You can join her for the retreat next year when you are a deaconess student!

Find out more about Deaconess studies at Concordia Theological Seminary.

Do you have a plan for your money?

Financial Check-up Survey

What if you had to manage more than $100,000 over the next couple years? Would you just figure it out month to month or would you put together a plan? Would you listen to the advice of people who want your money or someone who has money of their own?

The truth is, over the next few years you WILL have to manage tens of thousands of dollars—your income. So what is your plan? Is debt an issue? What happens when something unexpected comes your way? How will you manage a change in income when you come to the seminary?

Concordia Theological Seminary realizes that our students and alumni are dealing with financial stress. Education isn’t cheap and often it is difficult to see how all the ends will meet. Take a minute and fill out this survey so that we can gather solid information on where we are financially so that we can offer the best help possible. Take it for your own benefit; take it for the benefit of your neighbor.

Financial Check-up Survey

Best of Blog

Here’s another gem from the blosphere: an oldie but goodie on what it takes to become and be a pastor. Thanks to Rev. Walter Snyder of Ask the Pastor for his words of wisdom.

Rev. Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri.