“As the Father has sent me, so also I am sending you” (John 20:21 ESV). Please remember to pray for candidates from both seminaries as they receive their first calls. They’re filled with excitement, and apprehension too. Please surround them with your prayers and encouraging presence.

Sixty-two pastoral candidates will receive calls from our Seminary. Both seminaries requested a total of 130 candidates, but 31 calls will go unfilled. You know what can happen when a congregation does not have a called pastor. All four of our deaconess candidates will receive calls. “Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:38 ESV).

Applications for next year? Our latest report shows that Concordia Seminary has received 13 more applications for residential pastoral programs than last year. We never know until the new academic year begins how many will actually show up, but the increase in applications is definitely encouraging. And we are seeing an increase in pastors and laity who are encouraging young people to consider the special work of pastoral and diaconal ministry. Thank you!

By the way, total enrollment at the Seminary this year is 561. Of the total, 340 are in pastoral programs, 15 in deaconess formation and 206 in advanced studies programs.

Let’s raise a “culture of recruitment” throughout the church. With God’s grace, we can do this! Sunday, April 22, our faculty met with the Council of Presidents. Some years ago we began these annual get-togethers in conjunction with Call Day, and it’s been very helpful to all.

What’s healthier for the church than coming together face-to-face under our Lord Jesus Christ? We learned from presentations and discussions on the Heidelberg Disputation (April 26 is its 500^th anniversary), the intersection of faith and science, and, yes, recruitment. Sometimes we discuss the future of the church with serious faces and worried words. May we churchmen be haunted this Call Day by our Lord’s question, “Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40 ESV).

Amen! The Lord of the church is indeed raising up a new generation!

Dale

Dr. Dale A. Meyer, President
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis