Oct 01, 2018 Print This Article
from Concordia Seminary magazine

Concordia Sem Guild shows steadfast support

by Melanie Ave

Every year, the Concordia Seminary Guild shows its immense love and support for the Seminary by adopting a list of projects that benefit the campus and its students.

During the 2017-18 academic year, the Guild completed all of its projects, raising $19,700 for a variety of needs including the Food Bank, student aid, campus events and international students. As a first-time project, the Guild also provided journaling Bibles for students.

“One student gave the journaling Bible to his wife because she loved it so much, and he bought another one for himself,” said Dr. Timothy Saleska, dean of Ministerial Formation. “Other students have indicated that it has helped them with the devotional part of studying the Bible. This is a valuable spiritual resource, and we thank the Guild members for providing them to the students.”

The Guild again has included journaling Bibles among its list of projects for the 2018-19 academic year.

Last year the Guild also contributed $1,000 to the Seminary’s Resident Field Education (RFE) program, which allowed students to visit off-campus ministries including one rural Nebraska congregation in which 90 percent of members regularly attend worship — one of the highest
attendance rates in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

“These experiences are very helpful in shaping the students’ understanding of ministry,” said Rev. Jeff Thormodson, interim RFE director.

The Guild also gave $1,000 to the Food Bank. “Our family of six is blessed to be able to shop at the Seminary Food Bank twice a month for free,” said seminarian Paul Terral. “It helps us out so much.”

To join or learn more about the Concordia Seminary Guild, visit www.csl.edu/guild. For questions, please call 314-942-7254.

2018-19 Year Guild Projects

  • Textbooks for incoming students ($2,000)
  • Support for CHS and EITT students ($1,000)
  • Seminary Food Bank ($1,000)
  • After chapel coffee time ($500)
  • Re Sell-It-Shop ($500)
  • Campus landscaping ($2.000)
  • Residential field education student off-campus events ($1,000)
  • Student emergency fund ($500)
  • Families in Transition (FIT) ($1,000)
  • Direct-to-student aid ($4,000)
  • Musical arts ($1,000)
  • Community student gatherings ($1,500)
  • Student intramural programs ($1,000)
  • International students ($1,000)
  • Student education helps ($500)
  • Dorm student community fund ($1,000)
  • Field house restoration ($1,500)

Total: $21,000