Joey Loescher and Abby Lash

Leading Couple

First, they pretended to be engaged.

It was their first year at MLC, and Joey convinced Abby to try out with him for You Can’t Take It with You. Abby had never acted before, but she gave it a shot.

They both landed roles—the leading roles—Tony and Alice, an engaged couple.

“It was easy to get in character as an engaged girl when I had such strong feelings for him off the stage,” Abby says.

“Since we’d been dating a couple months,” Joey says, “it was honestly a dream come true.”

Fast-forward to today, and Joey Loescher and Abby Lash are a married couple. Joey proposed while they were fishing on the Minnesota River, a flashback to their first date years earlier. The dream came true July 6, 2019.

But it wasn’t all romance all the time for these two. Like all MLC students, they’re busy preparing for ministry—Abby for early childhood education and Joey for elementary and/or secondary vocal music education. And they’ve made full use of MLC’s offerings and opportunities to serve, Abby running cross country and track, Joey singing in College Choir and playing in Wind Symphony, and both of them working as resident assistants (RAs) in the dorms, serving on the Aulic Committee, and of course acting and leading in Forum.

Last February, they took on leading roles of another kind in The Crucible, Joey directing and Abby producing. “Directing and producing The Crucible together—that one was a true test of our relationship!” she says.

Teachers IN THE MAKING: Abby has known since second grade that she wanted to be a teacher. Her biggest inspiration? Her mom. “Her love for teaching and the children she serves continues to amaze me,” Abby says. “I pray I will have the same dedication to my students and my Savior.” As an early childhood education major, Abby would love to teach God’s Word at a childcare center and maybe even serve as an ECE director. “Only God knows his plans for me,” she says. “We’ll see what he has in store. What a privilege that he uses us sinners in his work of spreading the gospel!”

Instructor Erin Laabs, MLC’s Forum advisor, knows that Abby will be an exemplary called worker. “When Abby produced The Crucible last year,” Laabs says, “I was extremely impressed with her attention to detail, work ethic, and organization. I’ve advised this year’s winter play staff to look back at Abby’s materials, since it was an example of a well-run production. Besides her work skills, she’s just a wonderful person! She always shows such love and concern for other people and for her responsibilities. My daughters can’t wait for the times when Abby comes over to babysit. We will all miss her very much when she moves on in life!”

As for Joey, ministry’s in his blood. His mom’s a teacher, his dad’s a pastor, and he has five brothers who attended MLC before him. “I can remember sitting in my second grade classroom with Mrs. Gustafson and thinking, ‘This is awesome. I want to be a teacher when I grow up!’ My other grade school teachers were fantastic as well and then in high school, I had four terrific band and choir directors. Their service to the Lord was inspiring to me, and I wondered if I might be used to serve God’s children in a similar way.” If the Lord would choose to use him in music or drama, Joey says he’ll consider himself blessed—but he’s also enjoyed student teaching in grades 5 and 7, so he’ll be ready for anything.

Instructor Kathy Wurster thinks so too. She’s been his voice instructor for four years and has had many conversations with him in his role as vice president of Forum. “Joey is incredibly thoughtful, hard-working, and kind,” she says. “He has the heart of a servant, helping those around him. He’s an excellent listener, takes constructive criticism and runs with it, striving for excellence in everything he does. It’s been my honor and pleasure to get to know this young man. He will be sorely missed when he graduates.”

Abby’s Advice for You: “God knows how he will use you to accomplish his work! The public ministry is a wonderful way to do this directly, as you have the privilege of daily teaching and preaching God’s Word to his lambs. However, any profession provides opportunities to serve our God and spread the saving gospel to others. God has given you unique gifts that may be fitting for the public ministry, but also may be fitting for another career. The body of Christ needs believers that serve in all different ways.”

Joey’s Advice for You: “It can be helpful to talk with current called workers about their joys and struggles because you might identify with them. More than anything else, listen to others recognize the talents you show. We hear from Psalm 139, ‘For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.’ God gave us our gifts for his purposes, so pray for God’s will to be done in your life, and be ready to use your gifts.”