Practicing What We Teach
Posted 3.25.20
As we train students for the public ministry, as we share our experiences in WELS schools and congregations, we talk about the importance of flexibility and patience. We hope we are modeling those attributes in our response to the corona virus crisis. As you may know, our students are continuing their educational programs through alternative/distance learning methods. Even though our facilities are safe, out of an abundance of caution the campus is closed to the public, and telecommuting is being practiced when necessary to assure continued safety for all. As we carry out these unique educational efforts, we are thankful for the cooperation of all involved – students, faculty, staff, families, and local ministries.
We hope to serve our students with the flexibility needed to meet their unique educational and personal needs. And we hope to practice continuing understanding and patience with the many changes that will occur in our nation, in our communities, and within our MLC families.
In the same way, we seek to conduct our Equipping Christian Witnesses (ECW) campaign with flexibility and patience. We need to be flexible and understanding with the current health, economic, and ministry challenges that are facing our sisters and brothers in Christ during this uncertain time. And we must be patient, trusting in the Lord’s love for us and his compassion for all our personal and institutional needs.
To that end, we will pause in our active promotion of ECW. We will keep our ministry needs, as they are highlighted in the campaign, in our publications, but we hope to patiently wait on the Lord’s work among us until the current uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus has subsided.
You can anticipate:
- ECW Sundays scheduled with MLC representatives are on hold until after Easter…we will make decisions regarding the requests we have for ECW Sundays in April and May as things unfold with the pandemic.
- Updates on MLC and alternative/ distance learning will be shared on or before April 8. Through all our ongoing communications, we hope to clarify issues of graduation, summer tours, etc.
- MLC Day – May 6, 2020 will be modified to accommodate the schedule changes that are occurring on campus and in our partner ministries. But since it is a “social media” day we still hope to celebrate our college of ministry as appropriate. PRAY / SHARE / GIVE.
- By God’s grace, we will resume our campaign activities as soon as possible, and we hope to redouble our campaign efforts this fall. We have been encouraged by the Synodical Council and the Board for Ministerial Education to secure professional services to assist us with ECW going into the second year of the campaign.
In the meantime, we thank you for your continued prayers and support for our ministry. We will continue to pray for all of you and we ask you to pray for us as we patiently serve you under the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.