We Love MLC!

May 3 is only 114 days away. Why the countdown? It’s MLC Day!
On this day, we encourage friends of MLC across the globe to support the training of called workers by praying, sharing, and giving. We are thankful for your support and can’t wait to celebrate MLC Day 2023!

Jim Unke Memorial Scholarship

New Ulm, MN – Our help is needed in honoring and carrying forward the gospel ministry legacy of Jim Unke, MLC’s long-time Athletic Director who passed away last summer. Anyone who knew Jim knew that he cared deeply about athletics at MLC, but his passion for sports at the college was singularly focused on assisting in the growth and development of future pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. The Jim Unke Memorial Scholarship will honor and carry forward Coach Unke’s legacy of gospel ministry by financially supporting the training of future pastors, teachers, and staff ministers at MLC for long into the future. The campaign is seeking to raise $25,000 over 25 days in honor of Jim’s 25 years of service to MLC as Athletic Director. Please partner with the “25-25-25 Campaign” in carrying forward Jim’s ministry impact at MLC for generations to come through the establishment of the Jim Unke Memorial Scholarship!

Here’s how you can partner with the campaign:

  1. Watch the campaign promo video attached to this post
  2. Donate to the campaign at https://gofund.me/93f2dcba and follow the GoFundMe progress throughout the month of January
  3. Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/unkememorialscholarship and look for campaign updates and further video content over the next 25 days
  4. Share this campaign with others in any capacity that you are willing and able–sharing on Facebook and other social media platforms, sending the above links to whomever you think might be interested, etc.”

Click here to watch the Jim Unke Memorial Scholarship video.

Call Activity

Calls Extended by MLC
  • Mr. Duane Vance (Illinois Lutheran Schools) has received a call to MLC to serve as a professor of education and as a middle and secondary student teacher supervisor.
  • Pastor Aaron Dolan (Fox Valley LHS) has accepted the call to MLC to serve as theology professor and coach.
  • Dr. Nichole LaGrow (Appleton) has accepted the call to MLC to serve as professor of education and director of Nontraditional Programs (Competency-Based Education).
  • Dr. Martin LaGrow (Appleton) has accepted the call to MLC to serve as professor of education and instructional design (Competency-Based Education).
Calls Received by MLC Faculty
  • Admissions Counselor Martín Santos received a call to serve at Huron Valley LHS and Palabra de Vida-Detroit.
  • Professor Nicolas Schmoller (Theology & Foreign Language) received a call to serve as pastor at Good Shepherd-Midland MI.
  • VP for Student Life Jeff Schone received a call to serve as pastor at St. John-Whitewater WI.
  • Professor Breanna Olson (PE) received a call to serve as dean of women, coach, and teacher at Fox Valley LHS.
  • Admissions Counselor Halie Flores accepted a call to teach kindergarten at Immanuel LES-Greenville WI.
  • Campus Pastor John Boeder accepted a call to serve as pastor at Ascension-Escondido CA.
  • Ms. Jessica Schmidt (ECLC assistant teacher) accepted a call to serve as director and teacher at God’s Treasures Child Care of Zion-Winthrop MN.
  • Ms. Catherine St. John (ECLC lead teacher) returned a call to serve as preschool director and 3K teacher at Trinity/St. Luke-Watertown WI.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day at MLC prepares students for ministry in a multicultural society. MLC’s upcoming celebration of MLK Day takes place on January 16, 2023, and centers on 1 Corinthians 12:12: “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”

MLC will host keynote speaker Ronald Kelly and provide a variety of activities for the campus family, including a social dynamic simulation, a movie discussion, choir and fine arts workshops, a panel discussion, and more.

Pictured: Keynote speaker Ronald Kelly with his family

Fun Amid Finals

The end of the semester is packed with studying, recitals, and projects, but at MLC, it’s also packed with fun! Basketball and drama (the scripted kind) relieved the stress of finals.

Dawn of Redeeming Grace

Despite the darkness of our world, God’s gracious gift of his Son brings light that can never be extinguished. This truth was the theme for the 2022 Christmas concert: Dawn of Redeeming Grace.
With music from the Wind Symphony, Women’s Choir, Chorale, College Choir, and Hosanna Ringers, the concert highlighted the diverse musical talent of our campus family.
The ensembles presented pieces in a variety of styles, including a unique arrangement of “Silent Night” titled “Love’s Pure Light” performed by the combined choirs, and “A New Psalm,” which the Women’s Choir sang in Hebrew.
The MLC campus family thanks you for joining us for the 2022 Christmas concert. May God bless you this Christmas season!
Pictured: Aric Reim (St. John-New Ulm MN), Joseph Panning (St. Paul-Litchfield MN), Joseph Wessel (St. John-New Ulm MN), Rebekah White (Loving Shepherd-Milwaukee), Sarah Kramer (St. John-Redwood Falls MN), Faith Blauert (Redeemer-Saint Croix Falls WI), and Laura Stelljes (Database Support) performing with the College Choir at the 2022 Christmas Concert.

International Education Week

On November 14-18, the Cultural Engagement Center (CEC) celebrated International Education Week.

International Coordinator Professor Tingting Schwartz said, “I found International Education Week to serve two purposes: empowering our international students to share their unique stories and perspectives, and increasing cultural awareness on campus so that we can be better equipped for the Great Commission.”

Each day of the week, one of MLC’s international students read Scripture in their home language during morning chapel. On November 18, Yijin Wang (pictured) read Malachi 4 in Mandarin.

The CEC also hosted nightly presentations on students’ experiences abroad. Offerings included presentations from Rebekah White (Loving Shepherd-Milwaukee), Katherine Boehlke (Good Shepherd-Burnsville MN), and Kendra Rivera (Messiah-South Windsor CT) about studying abroad in Berlin, Limerick, and London, respectively, and a discussion with the International Student Panel.

Click here to watch the International Student Panel.

Betty Kohn Fieldhouse Dedication Date Change

To allow more families to join in our celebration, we have moved the Betty Kohn Fieldhouse Dedication to MLC’s Homecoming weekend, Saturday, October 8 at 9:15 am.
You are invited to join us for this celebration as we dedicate and give thanks for the newly constructed MLC facility.  Made possible by many initial gifts and the transformational gift of Robert and Betty Kohn, our new fieldhouse features batting cages, golf simulators, track & field equipment, and more.

MLC Interim Athletic Director Announced

The administration of Martin Luther College is working to fill the position of the MLC Athletic Director that Jim Unke faithfully served for 25 years. In consultation with the Executive Committee of the MLC Governing Board, the administration is moving ahead with a three-part interim plan:
  • Mr. Dave Biedenbender, who currently serves as an admissions counselor, has accepted the appointment as interim athletic director for the 2022-23 school year. In addition to having earned a master’s in athletic administration, Dave has considerable coaching experience and has worked with the MLC athletic department in many capacities.
  • Mr. Jeff Sitz, a recently retired athletic director at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee and assistant executive director of the Wisconsin Athletic Directors Association, has agreed to serve as a consultant/mentor for Mr. Biedenbender as he assumes the interim athletic director role.
  • The MLC Governing Board, at its October meeting, will determine the wisest long-term path for moving forward to fill the athletic director position.

JIM UNKE MEMORIAL SERVICE

SUNDAY, AUG. 7 at 4:00 PM.
The memorial service for Jim Unke will be held this Sunday, August 7, at 4:00 pm in the Chapel of the Christ on the MLC campus at 1995 Luther Court, New Ulm, MN. It will also be live-streamed on the MLC website here. Visitation will take place before the service from 12:00 – 4:00 pm. Pastor Nathan Scharf will officiate, and a private burial service will be held at a later date. Following the service, there will be light refreshments in the MLC cafeteria in the Luther Student Center.
Jim’s family suggests that memorials be sent to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School, or Martin Luther College. Gifts to MLC will be contributed to an endowment fund for financial aid for those studying for the public ministry at MLC. To donate online to MLC, use this link, choose the designation of MLC Scholarship Endowment Fund, and fill out the Tribute Gift details at the bottom of the page.