Retiring in 2021
Dean of Preseminary Studies Daniel Balge has been a longtime friend and colleague of John. He says: “I first crossed paths with John Schmidt in spring 1981 in Watertown. I was a seminarian, an emergency Latin instructor at Northwestern Prep. Seven years a pastor in Colorado, John was then the new Greek professor at Northwestern College. John looked young; he still does.
“Four years later, back at Northwestern as a college tutor, I had John as both example and help for the elementary Greek course I taught. Those two years completed, I left Watertown for other ministry. But eight years later, I was the new Greek prof, sharing an office with John in Old Main at brand-new MLC. What a blessing for rookie me. My kindly mentor helped me get settled. That included countless conversations across that big office, most of them not about Greek. We were officemates for about eight years.
“Thus, I have some background when alumni speak of their Greek profs. Often—nearly every WELS pastor under age 59 has been taught by John—the alum says something like this: “I had Professor Schmidt. He worked us hard. I’m glad he did.” So say veteran pastors, grateful for the scholarly tool that is ancient Greek. For sermons and other study, these men can read (manmade copies of) the Spirit-inspired original language of the New Testament.
“And they appreciate how they got there. John taught them Greek, but they also caught a work ethic. John asked nothing of them that he did not demand of himself. They weren’t the only ones working hard. John was too. For 40 years, he labored mightily to build the Greek skills not only of the language athletes, but also of the many pastors who—though their first strength is not Greek—are strong to counsel, correct, comfort, preach, teach, and reach. These men too use their Greek competently to God’s glory and people’s good. In John’s classes, they were reminded that in school, in ministry, in life, when you have hard work, work hard at it.
“Students of Greek might notice the chiasmus in the previous sentence. You probably had Professor Schmidt.”
Professor Emeritus Schmidt and his wife, Linda, plan to stay in New Ulm, attend MLC activities, and travel to visit their family.
“If you could leave MLC students with one last message . . .”
“Remember that while many things in life change, there is something that doesn’t—the Word of our Savior Jesus, who is the same yesterday and today and forever, promises that I have the blessing of believing and have had the privilege of sharing often in the original Greek.”
– Professor Emeritus John Schmidt
