Recognizing several needs and objectives, MVLC established a Scholarship Fund in 2013. The Fund is designed to assist Lutheran students attending Lutheran Colleges as they prepare for full time church work.
The Fund was established in recognition of several needs:
The Scholarship Fund is open to members of MVLC, relatives of members living in other locations, and other candidates living in the Greater Phoenix area.
Application procedures are outlined here.
he need for church workers continues to grow as current workers age and retire and college and seminary enrollments decline. Pastor Mark Friedrich recently used his seminary class as an example. His graduating class numbered over 200 pastors who were sent out into the field. Those pastors are now nearing retirement age. Currently, the St. Louis seminary is graduating fewer than 100 new pastors. How will the Church make up the difference?
Lutheran churches are declining in membership. Some are closing their doors. The same is true of Lutheran schools. Many declining churches are reaching out for cooperation and support from neighboring congregations. Ir is happening in Arizona as MVLC and Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church have partnered in ministry.
Full time church work careers are not attracting young people as they once did. Other careers offer greater pay and require less training.
At the same time, fewer and fewer people are attending church, sending their children to Lutheran schools and placing a high value on their spiritual lives and their involvement in a local church.
“The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is fully committed to the spiritual, character, confessional, physical, emotional and intellectual development of our pastors. This commitment begins at Baptism and continues in the Christian family, the local congregation, at university and in seminary. It is followed by a whole life of continuing education.”
Application should be submitted two months prior to the beginning of the school year.
Scholarships may be awarded for 4 consecutive years; additional years with the approval of the Scholarship Committee.
Have you ever thought about a career in church work? Do you want to become a pastor or serve in some other way? What’s the next step?
You may think the only way to serve the church is to become a pastor. That′s not the case.
God’s people join together around Word and Sacrament to reach out to a lost world. Dedicated, faithful workers assist and lead people in participating in the fulfillment of the Great Commission, building up the Body of Christ.
There are many vocations in which you can serve the Church in its vital ministries, including: Pastor, teacher, deaconess, Director of Christian Education, Director of Christian Outreach, Director of Family Life Ministry, Director of Parish Music, Director of Church Ministries
Rev. Aaron Hambleton graduated from Northwestern College, Orange City, Iowa in 2011. He then attended Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, graduating with a Master of Divinity degree in 2015.
Rev. Hambleton is currently serving as Sole Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Eldora, Iowa.
Rev. Wayne Miller attended Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 2015 with a Master of Divinity degree.
He serves as Sole Pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Mobile, Alabama.
Mr. Jonathan Kisker is a 2020 graduate of Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree, majoring in secondary education.
Jonathan currently serves as a high school teacher at St. John Lutheran School, Ocala, Florida.
Rev. James Bozarth is completed his studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri. He served a vicarage for one year in Columbus, Indiana before returning to the Seminary in anticipation of graduation in 2023.
Upon graduation he was called to Trinity Lutheran Church, Blackwell, OK where he is now the pastor.
Miss Emmalyn Doyle is in her senior year at Concordia University, Irvine, California. She is pursuing a career as a theology teacher in a Lutheran high school.
She is a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Phoenix where her father Jon serves as principal of Christ Lutheran School.
Miss Caris Crume is in her freshman year at Concordia University – Irvine, where she is preparing to be either a teacher or DCE.
She graduated from Valley Lutheran High School, Phoenix, and is a member of Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Peoria, Arizona