I sat to the side of the sanctuary. I arrived early, and not only did I observe the pews fill up with well-dressed people, but I could feel the excitement in the air. It was palpable. As the organ bellowed notes, the men and women present belted out the hymn.
This was the Vicarage placement service at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. I was present because I had been informed we would be receiving a candidate, in fact, Andrew Wolfgram (see his letter to the congregation on page 11).
Fifty-five men received a Vicarage assignment that day. As a part of the seminary training, the seminarians complete a 365-day Vicarage or internship. One fourth of their seminary training is spent learning at Vicarage church. One fourth is spent learning on-the-job. It has been a privilege to watch Vicar Adelsen grow over the past eight-and-a-half months, and we look forward to the same with Vicar Wolfgram.
Of anything Vicars learn, of anything we as Christians learn, the most important is to share the Gospel!
Prior to Jesus’ ascension, He told His disciples, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Filled with that power, the disciples began the task that every generation of Christians since then has continued. We are to share the Gospel in our homes, neighborhoods, at our places of work, and beyond. Being a witness for Jesus is more than attending church or being busy in church work. We share the Gospel so others will come to know Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Go and share the Gospel!
Pastor Hartwig