Where did you grow up, and what first got you interested in studying theology and ministry?
I grew up in Tulare, South Dakota, a very rural, small town in South Dakota. I graduated in a class of 14. My interest in theology and ministry started when I began volunteering with the youth programming at our church about 12 years ago. My interest really kicked into overdrive in the fall of 2024, when I decided that I wanted to see change in the world and that I needed to be the one to go and change it!
What did you study as an undergraduate and where did you go?
I went to the University of South Dakota for my undergrad degree. I have a bachelor’s in Political Science. USD is also where I met my wife Tiffany.
What led you to pursuing theological education here at Luther Seminary?
I have many individuals in my life that received their theological education through Luther. As I started looking into the call, many told me about how amazing their education and time at Luther was. The Jubilee Scholarship made the dream of going here for an M.Div. attainable. When Terri Elton, Cody Sanders, and other Luther folks visited my church for a presentation on community and congregational care, it was one more draw for me. I was just starting discernment at that point, but I knew then and there that if I was going to do this, it was going to be at Luther.
What degree program are you in at Luther Seminary, and what are you hoping to do with your seminary education?
I am in the Masters of Divinity program, seeking ordination in the ELCA. I am currently a Children, Youth, and Family Minister, so youth ministry seems like a comfortable fit when I graduate. That being said, I am keeping my ear to the ground to see where the Holy Spirit leads me, no matter what that might look like.
What has your student experience been like, and what do you do—professionally and otherwise—when you’re not studying?
I am a distributed learner. The student experience has been great so far! I love the RFS classes when we all get to be together in person, but I also enjoy the weekly Zoom meetings. It is wonderful having flexibility for when and where I have class. Some days are at home, some days are in a coffee shop. The asynchronous classes are great because you can do things on your time. The professors and support staff have been fantastic. It’s been awesome to get to know them on a personal level. It feels good to not just be a number.
I am currently the Children, Youth, and Family Minister at First Lutheran Church in Volga, South Dakota. I work part time at the church, mostly with the confirmation and high school students. I started at the church the same time I started at Luther, and I am thoroughly enjoying working in the church. In our “free time,” my wife and I spend our days chasing our kids around to their various activities. I have two children, both very active in sports. I get to have the joy of coaching both kids—a wonderful way for me to put the weight of the world aside and go enjoy life. Summers are spent on the baseball field, unless it’s time for church camp—our kids love going to camp! We also go to family camp every summer at Outlaw Ranch in Custer, South Dakota. We always attend the camp’s bilingual week, an amazing space where everything is spoken in English and Spanish. The fellowship of two groups of people coming together is life changing. We have made friends for life and so have our kids.
How would you describe Luther Seminary’s strengths as an academic institution?
I absolutely love the diversity of Luther. I am a firm believer that God has a space for everyone, no matter what season of life they are in. It is refreshing and reassuring to be at an institution that believes the same. It is wonderful to sit in class with people from all over the country and the world as we discuss God in our lives. This institution has helped me to look more big picture on issues. Things may affect me a certain way, but how does this affect my colleagues across the planet? I also love that the Jubilee Scholarship is giving so many people, myself included, the opportunity to chase this wild dream of ministry. Without it I know I wouldn’t be here. I will forever be grateful of the donors who believe in me—in all of us—enough to say go chase that dream.
What’s one thing people don’t know about you?
One thing people do not know about me is that I write a religion column in the Brookings Beacon every other week. When I was approached by a friend of mine to do this, I instantly said yes. I love having another medium to get the good news out to the people. I have been trying to write to a broad audience. I know that some readers are not weekly church attenders, and I want to make sure they can read the article and feel like they still get to have moments with God. Topics I write on are sometimes a little unusual. For example, a recent article was about how you can read the lyrics of Avril Lavigne’s song Complicated as God talking to you about your life. It’s weird, but just trust me.