Eight students in the Specific Ministry Pastor Program (SMP) received their first calls during morning chapel on Friday, April 12, at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. One call is still pending.

• Mark Doede, Call Pending
• William Hood, Hope Evangelical, Seattle, Wash., Northwest District
• Paul Koehler, St. John’s, Motley, Minn., Minnesota North District
• Daniel Schultz, Zion, Hopkins, Minn., Minnesota South District
• Raleigh Sims, Ascension, Casselberry, Fla., Florida-Georgia District
• John Suguitan, Prince of Peace, Cincinnati, Ohio, Ohio District
• Lewis Upchurch, Hope, Wake Forest, N.C., Southeastern District
• Jason Weber, Fellowship of Faith, McHenry, Ill., Northern Illinois District
• Matthew Wipperman, Christ Memorial, Fitchburg, Wis., South Wisconsin District

The SMP program is designed to meet the needs of the church for pastors in mission and ministry opportunities where a pastor with a seminary degree may not be available. In order to be eligible for the SMP program men must be serving in a ministry of a Lutheran congregation which desires their service as a pastor. They must be nominated for the program by their District President. Based upon this nomination, and their previous ministry experiences, the men begin their academic work as concurrent-deferred vicars.

For more information, contact creative services, Concordia Seminary, 801 Seminary Place, St. Louis, MO 63105; 314-505-7379; [email protected].

Attached photo: Front row, from left: John Suguitan, Mark Doede, Jason Weber, Raleigh Sims, Lewis Upchurch, Dr. David Wollenburg; back row: Rev. Wayne Knolhoff, William Hood, Daniel Schultz, Paul Koehler, Matthew Wipperman, Dr. Dale Meyer.