Concordia Seminary’s Preachers basketball team ended its season Friday, Feb. 10, with a game against alumni players in a benefit event known as “Hoops for Hope.”

Many fans brought donations of backpacks and school supplies for the Lutheran Hope Center in Ferguson, Mo., whose executive director is Rev. Micah Glenn, a 2016 Seminary graduate. The supplies will be distributed to students and teachers in Ferguson schools for the 2017-18 school year. About $1,500 also was collected for the center.

During halftime, Preachers Coach Dr. Timothy Saleska, dean of ministerial formation, thanked everyone for attending. “Through you, we will be able to reach out to so many people with the grace of God,” he said.

In addition to Glenn, the alumni roster included Rev. Will Hanke (’07) of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brentwood, Mo.; Rev. Jason Reitz (’07) of Zion Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Mo.; Rev. Jim McCoid (’05) of Community of Life Lutheran Church in Oregon, Wis.; Rev. Jeff Cloeter (’05) of Christ Memorial Lutheran Church in St. Louis; Dr. Peter Nafzger (’04) of Concordia Seminary; Dr. Matt Hoehner (’02) of Messiah Lutheran Church in St. Louis; Rev. Scott Giger (’02) of Carmel Lutheran Church in Carmel, Ind.; Dr. Mark Hoehner (’00) of Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church in St. Peters, Mo.; and Dr. Paul Raabe (’79) of Concordia Seminary.

The Preachers beat the alumni players 98-88.

“It was a lot of fun to come together as current and future pastors for some friendly competition,” said Nafzger, event organizer. “The current Preachers showed they can play, and the alumni successfully avoided serious injury! Best of all, the Seminary community from across St. Louis was able to support an important ministry for the sake of the Gospel.”

The Lutheran Hope Center is a partnership of five The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) congregations in north St. Louis County. The churches are Salem Lutheran Church, Blessed Savior Lutheran Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Chapel. The goal of the center is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ as it provides opportunities for youth and families to grow spiritually, academically, socially and personally.

During halftime, Glenn told fans he appreciated their support and their prayers for him and the people of Ferguson. The center was created after the 2014 police shooting death of Michael Brown.

“Now we’re in the community,” Glenn said during halftime. “We’re in the process of rebuilding. We’re moving forward and we’re building a new community together. And right at the heart of everything is Jesus Christ and His cross.”

Glenn is leading the Lutheran Hope Center’s effort to reach out to people who are hurting, struggling and in need of innumerable resources.
For more information on the Lutheran Hope Center, visit The Lutheran Hope Center – Ferguson or www.thelutheranhopecenter.org.

About Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis provides Gospel-centered graduate-level theological education for pastors, missionaries, deaconesses, scholars and other leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). To learn more, visit www.csl.edu.