Sep 28, 2021 Print This Article
Discernment, Featured, from Concordia Seminary magazine

Meet three students from Call Day 2021

Chad Bolosan, Jenny Zoë Huelsman and Geordie Denholm.

by Rebekah Lucas

Chad Bolosan (M.Div. ’21)

Messiah Lutheran Church, Sterling, Ill.

Bolosan was born and raised in Hawaii, and studied accounting at Michigan State University. He worked for several private corporations in the Chicago suburbs before deciding to attend Concordia Seminary. He and his wife, Sherry, have three daughters; Annabelle, and twins Charlotte and Emma.What prompted you to follow the call into ministry?

I have a desire to bring others to true peace in Christ and to share the Gospel message of complete forgiveness in Him, especially through sharing my personal experiences, knowing God is working in all of it.

How has your Seminary journey affected your family?

We’ve had struggles and many blessings as we have grown as a family and experienced love from a variety of people and congregations.

What are you looking forward to in your future ministry?

It is exciting to now be leading a congregation out of the pandemic and back into some “normalcy.”

How have you dealt with challenges throughout your Seminary experience?

I was blessed with a great class of brothers and sisters to work and grow alongside, as well as a faculty and staff who truly cares about the well-being and academic advancement of their students.

A look back on Call Day …

I have so much confidence in my fellow graduates. They will be a blessing to God’s church. It is a joy to call them “partners in the Gospel.” As our former Seminary President Dr. Dale A. Meyer drilled into us from day one, “It’s a great day to be the church!”

Jenny Zoë Huelsman (Deaconess Internship ’21)

First Trinity Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, Penn.

Huelsman grew up across the Midwest, attending nondenominational churches most of her life and becoming a Lutheran as an adult. After spending a decade in communications, she decided to attend Concordia Seminary. She enjoys going on walks with her husband, Norm, and their dog, Weatherby.

Can you share a formational Seminary experience?

When I arrived for my first day of field education at Lutheran Senior Services, the chaplain greeted me saying, “I’m glad you’re here. There’s been a death. Let’s go.” It was a powerful moment of participating in the ministry of presence at a tender time.

How has your Seminary journey affected your family?

My husband, Norm, has been incredibly sacrificial and supportive of my journey to diaconal service. He was willing to leave his current job and our community to relocate to St. Louis.

What are you looking forward to in your future ministry?

I am grateful for the chance to learn from and care for older adults, providing visitation and spiritual care to members of the community whose value to Christ’s church is often overlooked.

How have you dealt with challenges throughout your Seminary experience?

Going on walks with my dog brought routine and got me moving. With more significant challenges, the Seminary community’s support was palpable. Whether it was a stressful test or health challenges my husband faced, they were always in my corner.

A look back at Call Day …

Call Day was full of emotion. I felt humbled and grateful for the opportunity I have had to study at the Seminary. Surrounded with supportive friends and family, my heart was full.

Geordie Denholm (M.Div. ’20)

Emmaus Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Mo.

Denholm grew up in Columbus, Ind., and graduated from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., with a theater degree, intending to further study acting and directing. After working a variety of theater jobs in the Chicago area, he heard the call to begin at Concordia Seminary. He and his wife, Kara, have two dogs they love to walk through their neighborhood.

Can you share a formational Seminary experience?

Seminary was four years of building relationships and learning to be vulnerable with my brothers in the ministry. In class and around late-night bonfires, we shared our own brokenness and supported each other. These friendships will help me throughout my ministry.

What prompted you to follow the call into ministry?

After college, I witnessed lost souls crying out into the cosmos, desperate, angry and scared. One Sunday in worship, the reading was John 10 and Jesus spoke to me, “I am the Good Shepherd. … I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice.” I had to stop making excuses. I had the Good News of Jesus in my heart and on my lips, and there are lost sheep that need a shepherd.

What are you looking forward to in your future ministry?

Everything! Near the top of my list, though, is listening to the stories of my community, hearing the voices of the lost and hurting, and doing what Jesus calls us all to do: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

A look back at Call Day …

That moment of release when my church and district were called is still in my very bones. Kara and I can finally begin planning this next step for our life and ministry at Emmaus. The stress and anxiety that had built up for weeks broke like a dam, and I slept better that night than I had for weeks.

Deaconess Rebekah Lukas is a communications specialist at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.