The email slipped silently into my inbox on June 27th. Two days after my 70th birthday. I missed it at first. Then I stared at it. I was convinced it was a mistake. Why? I'll get to that.
The email began,
"Dear Pastor Schwanke,
Greetings in the name of our living Savior! I pray this finds you and your family well.
I'm writing to you as the part-time administrator for the Pastor Partners Mentoring Program. We are asking and inviting you to serve as a mentor in your area, Caleb Raasch, a 2025 Seminary graduate, was assigned to St. Paul in Hurley, Zion in Mercer, and Bethany in Bruce Crossing. Confident in the Gospel's power and the gifts God has given you, and also in consultation with the Conference of Presidents, the Pastor Partners Mentoring Leadership Team is asking you to serve as the mentor for this new graduate. President Mark Schroeder as well as your District President, Joel Zank, recommend you to serve at this time and in this way." (bold type as in original)
The email was sent by the Pastor Partner Part-time Administrator, Prof. John Brenner of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. And I knew it had to be a mistake. I thought, "Do they realize how old I am? Have they checked insurance actuarial tables." (I did ask them that.) "This is a three-year call to serve!"
I figured this email had to be a mistake, because I already knew about the program. Pastor Partner Mentoring began 15 years ago as a pilot program, and at that time I had been called to serve as a mentor --for 2 seminary graduates in our Northern Wisconsin District. Already then, I was--by far--the oldest mentor in the system! And did I mention that was 15 years ago?! The ideal-- as the program directors explained to us way back then--was for mentors to be men who had been out in the ministry 10 to 15 years, so 35 to 40 years old. Old enough to be experienced in pastoral ministry, but not so old as to be ossified in ministry. A good partner for a brand-new seminary graduate. But I was already 55.
And now I was being asked to go back into the Mentor Program at the age of 70? When I'm supposed to be sitting in a rocking chair on my veranda watching the clouds, listening to the sweet little birdies sing, while leisurely sipping a German beverage? How could this be?
So I asked some hard questions about the reasons I was called to do this. I listened carefully. And after just two days of deliberation, I agreed to serve. In part, because I don't want to be ossified in ministry. There is always something new to learn, and ways to grow in our Christian walk of faith. I thought I might learn a lot more from Caleb Raasch than he will ever learn from me.
Then, too, I realized my gracious Lord had prepared me for this step of service. He did that rhrough my previous mentoring experience in the Pastor Partner program (it went well), but also by blessing me with almost 26 years of serving as a shepherd/mentor for college-age students in WELS Campus Ministry at Michigan Tech. And then there was also this: my part-time status at Trinity allows for more flexibility in my schedule for this added limited divine call.
So, back in September, I attended a refresher course in Pastor Partner Mentoring held at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. And I've kept up regular contact with Caleb via phone calls, texts, and emails, as well as in-person visits. I was able to attend Caleb's ordination at St. Paul, Hurley on July 13th. Since then I've made monthly trips to the Raasch home up in Wakefield. I've gotten to know not just Caleb, but his wife, Dana, and also their 1-year old daughter, Irene.
By now, however, you may be bursting at the seams with this important question, "What exactly is a Pastor Partner Mentor supposed to do?" Quick answer? "Mentor." (Shall I pause there for dramatic effect?) To be more specific, my role as a mentor involves being a sounding board, or a dumping ground if needed. My goal is to help Caleb, as well as his family, focus on the privileges and blessings of pastoral ministry. I often ask, "What's been going well?"
I am learning a lot, advising a little, and choosing my advice carefully. I joke with Caleb that I am the only WELS Methuselah Mentor. But that's okay with Caleb, his family, and me, because our Lord observes, "Isn’t it true that wisdom is found among the aged and understanding among those who have had a long life?" (Job 12:12)
I pray this Pastor Partner Mentor Program will be a blessing for Caleb and all the other graduates who are taking their first pastoral steps alongside their mentors, under the umbrella of the Shepherd's grace.
Final thought: Is there someone in your life who would be blessed by a faithful Christian mentor? And could that mentor be you-no matter your age? You, a dedicated believer who is willing to take a young Christian under your wing to help them navigate the challenges of life? Always pointing them back to their precious Savior? After all, we don't need a formal Synodical program to take to heart the Apostle Paul's divinely-inspired advice.
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you are to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6)
Privileged to serve, with a pinch of salt,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
The email began,
"Dear Pastor Schwanke,
Greetings in the name of our living Savior! I pray this finds you and your family well.
I'm writing to you as the part-time administrator for the Pastor Partners Mentoring Program. We are asking and inviting you to serve as a mentor in your area, Caleb Raasch, a 2025 Seminary graduate, was assigned to St. Paul in Hurley, Zion in Mercer, and Bethany in Bruce Crossing. Confident in the Gospel's power and the gifts God has given you, and also in consultation with the Conference of Presidents, the Pastor Partners Mentoring Leadership Team is asking you to serve as the mentor for this new graduate. President Mark Schroeder as well as your District President, Joel Zank, recommend you to serve at this time and in this way." (bold type as in original)
The email was sent by the Pastor Partner Part-time Administrator, Prof. John Brenner of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. And I knew it had to be a mistake. I thought, "Do they realize how old I am? Have they checked insurance actuarial tables." (I did ask them that.) "This is a three-year call to serve!"
I figured this email had to be a mistake, because I already knew about the program. Pastor Partner Mentoring began 15 years ago as a pilot program, and at that time I had been called to serve as a mentor --for 2 seminary graduates in our Northern Wisconsin District. Already then, I was--by far--the oldest mentor in the system! And did I mention that was 15 years ago?! The ideal-- as the program directors explained to us way back then--was for mentors to be men who had been out in the ministry 10 to 15 years, so 35 to 40 years old. Old enough to be experienced in pastoral ministry, but not so old as to be ossified in ministry. A good partner for a brand-new seminary graduate. But I was already 55.
And now I was being asked to go back into the Mentor Program at the age of 70? When I'm supposed to be sitting in a rocking chair on my veranda watching the clouds, listening to the sweet little birdies sing, while leisurely sipping a German beverage? How could this be?
So I asked some hard questions about the reasons I was called to do this. I listened carefully. And after just two days of deliberation, I agreed to serve. In part, because I don't want to be ossified in ministry. There is always something new to learn, and ways to grow in our Christian walk of faith. I thought I might learn a lot more from Caleb Raasch than he will ever learn from me.
Then, too, I realized my gracious Lord had prepared me for this step of service. He did that rhrough my previous mentoring experience in the Pastor Partner program (it went well), but also by blessing me with almost 26 years of serving as a shepherd/mentor for college-age students in WELS Campus Ministry at Michigan Tech. And then there was also this: my part-time status at Trinity allows for more flexibility in my schedule for this added limited divine call.
So, back in September, I attended a refresher course in Pastor Partner Mentoring held at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. And I've kept up regular contact with Caleb via phone calls, texts, and emails, as well as in-person visits. I was able to attend Caleb's ordination at St. Paul, Hurley on July 13th. Since then I've made monthly trips to the Raasch home up in Wakefield. I've gotten to know not just Caleb, but his wife, Dana, and also their 1-year old daughter, Irene.
By now, however, you may be bursting at the seams with this important question, "What exactly is a Pastor Partner Mentor supposed to do?" Quick answer? "Mentor." (Shall I pause there for dramatic effect?) To be more specific, my role as a mentor involves being a sounding board, or a dumping ground if needed. My goal is to help Caleb, as well as his family, focus on the privileges and blessings of pastoral ministry. I often ask, "What's been going well?"
I am learning a lot, advising a little, and choosing my advice carefully. I joke with Caleb that I am the only WELS Methuselah Mentor. But that's okay with Caleb, his family, and me, because our Lord observes, "Isn’t it true that wisdom is found among the aged and understanding among those who have had a long life?" (Job 12:12)
I pray this Pastor Partner Mentor Program will be a blessing for Caleb and all the other graduates who are taking their first pastoral steps alongside their mentors, under the umbrella of the Shepherd's grace.
Final thought: Is there someone in your life who would be blessed by a faithful Christian mentor? And could that mentor be you-no matter your age? You, a dedicated believer who is willing to take a young Christian under your wing to help them navigate the challenges of life? Always pointing them back to their precious Savior? After all, we don't need a formal Synodical program to take to heart the Apostle Paul's divinely-inspired advice.
"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you are to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6)
Privileged to serve, with a pinch of salt,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
RSS Feed
