Apr 15, 2021 Print This Article

‘Under the Fig Tree’ recruitment-focused podcast launches

Content-rich resource aims to encourage future seminarians

Prospective students and those who refer them are encouraged to check out Concordia Seminary, St. Louis’ new podcast, “Under the Fig Tree.”

Hosted by Associate Provost Dr. Benjamin Haupt and Director of Recruitment Rev. Micah Glenn, “Under the Fig Tree” launched March 5. With a focus on recruitment, the podcast aims to share meaningful content with men and women who are considering enrollment.

In the podcast’s first episode, “John 1:43-51 & Why We Went to Seminary,” Haupt and Glenn introduce and explain the namesake of the podcast.  

“The name comes from the scene in John’s Gospel when Jesus says to Nathanael that he saw him ‘under the fig tree,’” said Haupt. “As we discuss in Episode 1, Nathanael was there waiting for the promised Messiah. It struck us that here’s a great description for the person contemplating a life in pastoral or diaconal ministry — waiting under the fig tree with all eyes on Jesus. We have plans to talk about theology, Seminary life, and how to know if studying theology is right for you. Micah and I are having a ton of fun recording these episodes, and we look forward to hearing from our listeners.”

Additionally, the hosts discuss some of their own personal interests — showing how pastors are people too. They share their own journeys to the Seminary and how they were called into the ministry.

Future episodes will feature guests sharing insights about their own Seminary experiences and perspectives on pastoral and diaconal ministry post-graduation. Episode two, “Growing in Wisdom and Stature with Jesus,” looks at Luke 2:41-52 and what it means to be in the presence of God.

The podcast aims to help listeners “figure out if this pastor or deaconess stuff is for you,” as Haupt states in the podcast’s trailer.

“Under the Fig Tree” can be found on most podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts and streamed on most devices. New episodes will be posted weekly each Friday.

Learn more about Concordia Seminary’s admissions process at csl.edu/visit or contact the Seminary’s admissions team at [email protected] or 800-822-9545.

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 csl.edu.