Concordia Seminary, St. Louis celebrated 23 Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Program students last week for receiving new calls and completing the program.

The SMP students were recognized Friday during a special service in the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus at the end of a week-long schedule of intensive courses.

“We rejoice with students celebrating new calls and receiving theological diplomas, as well as those now completing the program,” said SMP Program Director Dr. W. Mart Thompson. “We give thanks to our Lord for their dedication, their families’ support, their congregations’ commitment, their mentors and supervising pastors’ guidance, and their professors’ faithful instruction in God’s Word – all are used by the Lord in equipping and calling these men into the pastoral ministry!”

The SMP Program is a four-year program in which men receive theological education in the setting in which they will continue to serve — as pastors of congregations or in other ministries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod — following certification, call and ordination. Local pastor-mentors work with SMP students to provide day-to-day guidance, encouragement and prayer.

The students recognized for pastoral calls include:

• Jeremiah Bauer, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, TX, LCMS Texas District
• Andrew Greer, Messiah Lutheran Church, Lincoln, NE, LCMS Nebraska District
• Joshua Hoffman, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Norwood Young America, MN, LCMS Minnesota South District
• Kenneth “KC” Knippa, Concordia Lutheran Church, Garland, TX, LCMS Texas District
• Frederick Limmel, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Excelsior, MN, LCMS Minnesota South District
• Ryan Pennington, Fortress Lutheran Church, Harker Heights, TX, LCMS Texas District

The students recognized for program completion include:

• Shaun Adams, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Spokane, WA, LCMS Northwest District
• Ray Anderson, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, SD, LCMS South Dakota District
• Mark Bray, Our Savior Lutheran Church, McKinney, TX, LCMS Texas District
• Brian Crocitto, The Life Lutheran Church and Day School, Old Westbury, NY, LCMS Atlantic District
• John Durkin, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Happy Valley, OR, LCMS Northwest District
• Ellory Glenn, Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO, LCMS English District
• Joshua Nix, Trinity Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, OR, LCMS Northwest District
• Henry Pahlkotter, Peace Lutheran Church, Saginaw, MI, LCMS Michigan District
• Roger Penny, Messiah Lutheran Church, Charlotte, NC, LCMS Southeastern District
• Christopher A. Ryan, St. Mark Lutheran Church, Chesterland, OH, LCMS Ohio District
• Christopher M. Ryan, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Buffalo, MN, LCMS Minnesota South District
• David Schmitt, Trinity Lutheran Church, Park Hills, MO, LCMS Missouri District
• Carl Seim, Lord of Glory Lutheran Church, Elk River, MN, LCMS Minnesota North District
• Marvin St. Pierre, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bakersfield, CA, LCMS California-Nevada-Hawaii District
• Rex Watt, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bellingham, WA, LCMS Northwest District
• Jessy Wilson, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Delmar, NY, LCMS Atlantic District
• Steven Zandstra, Grace Lutheran Church, Cheyenne Wells, CO, LCMS Rocky Mountain District

The Seminary recognizes and celebrates calls throughout the year although the campus’ primary Call Day celebration typically is held in April. During call celebrations, students receive their first calls to ministry as well as assignments for vicarages and deaconess internships. The Seminary’s next primary Call Day is set for April 23, 2024.

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.