When Zach Eshelman typed the words “Law and Gospel” into a search engine, he wasn’t expecting a life-changing theological pivot. But in God’s providence, that curious search marked the start of a journey that would eventually lead him to become Lutheran — and enter the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Program at Concordia Seminary.
Eshelman’s story is not one marked by dramatic conversion or sudden revelation. His story is the quiet and steady unfolding of faith — an unassuming but profound testimony of God’s work over time.
A Path Unplanned
Raised in a home where Christmas and Easter services were optional, Eshelman didn’t have any understanding of Christianity. “I couldn’t really tell you anything about Christianity until midway through high school,” he recalls. His comprehension of the Christian faith was a gradual process, influenced by friendships, teachers and a growing sense of spiritual inquisitiveness. “I just realized at one point, ‘Oh, maybe I believe what my friends have been telling me.’”
His Baptism came in a small, Calvinist, non-denominational church plant meeting in a high school auditorium in rural Tucson, Ariz. At that point, he wasn’t aligned with a particular theology or denomination — just seeking to learn more about Christianity itself.
College became a key season in Eshelman’s faith development. During his first two years at a small school in Ohio, he encountered a uniquely diverse campus ministry group led by Christians from a broad spectrum of traditions: Southern Baptist, Eastern Orthodox, Catholic, Evangelical and Korean Pentecostal. It was enriching, if not chaotic. Amid the variety, Eshelman remained on a mission to deepen his understanding.
That pursuit led him to a large Bible church where he first encountered a typological reading of Leviticus — how the Law points to Christ. Intrigued but lacking vocabulary, he simply Googled “Law and Gospel.” The result? A host of Lutheran resources that opened a door he had not known existed.
“This distinction that Lutherans were using — it wasn’t necessarily unique to them, but it was their thing,” he explains. That theological clarity resonated with him.
Discovering Lutheranism
A spring break visit to a Lutheran Bible study at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., became another turning point. The discussion focused on John 16 and the Lutheran view of the Sacraments, and it deeply resonated with Eshelman. Returning to his eclectic campus group and sharing the idea that “Christ is present in the Sacraments,” he was met with blank stares. “That was one of those moments where I realized, ‘Oh, Lutherans think differently on this — and I think the way Lutherans do.’”
Eshelman transferred to Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Although situated in the heart of Baptist country, he discovered a local LCMS church, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, just outside of Waco. There, under the guidance of Vicar Peter Haugen, he continued to grow in his understanding of Lutheran distinctives. His connection to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) deepened, even as he remained involved with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), appreciating its emphasis on liturgy and theology.
After graduation, Eshelman spent several years teaching, including two years at Concordia Middle School in Taiwan through the LCMS. There, he discovered a strong sense of vocational calling.
“I realized I’m a teacher,” he says. “Whatever happens next, I’m going to be a teacher doing whatever they’ve told me to do.” That clarity has shaped his hopes for ministry, particularly in the context of campus work, international service or theological education.
Seminary and Formation
At Concordia Seminary, Eshelman has found the kind of formation for which he was hoping. Unexpectedly, it is the language courses — Greek and Hebrew — that have had the deepest impact on him. “I would argue that the language classes are some of the best pastoral care classes,” he reflects. That insight comes after a full year studying under Dr. Philip Penhallegon, professor of Exegetical Theology, who would highlight minute details in the text. “He would point out a little dot. ‘Do you see this little dot here? See how it changes the entire meaning of this word?’”
That kind of precision, Eshelman believes, extends far beyond grammar and syntax. “This level of specificity is crucial for learning the languages,” he says, “but I’d argue it’s even more vital for the kind of soul care we’re expected to give. It teaches us to notice the little things like the way someone’s expression shifts slightly after hearing some news. In learning to read Scripture closely, we’re also learning to be present and attentive in real-life situations. And that presence, that attentiveness, is incredibly important.”
As he looks toward the future, Eshelman is excited about possibilities that blend teaching and ministry. Campus ministry remains a dream, rooted in his own story of being evangelized by students and teachers in a public high school. “Schools have played such a big part in my becoming a Christian,” he reflects. “It would be amazing to be the one sharing the Gospel in those settings.”
For those discerning a call to ministry or wondering whether the Seminary is the right path, Eshelman offers this perspective: “If you have a small sense of it, the easiest way to go through that discernment process is to go farther — dive in and let God figure out what happens on the other side.”
It is a fitting conclusion from someone whose own path to the Seminary started not with certainty, but with a question typed into a search bar.