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August 2020
Dear Friends,
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word,
then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in
bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If
the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:31-36
KJV)
These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine
patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he
that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like
hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the
harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we
esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven
knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed
if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. Thomas
Paine, The Crisis No. I (written 19 December 1776, published 23 December 1776)
Paine is correct, heaven does value freedom highly. Jesus’ words above show this
to be the case. However, freedom can only be found in truth. Anything founded in
untruth leads to sin and sin does lead to truth but bondage. The problems that
plague our world today are not new, they are as old as sin. Sin deceives people
and makes them exchange the truth for a lie. Where there is no truth there is no
freedom. As He says, only Christ can make us free.
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from
the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free
from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of
men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members
servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your
members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants
of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things
whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being
made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto
holiness, and the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:17-22 KJV)
The form of doctrine that Paul is referring to is the Word of God. By the Word
of God we have been brought into the truth. Jesus is, “the way and the truth and
the life.” By the blood of the Living Word we are released from sin and made
free. Does heaven value freedom? Yes, it cost God the blood of His Son. What the
world needs now is what it has always needed, the truth. In “these times that
try men’s souls” we need truth, we need the Word of God and we need the gospel
of Jesus Christ. We need to be anchored in it and proclaiming it to all who will
listen. No virus, unrest or lie of any sort can ever shake that foundation.
Thank you for supporting us in our work of sharing that gospel. God be praised
for His faithfulness and truth!
God’s Peace,
Jay Weidner
DONATIONS RECEIVED...
In honor of Wesley Lampinen
From Kim & Sue-Ann Mickelson
In memory of Pastor Rod Johnson
From Derek & Gail Kalkes
Erik & Karen Kukkonen
Raymond & Marlene Hillman
In memory of Bill Bergstedt Sr.
Bob & Sandy Caviness
In memory of Ed & Aili Pakkala
From Dan & Anita Hoard
In memory of Marian Kilpela
From Bob & Sandy Caviness
In memory of Judy Maki
From Raymond & Marlene Hilmann
In memory of Bill Bergstedt Jr.
Bob & Sandy Caviness
In honor of Pastors/Teachers
Bruce Bergstedt, Ernest Bylkas III, Michael Carriere, Elmer Liimatta,
Arvo Onermaa, Jay Weidner & Elmer Yliniemi
From Derek & Gail Kalkes
DEACONESS STUDIES AT THE SEMINARY
The Deaconess program at the Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary provides sound
biblical educational opportunities for women. A deaconess is a woman who is a
church-worker and is trained and dedicated to sharing the Gospel of Christ
through acts of mercy and spiritual care. The role of a deaconess is to serve
other women by engaging women in diverse settings and specialization, whether in
a congregation, in an institution or on the mission field. The Deaconess serves
congregations using her gifts to bless and serve other women.
Titus 2:3-5 “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh
holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love
their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their
own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
Upon fulfillment of the program requirements, which can be found in our course
catalog (http://www.ilseminary.org/catalog.pdf), students receive a Deaconess
Certificate endorsed by the faculty. Along with the Deaconess Certificate a
student may also receive an additional degree outside the Seminary such as
Nursing, Teaching, Counseling, etc. in order to focus on a specific calling. You
may also take the deaconess courses without acquiring a Deaconess Certificate.
The courses of study include:
Orientation to Deaconess Studies. 3 credits
An overview of the issues of women’s ministry in the contemporary church.
Deaconess History. 2 credits
A study of the role of deaconesses through the history of the Christian Church.
Working as a Deaconess I. 2 credits
A course which explores the use of Deaconess skills involving both
congregational and personal care as well as the employment of such skills in the
current church setting.
Working as a Deaconess II. 2 credits
A second course which explores the use of Deaconess skills involving community
outreach and involvement with the employment of such skills in the current
church setting.
If you are interested in learning of the Deaconess program, please contact the
Seminary at (906) 482-3337 or email cilseminary@ilseminary.com.
ATTENTION: SUPPORTERS
THERE ARE OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT THE SEMINARY.
Have you ever have used Amazon.com to do your shopping? Now AmazonSmile offers
the same products, same prices and same service and will also donate 0.5% of the
price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Inter-Lutheran Theological
Seminary whenever you shop on AmazonSmile.
Simply log use in by using this link….
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/41-0918317
which will bring you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of our
organization.
The Thrivent Choice® program offers a way members can recommend where Thrivent
Financial distributes some of its charitable outreach funds. As a benefit
member, your ownership of Thrivent Financial products and services help make
this support possible.
Remember….If you are an eligible member 16 and older you can recommend how to
distribute Thrivent Financial charitable grant funds thought Choice Dollars®.
Member eligibility and the Choice Dollars designated are based on:
• Holding a Thrivent Financial volunteer leadership position; or
• Having $750 or more in annual premiums of qualifying
insurance products; or
• Having $20,000 or more in contract value of qualifying products.
For more information about Choice Dollars, visit http://www.Thrivent.com/thriventchoice
or call 800-847-4836 or contact your local Thrivent Financial representative.
INFAITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION:
Several years ago, the Seminary board of directors established the
Inter-Lutheran Seminary Endowment Fund. Funds contributed to the endowment are
not used for current day to day operations. Only the annual earnings of the
endowment will be used for the seminary’s needs thereby ensuring the continued
existence of this funding source. This is the preferred method used by many
non-profit entities, especially ongoing religiously focused organizations such
as seminaries.
While this is an excellent strategy, it has proven a challenge for us to
actually meet the minimum funding requirements. Until now, the fund has existed
but remained unfunded. By the Lord’s grace we have been blessed with a large
contribution to fund the Inter-Lutheran Seminary Endowment Fund. We would love
to build on this generous contribution to grow our endowment into a major source
of ongoing seminary support.
Although the seminary still needs the financial ongoing regular contributions of
our supporters, please consider the endowment fund for your planned giving
needs. The seminary has chosen the InFaith Community Endowment Fund (the renamed
Lutheran Brotherhood Foundation) to administer our endowment fund. They will
provide experienced legal advice to help guide you with any contribution
questions done through estate planning in addition to lump sum contributions,
IRAs, property and securities. For more additional information, please contact
Kirk Otto, Jr. at (715) 294-4343 or Cheryl Hendrickson at (906)482-3337.
**PLEASE NOTE**
If you are receiving this newsletter in error or would prefer to be taken off
the mailing list, please complete the form below and mail to: P.O. Box 449,
Hancock, MI 49930.
Or call 906-482-3337 or email: cilseminary@ilseminary.com. Thank you!
Date:_________________
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I wish to be removed from the Inter-Lutheran Seminary’s mailing list.
Inter-Lutheran
Theological Seminary
James Weidner, President
P.O. Box 449
Hancock, MI 49930
administrator@ilseminary.org
Phone: 906-482-3337
FAX: 906-482-0694