Donald Reiffenberger
M.Div. Student
Sioux Falls, SD

I have been sensing a call to ministry since high school.  After graduation, I attended St. Mary's Seminary in Winona, MN.  It only lasted for a couple of weeks.  I was only seventeen and very inexperienced at being away from home.  I realized it was not the right time.  It was not God's time.  I also attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, in 2002-2003.  I completed the first semester and J-term before realizing the time was not right for my family.  Again, it must not have been God's time.  Now, four years later, I find myself really feeling called back to seminary.  I have family support.  I have support from my pastors and church members.  I believe it is now truly God's time to answer His call.  There must be a reason this is my third attempt at seminary.           

God is getting my attention.  I believe I have been called away from teaching third grade after 20 years and called to ministry.  God has been giving me many signs.  I can no longer try to push them aside or ignore them.  Is God calling me to be a pastor?  In all honesty, I do not know.  I do know that life and life circumstances seem to be leading me in that direction.  I question myself with ‘Why me?' and ‘What do you want me to do, Lord?'  I was discussing the possibility of seminary with my wife several years ago.  My answer at that time was, ‘I'm not qualified to be a pastor.  I can't do that.'  One week later while in church, the pastor said something during his sermon that I will never forget.  He said, ‘God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.'  He looked right at me, and then my wife and I just looked at each other with jaws dropped.  That was and still is extremely powerful for me.

A couple of months ago, Pastor Tim Robertson told the congregation at Rejoice! Lutheran Church that he would like to preach for six weeks and then have someone from the congregation preach the seventh week.  It would fit with our church's core beliefs of rest, renew, serve, and share.  Pastor Tim called me into his office shortly after that and said that he wanted me to be the first one from the congregation to give the sermon.  Of course, my question was ‘Why me?'  He said that people would hear me and know that I was genuine and was speaking from my heart and would leave church saying, ‘You know what?  I can do that!'  My sermon was based on Philippians 3:12-16.  Having just run a marathon in January, I compared our Christian journey to running a race - a marathon.  I know that the Holy Spirit most definitely helped me with the writing and the delivering of that sermon.  God was further strengthening my calling.  It felt so right to me.  Part of the message was that we can't let past failures stop us from doing what we know is right today.  For some reason, I said that a second time and it felt like I was hit by a ton of bricks!  That was a sign and a tremendous help with my decision to go back to seminary.

While attending Sioux Falls Seminary through the Luther House of Study, I want to understand God more deeply and be open to the direction He has for my life.  I will continue praying for God's guidance, wisdom, strength, and courage.  I want to just go forward and trust God.  I really don't know what all of this means right now.  I do know that I am willing to take this leap of faith.  I was willing to stop teaching and attend seminary full time.  I am willing to trust that God will help take care of my family.  I am willing to allow others to help in any way they can.  I can't ignore or push aside this call to ministry any longer. 

For others who are wrestling with the idea of going to seminary, I have one thing to say...God uses ordinary people!  Jesus never asked anyone to get their act together before following Him.  Jesus never asked anyone to fix all their past mistakes before following Him.  Jesus never asked anyone to untangle the messes in their life before following Him.  Keep in mind that Jesus does not need our ability...He needs our availability.  Take a leap of faith, or even a step of faith, and see what God does with you! 

Sioux Falls Seminary is truly a warm and welcoming environment.  You are ‘somebody' in this place.  Faculty and students are encouraging and friendly.  You are made to feel like you are a member of the family...a valued member of the family!

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