The letter that follows is not an actual letter, but one a young man today might write to his parents as he considers pursuing the pastoral ministry.
Dear Mom and Dad,
First, I want to thank you for taking me to church every Sunday as I grew up. I didn’t always want to go, but you loved me enough to take me where I could know Jesus and grow in His Word.
Thank you also for our home devotions, where we read the Word together, sang hymns, prayed and learned. As I have been formed in God’s Word and seen Pastor’s care for our family over the years, I have thought more about becoming a Lutheran pastor. As you know, Pastor also has encouraged me to consider the pastoral ministry.
Lately, my friends and I have been hearing a lot about church work, especially at the Youth Gathering and at Higher Things. Some of us went to Christ Academy at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, and others went to Vocatio at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.
At both seminaries, we heard that being a pastor is a sacred and joyful vocation. We also heard about the theology of the cross. I know that the pastoral office is not always easy and that there is suffering involved. That has not dissuaded me from wanting to explore this noble calling.
As I look back at my childhood, I see how you provided for me and protected me from harm. I know that by going to college here in town, I could continue to feel that care closer to home.
Yet, I believe that going to a Concordia university — even though it will take me farther away — will help me better prepare for a future in church work. It will also help me mature and learn even more to be a responsible adult. I will always love you, and I know you will always love and pray for me, no matter how far away from home I live.
Something I once heard President Bruss at Fort Wayne say has stayed with me: “Families, do not hold back your sons, but help them see what a blessing it is to serve in the ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament.”
I know we’ve often talked about how to pay for college. I am grateful for the sacrifices you have made for me, and I know God will continue to provide a way. The Set Apart to Serve website lists the cost of church work tuition at each of our LCMS universities.
Because of generous people who want to help church work students, the cost has come way down over the last few years! Tuition for church work programs is now as little as $0 per year depending on the program and school, and room and board is less expensive than at many state and private colleges. Several LCMS districts give very generous church work tuition grants, and our own congregation offers tuition assistance as well. And all these other grants are stacked on top of aid offered by the university!
One more thing: I know it’s not always easy to make ends meet as a church worker. I am thankful for all the ways people choose to serve their neighbor, many of which pay better than church work — but I want to be a pastor.
Plus, I know many church workers who are well cared for by the congregations and schools they serve. I also know the LCMS is working hard to help the entire Synod think more deeply about caring for their church workers as fellow baptized children of God and about providing for those who preach and teach the Gospel.
Mom and Dad, I’ve been praying about this for some time. Jesus told His disciples to leave their nets and follow Him. It is on my heart to be a pastor; to preach God’s Word; to administer the life-giving Sacraments to God’s people; and to serve God’s people with His Word of comfort, peace and salvation.
I’ve been talking to my friends, and some of them are also pursuing church work. They want to be pastors, Lutheran school teachers, directors of parish music and more. They feel “set apart to serve”!
Thanks for listening. Will you pray with me about this?
With love,
Your son
Set Apart to Serve is a Synodwide effort to build a culture of church work formation and recruitment throughout The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Learn more and find resources at lcms.org/sas.
Posted Feb. 20, 2026
