Christ’s Teaching Servant: Unique Purpose/Undeserved Privilege - Keynote

As a Lutheran educator, the work you do is unquestionably unique. Indeed each day holds unique blessings and challenges for the LES teacher. But there’s so much more: the very essence of your call is like none other. Through God’s Word and this call, the Spirit shapes you and every aspect of your life. Within you beats the heart of a servant, a servant of Jesus, a minister of his gospel.

What is unique can also be easily misunderstood. No surprise then that the LES teacher’s call and work is often misunderstood. It is dismissed by the world as insignificant and inferior. The souls we serve sometimes misinterpret or mischaracterize it. Most telling of all: even we who live within the call can lose sight of this unique work and unknowingly slip into thinking it is something else.

The entire time you spend together at your Minnesota District Lutheran Teachers' Conference is also unique. It’s so much more than professional growth. It is foremost a time for growth in Christ, our special service to him, and the relationship we share as his called servants. As we begin our time together, we’ll seek to refresh our understanding of this privilege we share. As we do, we’ll also seek to renew our commitment to the work at hand.

For 17 years Michael Jensen has served as education, youth, and family pastor at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and School in Watertown, WI. As such he was spiritual counselor to the school families and faculty. His new position at St. Mark’s has him serving as the administrative pastor for the congregation. He is a member of the Western Wisconsin District presidium. He and his wife Jane have been blessed with seven children, two daughters-in-law, a grandson and two more grandchildren expected within the next several months.