We went to Mannheim, Germany, on 6 June where I preached. The Christliches Zentrum Mannheim church is pastored by Doyle & Manuela Rehmel, and is one of the largest Church of God congregations in Germany. The church recently moved locations to a downtown site in a nice athletic center. It was also a pleasure to be with two ETS students there. Borislav Romakov is a Masters student and serves as minister of music and youth. Bora finished our BA degree program last year. Oliver Müller is a current third year BA student who is home in Mannheim for summer practicum ministry. Oliver translated for me. You can see them in the photo. God blessed many in the service, and we thank Him for His presence.

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As the 2009-2010 school year ended at the European Theological Seminary on 28 May, we had our final faculty and staff meeting. It is a pleasure to serve with these dedicated, hard-working Christians whom I want to list to honor and appreciate them. Faculty: Paul Schmidgall (also president), Carl Simpson (also dean), Michael Dieterich, Benson Vaughan, Cathy Vaughan (also librarian), Vance Massingill, Jivko Jeliazkov, Otto Pesel (also business office), Anuta Naros, and Rodney Friend. Staff: Gabi Schmidgall (Manager), Jacky Simpson (Registrar), Martin Reinecker (House Master), Joachim Seitle (Cook), Violetta Bogatzki (Secretary), Tabita Pnacsek (Dorm Supervisor),  Helge Tietz (Kitchen), Erika Kuhne (Kitchen), and Carol Friend (Assistant librarian). These are great servants of God and a great team. Thank you for praying for us.

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The last of the final exams at the European Theological Seminary ended today, 28 May. The students will now depart for their summer ministry practicums and some rest. Seniors will continue writing their Senior Papers. God has blessed us with a great school year.

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Each year ETS concludes its year with a Family Day celebration put on by the second year students. This year on 19 May we had a Medieval theme, and we were asked to come dressed in that style of clothing. Our king and queen were Carl and Jackie Simpson, dean/teacher and registrar respectively. Carol and I went as serfs. It was a great evening of fun, games, food and relaxation as a school family. Next week final exams!

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This year ETS went on a long hike in the Black Forest which surrounds us as our annual school trip. This also occurred on 17 May after the funeral and wedding previously mentioned. We enjoyed a barbecue after returning from our three-hour hike to see an usual rock formation in the forest. An intramural soccer tournament was played and we finished up our day with a missions prayer meeting.

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After the funeral on 17 May, a second group performed a wedding ceremony in the German Free Church style. Two of our married students, Sören and Tabea Am Ende, were the happy couple again in this simulated event. This group also did a great job, and so we ended up with a happy wedding after our sad funeral.

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My Church Administration class had a group do a funeral at ETS on 17 May as part of their course work. It was a simulated funeral which they planned and officiated. One of our students was the dearly departed and the group really did a great job. This hopefully will aid them when they are pastoring and must officiate at the real thing.

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The two weeks of the first of three annual doctoral residencies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary ended today. I learned much on the themes of the Pastor as Person and the Pastor as Leader. The doctoral track is on Pastoral Skills: the Pastor as Person, Preacher, and Caregiver. Our professors were Drs. David Currie, Ken Swetland, David Horn, and Rev. Mario Bergner. Now I must continue with much reading, writing, and research until we meet again next Spring. I am happy to be returning home to Germany tomorrow to finish out the semester at the European Theological Seminary and see Carol.

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The second week of classes at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary are going well in my doctoral degree studies. Thursday evening, 6 May, the cohort was invited to our teacher’s home, Dr. David Currie, for a meal and time of fellowship. Tomorrow will be our final day and I can prepare to return home to Germany on Saturday. Carol told me it was snowing in Germany today, but it was nice in Boston.

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On Sunday, 2 May, four of us D.Min. students from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary went to Newburyport, Massachusetts, to attend church where another one of our fellow-students pastors. Rob John pastors First Presbyterian (Old South) Church which was built in 1756. The church was founded by George Whitefield, one of the leading evangelists of the Great Awakening in America in the 1700s. In fact, Whitefield is buried beneath the pulpit in this church. The church bell in the steeple was made by Paul Revere in 1802. I got to ring it before the service, and after the service went up to the steeple top to see it. General Benedict Arnold recruited troops in this church on his way to attack the British in Quebec. It was great to see part of American history, worship God, and be with newly met colleagues. Thank God for our Christian heritage in America, and that we can still worship God freely where generations have before us.

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