Michael and Cindy Musick, along with son, Jonathan, age 9, arrived last week from Chariton, Iowa, to begin seminary studies, with Summer Greek on the agenda. They came into my office to say hello. After a few minutes of talking with them, I knew I wanted to share their story of how they arrived in Ft. Wayne, at Concordia Theological Seminary.

Michael: It began in church. The Iowa District East President, Dr. Curtis Moermond, come to our church and spoke. I had had the desire to become a pastor in the back of my mind. After talking with Dr. Moermond and my pastor, Pastor Mitch Otto, coupled with diligent prayer, Cindy and I became convinced that I should pursue the Holy Ministry.

Cindy: My reaction the day Michael initially approached me was, "You’re kidding!" But, through prayer, and not overnight, our fears went away.

Michael: We had district support, but it was our decision. Originally, we were coming in the fall, but here we are. The church people held potlucks, loaded the moving truck, and encouraged us every step of the way. We thought this was great for a congregation of 75 committed souls, a mission church in Chariton, Iowa, located in a town of 4600 people.

Cindy: The hardest part? Definitely, to leave the church people. They are our family, our friends.

Michael: I couldn’t have written a better scenario of what transpired when I came three weeks ago to Ft. Wayne to find a home and a Lutheran school for Jonathan. I had called the seminary and they got the ball rolling, setting up appointments with the necessary people. The Relocation Coordinator, knowing I only had a day to put it all together, drove me to several Lutheran schools and housing possibilities. By 4 p.m., I had a home for my family and a school secured for my son. I returned to Iowa the following day, feeling thankful that God had worked through so many people.

Cindy: On the day of arrival in Ft. Wayne, our landlord, Pastor Leroy Hansen, drove from Myrtle Beach, S.C., to personally hand over the keys to our new home. My "big sis" from the Seminary Wives Association, Crystal Bower, stopped by. We grew up just a hundred or so miles from each other and knew some of the same people. It was a good feeling.

Michael: It was like a SWAT team unloading our truck. The volunteer moving committee, headed by Tim Kohlmeier, accomplished the feat in one and a half. Two of the men were from Iowa. And when I saw one of them a few days later in the campus bookstore, he told me what to purchase and that I could borrow a few of his books.

Cindy: I found everything I needed at the Clothing Co-op to begin my job, down to a pair of new shoes. Everyone was so friendly as we walked across campus.

Michael: I was proud that I took care of my wife and son before coming to the sem. But Cindy brought her credentials from working at Office Depot and was hired immediately at the Office Depot in Ft. Wayne.

Michael shared that once they had made the decision to attend the seminary, he was offered a change in position three times. Owning his own business, he encountered these offers when in different states. And each time that he asked where the position would be, the answer was: Ft. Wayne, Ind.

Finally, the Musicks have said it is a very humbling experience to accept all the assistance from the people in their home church: prayers, good wishes, help on moving day, potlucks, and the welcome from strangers upon arrival in Ft. Wayne. And their encouraging words for anyone contemplating the seminary is: "Pray about it. Take it to the cross. And visit the seminary and talk to several people. It is a place like no other."

From Volume 3, Issue 3, Summer 1999