Christ Academy X

By Rev. Steven Cholak

When did you know you wanted to be a pastor? It happened to me in the tenth grade. I blame the Roman Catholic Church for my decision. Let me explain. I attended a private, Jesuit high school in northeastern Ohio. Students at Walsh Jesuit High School were required to take religion courses. We didn't have to go to chapel services if we didn't want to, but many of us did. I was one of them.

As a catechized Lutheran teenager totally submerged in Roman Catholicism, I asked lots of questions. I asked my parents and my family, but most importantly, I asked my pastor. Pastor was thrilled to talk about Jesus and his Church with a young member of his congregation. That is a blessing to each and every pastor. We love to talk about the Church and all things Jesus. After spending some time over the next year and a half in study of the Lutheran position on justification, Scripture, and the Office of the Ministry, the Church became my sanctuary.

It wasn't just the place I went to on Sunday morning and then forgot about until seven days later; it was more than that. Church was cool. It was calm in the midst of this crazy world, and I loved to talk about it, live it, and learn it. Church was where I could be me and not be afraid. There was a long history that grabbed me. Were there other guys my age that thought the same way? I thought there may be, but I didn't know where they were. So that is where Christ Academy comes into the picture. The two-week program at Concordia Theological Seminary pulls high school men together to talk about theology, to worship, and to have fun. Young men that enjoy learning about theology find support and sanctuary in community and in the Word.

Jesus loves to forgive the sins of the world. He has done this by naming men as His servants and undershepherds. Jesus tells us to continue to pray for laborers for the harvest. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. And God answers that prayer and stirs the hearts of high-school-aged young men. Maybe it's you or your brother. Perhaps it is a member of your congregation or your son. Tell them about Christ Academy. To learn more, go to www.ctsfw.edu/christacademy.

Rev. Steven Cholak is an Admission Counselor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.