Give to the Max 2024 is happening now through November 21. It is a major event sponsored by GiveMN, an independent agency that coordinates this special giving event for all kinds of Minnesota charitable organizations. The event aims for a “statewide outpouring of support for thousands of nonprofits and schools across Minnesota.” All gifts given during November count toward Give to the Max.
Central Seminary has been participating in Give to the Max for nearly two decades. This one event often provides a big part of our support every year. We rely on gifts from donors like you because students cannot pay the cost of seminary education. If pastors and missionaries are going to be trained, the bill must be paid by the people who will benefit from their ministries.
Consider Peter and his wife, Allie. They have two sons, Jonathan and Daniel. Peter grew up in a Christian home where God challenged him with the need for Christian laborers. Peter graduated from Appalachian Bible College and took an associate pastorate in Pennsylvania. Still actively engaged in pastoral ministry, he is also pursuing seminary training online at Central Seminary. During Peter’s studies, he and Allie continue to invest themselves in discipling new believers.
Another of our students, Mark, is married to Dannielle. Located in western New York, Mark was struggling to pastor part-time while simultaneously working an outside job and taking courses at Central Seminary. Then his employer eliminated his position without notice. The church stepped up and took Mark on full-time, and he is continuing his studies. They are grateful that Central Seminary’s online programs allow them to remain in New York. Mark is specifically grateful for encouragement from Central Seminary’s faculty, for reinforcement of his biblical convictions, and for the challenge to refine and expand his understanding of God’s Word.
Josh lives in California with his wife, Christy. He grew up in a mainline Protestant church that did not preach the gospel. He was saved when a friend invited him to a Wednesday night children’s program. Not long after he was saved, he started to feel a pull toward pastoral ministry. He attended Maranatha Baptist University, where he met and married Christy. Josh’s father initially opposed his desire to pastor but eventually changed his mind. Josh now serves part-time under a senior pastor in a local church and part-time at a Christian camp. Central Seminary’s distance-friendly educational model allows him to receive quality seminary education while he continues to serve in church ministry and to enjoy the mentoring of his senior pastor. He is excited to receive his degree and to transition into full-time pastoral ministry.
Taigen is a doctoral student at Central Seminary. He grew up near Seattle and was saved at the age of 15. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Bob Jones University, and he has pastored in Maryland and New Hampshire for over twenty years. He and his wife, Crystal, have twins who are seniors in college. New England is a difficult place to minister, but God is granting conversions and baptisms to Taigen’s ministry. He can work on his Doctor of Ministry at Central Seminary because Central Seminary’s accreditor authorized distance education for this program in the wake of COVID.
Théo Kabongo is one of three pastors at a church in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. He is husband to Agneau and father to Aletheia. Théo is passionate about spreading the gospel and seeing people’s lives being transformed by the power of God’s Word. The church hopes to start a Bible institute that will be supported by a church farm. In the meanwhile, Théo is one of many students in the Third World who are receiving their training from Central Seminary nearly free of charge.
Of course, Central Seminary still has students who move to Minneapolis. Joseph is one of our M.Div. students. Joseph grew up going to church, and from an early age he wanted to learn more about the Bible. He felt God’s call to ministry between his junior and senior years in college. Joseph plans to marry this coming May. In the meanwhile, he takes courses to prepare for pastoral ministry. He says that his education at Central Seminary is “super beneficial” as he anticipates full-time pastoral ministry.
Some of our students live in impoverished countries and live on subsistence wages. They can pay almost nothing for seminary training. Others of our students live in North America and have good jobs, but even they would go broke if they had to pay the full cost of their education. All of our students rely on donors like you. They trust the Lord to use people who will invest in their future ministries to cover the cost of their education.
Central Seminary is a great value for our students. It is also a great value for donors. As Doug McLachlan used to say, “We’re not fat cats.” We are careful with your money. We plan and budget deliberately to live within the Lord’s provision.
One donor is so convinced of the value of Central Seminary that he has put up $50,000 as a matching gift. If you give to Central Seminary for Give to the Max, your gift will automatically be doubled. Together, we can turn $50,000 into $100,000. This matching gift is a tremendous opportunity to help students who are preparing to serve the Lord in ministry for the rest of their lives.
Will you help us train future pastors and missionaries? We have made it convenient for you to donate in three ways. First, you can “Give to the Max” securely any time this month by following the link here. You can also give toward WCTS AM-1030 at wctsradio.com/give. Second, if you prefer to give by phone, you can reach Central Seminary on weekdays at (763) 417-8250. Third, you can mail a gift to Central Seminary at 900 Forestview Ln N, Plymouth, MN 55441. Thank you for helping us in God’s work of preparing pastors and missionaries.
What Shall We Offer Our Good Lord?
August Gottlieb Spangenberg (1704–1792); tr. John Wesley (1703–1791)
What shall we offer our good Lord,
Poor nothings! for His boundless grace!
Fain would we His great name record,
And worthily set forth His praise.
Great object of our growing love,
To whom our more than all we owe,
Open the fountain from above,
And let it our full souls o’erflow.
So shall our lives Thy power proclaim,
Thy grace for every sinner free;
Till all mankind shall learn Thy name,
Shall all stretch out their hands to Thee.
Open a door which earth and hell
May strive to shut, but strive in vain;
Let Thy Word richly in us dwell,
And let our gracious fruit remain.
O multiply the sower’s seed!
And fruit we every hour shall bear,
Throughout the world Thy Gospel spread,
Thy everlasting truth declare.
We all, in perfect love renewed,
Shall know the greatness of Thy power;
Stand in the temple of our God,
As pillars, and go out no more.
