President’s Message September 2012

Dear members and friends of our ELS:
Here’s food for thought. In the familiar account of Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha, one English version translates Luke 10:42 this way: “Mary has chosen the best dish, and she is not to be dragged away from it” (Moffat). In essence, Jesus asks which is most important—food for the body or food for the soul?
What did Mary hear that day in the little town of Bethany as she sat at the feet of Jesus? No doubt it was especially the comforting message of Jesus’ mission in the world to seek and to save the lost. His life-giving Gospel, which tells about sinners having forgiveness and solid hope for heaven through faith in His life, death, and resurrection is always at the heart of what Jesus has to say for people of every era. “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).
Eighty-five years ago in our church body, Jesus’ comment about “one thing needful” (NKJV) in relation to Mary at Bethany gained a little extra significance. It was in the summer of 1927. Our synod, while meeting in convention at Lake Mills, Iowa, officially assumed ownership of Bethany Lutheran College. Ever since, the college has held as its motto ENOS ESTIN CREIA, that of the first Bethany training sessions from our Lord. But this is not just a nice phrase for the catalog. Bethany has a true concern over living out this all-encapsulating axiom of the world’s one and only Savior on our beautiful Mankato campus.
As a synod, we thank God for the men and women who serve at our synod’s college. What a remarkable blessing to have dedicated faculty and staff! Where would our synod be without our beloved college? In 1927, 63 students were enrolled; today there are around 600. The words of Rev. Sigurd Ylvisaker from that time still apply—by God’s grace—to our college today:
I wish to add that we have been fortunate again this year in having a very efficient faculty which had the chief burdens to carry, and through their efficient teaching and the spirit of Christian conduct and fellowship which they have been instrumental in maintaining and developing here, another happy chapter has been lived in our young life here at Bethany… May God increase this blessing daily. (Taken from 1928 Synod Report, p. 96).
Many former church colleges and universities in America have drifted considerably from their once rather Biblical foundations, and the trend poses a danger also for any church-run center of higher learning. What we have at Bethany is not to be taken for granted. We are grateful to God for faithful teachers, administrators, and regents at our college. Hundreds of lives are being touched with the same Gospel Mary heard. Some are even hearing it for the very first time.
Friends, remember our dear college as we seek to engage others with Jesus! What a spiritual dish we have to pass!
Rev. John A. Moldstad, ELS President