IN-DEPTH, PART II

Retired campus pastor from ASU, Tempe, Arizona, Lee Meyer, leads in singing and prayer. Other staff this year are Pastor Paul Hoemann serving at Texas A&M in College Station, and Hannah McCulloh, ISM director at Memorial Lutheran, Ames, Iowa.
 Over the course of a day, approximately 7.5 hours are lecture sessions. Additionally, there are evening small groups, wonderful mealtime theological discussions, enjoyable breaks for soccer, walking, computer catch up, phone conversations with family back home, or paddleboats. Sojourn is an ideal place where nature is at our front door and where the Christian staff serves with willing joy. We have had the Seminar at this center since 2003.

On Saturday, after lunch at Sojourn, we drove to Concordia Seminary for a tour. First year student, Andy, a former ISM peer minister at Memorial, Ames, Iowa, gave us a very thorough tour (including the carrillon).

Our group poses on the steps of the Concordia Seminary chapel. Obviously, the weather was sunny and warm.

Asfaw Gudina is from Ethiopia and is in a master's program at Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. He has been a part of God's family already for many years, but this experience has refreshed his faith and better equipped him to share Jesus.

Jing Fang, and her good friend, Yiou Dai, from Madison, Wisconsin, are attending the seminar this year. Both women had been baptized during the past year. Their husbands are in PhD programs at the University of Wisconsin. Both women are dynamic in sharing the love of Jesus with others.

Jack Teng and his wife, Spring Wang are from China. Spring attended In-Depth two years ago, but felt that since her English was "not so good" at that time, she wanted to come again, and this time....with  her husband.

Pastor David Marth, serving at Historic Trinity, explains the hand etching and jewels on a historic chalice that is used for every worship service. The chalice maybe dates from the late 17th century and originated in Spain. It was used by the early German settlers. The only other chalice this old is housed at a museum in Perry County, but that chalice is too fragile to be in use. Pastor Marth let each seminar participant touch and hold the chalice.

After the sessions, participants relax. Wenyu is challenged in a new style game of Jenga. In the background, Jiwon feels the tension of pulling out the wood block. This game is different in that you need to roll a die to determine which color must be pulled from the stack and then placed on the top.

GIVE THANKS WITH US THAT THREE PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONFERENCE WERE BAPTIZED. WE STAND IN AWE OF THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING IN THE LIVES OF OUR INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS.