Who, Me?

Tori Sahnow (2018)

Who, me?

“God, really? You can’t be calling me to be a pastor. Lord, in case you don’t remember (and I think God smiles when we remind him of things he should consider), I have a great 25-year career in a job that I love. I haven’t been to school in years. I am not the “pastor type.” I don’t know everything about the Bible or what it all means. I don’t look good in a white robe and I had a bumpy ride in my teen years and I have kids with busy lives and I don’t have time to add anything else and Ken and I have a plan for retirement. By the way, do you remember when I was so angry at you for letting one of my best friends die that I swore and shook my fist at you declaring that I was done with you? Really, God – you can’t be calling me!”

My name is Tori Sahnow, class of 2018, and it took several years of God speaking to me through his word, nudging me through dreams, and speaking to me through the many people he brought into my life before I finally realized: he really did mean me. 

(Pro tip, obey much quicker than I did.)

My experience with The Master’s Institute started with the School of Ministry, and after a few classes, I applied to the seminary for the M.Div. program. I spent the majority of my first year in seminary feeling like I was a deer in the headlights, but along the way I learned to listen to the staff, mentors, supervisors, and professors and to balance schoolwork, internship, ministry, spiritual life and family time.

Not only did MI provide for me challenging academics, wonderful peer support, and encouragement to evaluate and deepen my relationship with God, but it also gave me practical training that would set me up to manage just about anything that came my way as a pastor. A few examples – congregation members in disagreement (read covid and other things), how to come alongside people in physical, emotional and spiritual pain, how to officiate weddings and funerals, how to manage fighting family members who were threatening each other right before the funeral started, and how to read God’s word well and put it into a sermon or bible study that was engaging and would point people to Jesus. I could go on! If you would like to hear more about any of these stories, find me at Dunrovin for fall kick-off or the LCMC Gathering in October.

I am grateful to God for my time at MI. Not one minute was wasted. 

I am now retired from full-time ministry and enjoying being a congregation member, walking through end-of-life with people, providing pulpit supply for area churches, volunteering at my new church, and as a member of the MI Alumni Board.

Now tell me your story! How has God worked in your life? What has he called you to, surprised you with, or taught you along the way? You can send your story to alumniassociation@miseminary.com. We’d love to hear what God is doing in and through you!