Dr. Nicholas J. Schaser is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN. He earned his PhD in New Testament from Vanderbilt University, as well as Masters degrees in Jewish Studies (Vanderbilt University) and Old Testament (Luther Seminary). Dr. Schaser has published journal articles and book chapters on the New Testament and rabbinic Judaism, and he is dedicated to congregational teaching in both churches and synagogues. Nick lives in Minneapolis with his wife Melissa (a pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina) and their two daughters.

About Acts:

This course is intended to provide students with an understanding of what Acts contributes to our understanding of the earliest days of the church according to its literary purposes within its historical contexts. Attention will also be given to what Acts offers us theologically and practically for the ongoing life of faith and witness of the church.

Dr. Joe Johnson, known as  Papa Joe received the Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. Fuller Seminary, Pasadena, California awarded him a Doctor of Ministry in 1991. His dissertation was “Making Disciples who do Jesus’ Ministry”. He enjoys being with Jesus’ apprentices who are learning to be with Jesus, be like Jesus and do what Jesus did. For four decades Joe enjoyed pastoring Lutheran churches in Long Beach and Huntington Beach CA and the White Mountains in Arizona, He is the founder and director of “Heart of the Father Ministries”, teaching and ministering Father’s love and inner healing ministry with churches, retreats, conferences, with individuals on zoom and in person and mentoring pastors. Two years ago Joe and his wife, Judy moved to Portland, Oregon to join Willamette View, a continuous care retirement community.  They have two daughters. One daughter, Anne, lives in Portland with her daughter and husband. For fun Joe likes walking along the Willamette River (fjord) being a free agent of joy, telling Ole and Lena jokes, playing “Killer Uno” and laughter.

About Grace and Healing for Shame:

This course will help you identify and understand what shame is, notice when you and others are experiencing healthy or toxic shame and how to receive freedom and healing from shame and how to return to your joyful identity. We will learn and practice how to minister Immanuel and inner healing prayer for trauma that is connected to shame. The course includes study and reflection on the biblical word for shame and stories of Jesus healing shame in order to receive and minister grace and healing for shame.

Jesus introduced Himself to Kevin in a dorm room in Winona, Minnesota in 1972. Since then, Jesus and Kevin have been on a journey together that has led them in and through times of healing, joy, celebration, and suffering. During this time, Kevin became a spouse, a father, a grandfather, a pastor, a writer and a widower. Jesus has been showing Kevin the heart of His Father and with help from the Holy Spirit, Kevin will do his best to help you experience the Father’s heart, too. Kevin and his first wife, Laura had four children, and Kevin currently enjoys them and ten grandchildren. Kevin married Wendy and they live in Battle Lake, MN.

Kevin “Mac” McClure, has taught at MI nearly every year since the school’s inception. Kevin graduated in 1975 from Trinity International University with a BA in Sociology and in 1978 he graduated from The Lutheran Brethren Seminary with an MDiv. Kevin is the author of 6 books and currently spends his time as a consultant and mentor.

About Person of the Minister:

This class will alert the student to the potential pitfalls he or she can expect to face in vocational ministry and will equip the student to successfully meet these challenges.

Hey everyone! I grew up in Denver, Colorado and met my wife while working with Youth With A Mission, Denver. The two of us traveled to a number of different countries on short-term missions trips and led a variety of different schools. After having two sons, we left Colorado for Minnesota so I could work on an undergraduate degree at Bethel University. After adding two daughters to our family, I decided to keep going to school and attended Bethel Seminary. I joined the staff at Central Lutheran Church in 2006 and work in various roles including: Student Ministries Director and Director of House Churches and Small Groups. I was ordained in 2015 and became Associate Pastor at Central. In the summer of 2019, I was called to be the new Lead Pastor at Central, and… so far, so good! My wife’s name is Katie. My kids’ names are Logan, Gavin, Addison, and Scarlett. Also, I enjoy odd but healthy foods, talking about Laird Hamilton, coaching my kids’ sports teams, and drinking espresso. You can find me at my second office most days of the week- Caribou Coffee.

About Sin and Atonement:

Jesus’ death and resurrection is a central moment in the movement of Christianity. In that moment many things changed for the world. Yet many of us still remain uncertain of what, exactly, happened in the death and resurrection of Jesus. What really happened on the cross? Why did Jesus die? How should we understand the meaning of his death? And what does any of this have to do with the sins of humanity? This course will seek to explore these questions, and many others, in regards to sin and the atonement of Jesus Christ on the cross.

In this course we will explore the story of God from Creation to Re-Creation and fit sin and the cross into their proper places in the story. We will explore historical atonement theories and examine their strengths and weaknesses (in doing so we will most likely discover that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is actually multifaceted and multi-layered, difficult to fully explain with one single storyline). We will also look for new and fresh ways to tell the story of the cross (the pivotal moment in our Christian narrative) to people at varying places on their journey of faith.