Friday, August 28, 2009

Passed Greek / Fall Quarter Starting



I passed my GREEK final test on Thursday, August 20th. YAH! It is so amazing to be reading the original language of the New Testament. To be reading the actual words Paul, John, Matthew, Luke and others wrote is truly a blessing. Everyone in the class who passed the Greek qualifier continued the tradition of jumping in the fountain at the seminary. Check out the pictures.

I am so thankful for my experience at the seminary so far. I met lots of great guys in my Greek class but especially another guy who is close to my age and has three young kids from Lincoln, Nebraska. He loves the Lord and has left family, friends and roots to serve the Lord as a pastor. We spent hours together every day studying Greek. He, his wife and three young children are committed to serving the Lord.

I am thankful to be learning. I am thankful to be preparing to be a shepherd for some of God’s people and someone who proclaims and equips others to reach out with the love and truth of Jesus Christ. God continues to shape and mold me to be a man that reflects Jesus to others. I have a lot to learn.

I start my fall quarter of classes on Tuesday, Sept. 8th. I will be taking 5 class (The Art of Interpreting Scripture, Greek Readings, Introduction to Historical Theology, Introduction to Pastoral Ministry and Lutheran Mind). I will be working at Webster Gardens Lutheran Church 10 hours a week for the rest of my time at the seminary.


Thank YOU for your prayers. They truly are felt. I am overwhelmed by the support I have received during this seminary experience. It is humbling and a true blessing to be receiving your prayers and financial support. We are thankful that we have been able to pay every bill on time thus far. Thank you and God’s richest blessings as we seek to serve the Lord with our lives.


Seeking to Serve Him, Chad Starfeldt and Family

Monday, July 27, 2009

Greek and Summer Plans

Chad is surviving Greek. He learning plu perfect verb forms, how to parse nouns and verbs, and "morphing." He also learned a very technical process in translating called "whoopdeedooing." I have a new understanding of the phrase, "It's all Greek to me!"

Meanwhile, the kids and I have been tackling some summer math and spelling. Sarai went to a four day sleep-over camp. Caleb enjoyed archery camp and invention camp. Eden is trying to master swimming without floaties. I am learning new knitting techniques.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Sing Along!


Eden sings, "This is my commandment that you love one another that your joy BABY FOAM." No amount of explaining could convince her to sing "may be full."

"The word of the Lord holds true" should actually be sung, "The Word of the Lord A-Choo!"

Friday, June 12, 2009

It's Friday! All three kids are on a morning jog with Chad. (I am expecting that to last about fifteen minutes.) Chad and I are going to a wedding tonight. We are all soaking up time with our Greek-bound man.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Giving Out Hope

Recently I spoke with a man who is struggling with some pretty big things and he said “Thank you for giving me hope.” That is what ministry is about. Not just empty promises or wishful thinking but hope because God is in control, Jesus Christ is with us and the Holy Spirit will guide us if we seek Him.

I begin my preparation to be a giver of hope through Jesus Christ as a pastor on Monday, June 15th. That is the day Greek will start to now longer Greek to me. I am excited and scared at the same time. I am excited to be following the dream and call God has put in me. I am a little scared to have to learn Greek and to go down to a ¼ of my income and have to be paying for school as well.

We are getting closer to meeting our financial needs for this coming year but we are not there yet. If you can help in any way, it will be greatly appreciated. Check out more at: http://apps.facebook.com/causes/269316/32213388?m=6d54c0aa

Please pray for us as we are a week away from a big leap of faith.

Trusting in Him,
Chad Starfeldt

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Filling the Days


We are counting down the days until June 15...the first day of Greek! It's like the due date for a baby. Exciting, approaching, promising. That date marks the change of life as we know it.


Until then, we are enjoying warm days and fun family times: The Shakespeare Festival, dinner with friends, and boating on the Mississippi.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Another Visit to the Seminary

Today we took my parents to the seminary to see the campus for the first time. It was so exciting to walk around that place where everyone there is on the mission to proclaim Christ and build His church to the glory of God. My parents were in awe as we looked at the beutiful old buildings and walked through the halls where so many servants of Christ have been prepared in the past.

A seminary campus is buildings, land, grass, windows, a library, a gym and commons but it's also saints of God, a place of equiping God's servants to keep up the mission, a place of preperation for God's children to proclaim the love of Christ all over the world. It's really amazing to think about the ministry that happens all over the world as a result of the training that happens at that place.

I am so excited to be used by God. I am so excited to work with God's people to proclaim His grace. I am so ready to be a shepherd, a leader, a missionary, a servant, a helper, a pastor in the church of Jesus Christ. I pray that God would change me and mold me to be exactly what He wants me to be. Chad

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Word is Out!

If you ever want something to remain a secret, don't tell Eden! This week at church she told almost every person she talked to, "My dad is going to be a Pastor, and my grandpa and grandma are selling their house and moving to our basement!" She nearly shouts the news with the fervor of the angels announcing the birth of Christ.

So, the word is out! Chad will be starting "summer Greek" in mid June at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. In two years he will complete his course word and head out for a one year vicarage (internship). And Grandma and Grandpa Schockman will be joining us in St. Louis for that time, sleeping in our basement, but living life with us!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Heading in a New Direction

We are excited about the new direction we are heading. It is a bit like a roller coaster ride--ups and downs, nausiating and exciting, scary and thrilling. God is certianly doing something that we never expected. We are in for the ride of our lives! We would love for you to join us in watching, first-hand, God at work!