What a great experience it has been to have Vicar Dan Oberer with us this year. The vicar brings youth, zeal, joy, and excitement to the work. It makes me think back to the time when pastoral ministry was all new to me, too. Watching the vicar at work, reviewing his sermons, hearing him in Bible study, observing him with the children... all of these make me proud and appreciative of our seminary. Our seminary is producing men who are fine theologians as well as effective preachers and faithful pastors. When I consider my vicar and the other students at our seminary I see humble men with great love for the Gospel and respect for our synod and pastors.

This is an unusual vicarage in that it is partially funded by our synod's Board for Home Missions. What a great experience for a vicar to reach out to the unchurched and the lost! What a great way for our Board for Home Mission to help in the training of men they might one day be able to use in the mission field!

It truly is a pleasure and a privilege to have Vicar Oberer with me this year. He does not know it, but some days he is training me.

Karl J. Anderson is pastor of Heritage Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, Minnesota.