The two WELS churches in New Ulm are within walking distance and offer a variety of worship formats and service times. Students with cars are always willing to offer a lift when the snow hits.

Some MLC students jump right into congregational life at St. Paul and St. John: teaching Sunday school, helping with youth group, singing in the choir, adding instrumental music, and (for older preseminary students) doing liturgy. Other students simply go to church there, and that's fine too.

One question you may have is this: How can I make sure they go to church?

Truth is, you can't. You've simply got to trust that the spiritual habits they've learned from you at home will continue here at college. Does that mean that they'll never, ever skip? No. They may rationalize at times that since they attend campus chapel every weekday - often twice a day - they can sleep in on Sundays. It happens.

But in general, we've found that our students are faithful church-goers, both at campus chapel and at church in town. And when they do falter, their fellow students encourage them as needed. That's just one of many blessings of a body of students united in faith and pursuing the same calling.