His Career Takes Shape

“After graduation I entered Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina,” Nathaniel says. “After that I accepted a pastoral internship at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was later assigned to the New England Synod and called as pastor to Christ the King. Recently I have been helping facilitate a ministry partnership between Christ the King and the local Episcopal parish, serving both congregations.”

Nathaniel feels that Luther prepared him extremely well for graduate work. “In particular, my philosophy major honed my writing and critical thinking skills, which are very important for seminary,” he says. “In addition, the broad liberal arts education I received has made me a well-rounded pastor and citizen.”

Why He Chose Luther

“When looking at colleges, I wanted a Lutheran college with a good music program and that meant looking outside my native New England,” he says. “So, I applied to three Lutheran colleges in the Upper Midwest but really fell in love with Luther when I stepped on campus. The beauty of northeastern Iowa, the vibe on campus, and the wonderful classes I sat in on were all big reasons. But what really sealed the deal was sitting in on a Norsemen rehearsal. After that I knew Luther was the place for me.”

Grateful for Diverse Experiences

When Nathaniel reflects on his time at Luther and the experiences that affected him, he says that it’s hard to name just one. “Serving on Student Senate and the Student Congregational Council involved great experiences working with others and making our community even better,” he says.

His visit to Brazil during January Term was also transformative. “We studied the connection between religion and economics in that developing country. It was humbling to learn how the Church had once been such a negative force in that part of the world but also how the modern churches of Brazil are working for economic justice for all people.”

And he feels that singing in “Christmas at Luther,” touring with Nordic Choir, and attending so many amazing concerts and recitals really underscored his Luther experience. Nathaniel says, “Luther is truly alive with music.”