Dear Friends,

In his book Axiom, Bill Hybels suggests that you lead with the bad news first. Get it out there and get it over with. So, here goes. The Trinity Lutheran Seminary endowment has suffered in this economic climate. The resulting reality to our budget could be described as harsh. There it is. It’s out.

But what JOYS I have to share:

• Alums are stepping forward in support at a level I have not seen before. The number of alums who have made a donation to Trinity this year is up approximately 15 percent over last year, with a dollar figure to match. This is tremendous! I could not overstate how important your gifts are to our students.
• Annual membership in the Alum Association continues to grow steadily. We are on track in just the third graduation cycle of this new association to live the dream of making every new graduate’s first and last loan payment. You have to imagine the scene of a new grad – six months out of seminary – receiving their loan payment book from Trinity. They open it, and there, attached to payment coupon #1, is a small note from the Alum Association – “Just send in your payment coupon with this note. The Alum Association is making your first loan payment for you.” In the back of the book is a similar note on the final payment coupon. You are making this happen!
• If you missed it, go back to read the article on Frank Wagner. What a joyous call I received a few months ago with an incredible fundraiser – to ride his bicycle from Florida to Trinity. Our goal for this event is to raise $50,000 to be used for a scholarship, the Trinity Fund, and our ongoing endowment.
• The Alum Association Council is being a good steward of its resources. Our spring meeting will take place electronically and through conference calls. This is a significant savings compared to meeting on campus. We will meet on campus this fall during Trinity Days.

And now I invite you to become a Member of the Alum Association of Trinity Lutheran Seminary.  This is a great time to make a donation to the Trinity Fund as well. These joys are OUR JOYS.

I am blessed to serve as your Director of Alumni Relations. Please contact me whenever I can be of assistance to you.

In Service to Christ,
Pastor Gary A. Sandberg, ‘88
Director of Alumni Relations