Heeding the Call
By the time he was 8, Shane Sonnenberg had a clear sense of vocation. "Other kids wanted to be firefighters or astronauts or doctors," he says. "I always wanted to be a pastor."
Now a junior, Shane – a religion major – is actively pursing his dream at Capital. And it's proving to be a rewarding journey.
A Strong Desire to Serve
Growing up Lutheran in rural Indiana, Shane had an important early role model: his minister, the Rev. Dr. Clark E. Hobby. Hobby was a grandfatherly man who cared deeply about every member of his congregation. When Shane's parents missed church one Sunday, the concerned minister called the next day to learn why. And Hobby loved children. "He never pushed me away or discouraged me from being involved in the church, even though I was just a kid," Shane recalls.
Shane has always been motivated to participate in church and school activities. As a high school student, he was active in student government. He also served as a worship assistant and, occasionally, as a lay minister with the authority to preach when the pastor was away.
Next Stop: Capital
When the time came to apply for college, Shane's search was more straightforward than most. He only considered colleges affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "Out of the three schools that accepted me, Capital was my top choice," he explains. For one thing, it was closest to home. While all three schools had the hometown feel Shane preferred, Capital was the only one located in the heart of a metropolitan area. And everyone he met there was friendly. "When I visited Capital, I felt so welcomed … like I was already a student and the student ambassadors had known me for years," Shane remembers.
Getting Involved All Over Again
Before Shane's first week at Capital, he had never been on a college campus when classes were in session. "It was sort of overwhelming," he confesses. "There were so many people, and all those names to learn!"
Shane hooked up with Capital's Lutheran congregation right away and began attending services. But he remembered his hectic schedule in high school. "I wanted to just be a Sunday morning pew-sitter," he confesses. "It took me about a month and a half to figure out that I couldn't stay away."
Capital's university pastor, Kurt Keljo, welcomed Shane's involvement in campus life. Keljo is the official adviser for student religious organizations, a job at which he excels. "Pastor Kurt is one of the best pastors I've ever encountered," Shane says admiringly. "Student organizations are supposed to be led by the students, and the adviser is supposed to be there for guidance. Pastor Kurt does just that; he lets the students do the work of the organization, and he is there to guide us in the right direction."
Shane relishes the sense of connectedness among students who worship together on campus. When Sunday services are over, it's not uncommon for the pastor and a group of students to head off to brunch together in the university dining hall, the Capital Court. Groups also meet spontaneously for pizza and a video or for bowling and a dinner out.
Man About Campus
Now in his junior year, Shane takes part in a wide array of student activities – some religious, some not.
As a member of Friends in Serving Christ (FISCh), Shane helps conduct religious retreats for local churches. He is also a Peer Minister, leading a group of Capital students in a program called Life Support. This program was designed to provide students with a Christian atmosphere in which to enjoy popular activities, such as watching movies, exercising, hiking/camping and Bible study.
Shane is active in Capateers, a community service organization, and he helps run campus events through University Programming. He's a Student Ambassador, too, which involves giving daily campus tours and hosting accepted students who come for overnight visits.
Mentor Off-Campus
Shane's independent volunteer work reflects a commitment to young people that grew out of his own childhood experiences.
During the school year, he teaches catechism to seventh-grade boys at Peace Lutheran Church in Gahanna. "A lot of the time, they don't want to be there," he admits. "So sometimes, I'll set aside the lesson and talk with them about their lives and whatever is on their minds." And if a lesson wraps up early, he'll let the boys shoot some baskets in the church gymnasium .
"Some say that young people are the church of tomorrow. But I believe they are the church of today. You have to keep them interested," Shane declares. And he has some theories about how to do it. "I ask my students to do things instead of telling them," he says. Services that are contemporary rather than formal, he believes, make worship more interesting for kids.
Four Years of Living, Learning, Growing
Capital has contributed to Shane's spiritual evolution in several important ways.
Religious Foundations and the Bible, a university core course, was instrumental in strengthening Shane's understanding of Christianity and its teachings. "Not being one to read the Bible often while growing up, I found it interesting to compare the two accounts of the Creation as well as the four Gospels of the New Testament," he says. The in-depth knowledge he's gained has reinforced his beliefs.
There's a receptiveness to religious discourse at Capital that Shane finds stimulating. Not that people talk about religion all the time. But with Lutherans, Catholics, agnostics and more, all mixing together, there are plenty of chances for faculty and students to compare points of view.
"College has given me a chance to see what religion and my faith really mean to me," says Shane. "Growing up in the church, I was always required to go to church unless I was sick. Now, I have a choice of where to go, what time and even what day." For Shane, this freedom of choice has sparked a renewed commitment to his faith.
The Next, Most Crucial Step
To become an ordained pastor, Shane will have to spend four years at a Lutheran seminary. Junior year is the beginning of the candidacy process, a time of anxious anticipation and deep reflection. What is God calling me to do? How can I best serve my community? With questions like these, young Lutherans like Shane position themselves to make faith and service the driving forces in their lives.
Shane plans to apply to several ELCA seminaries. His top choice – Wartburg Seminary, in Dubuque, Iowa – is renowned for its youth ministry programs. Shane's ultimate job would be director of Lutheran Outdoor Ministries in the Indiana-Kentucky Synod.
Enrich Your Future
No matter what your career goals or religious beliefs might be, you'll find fellowship and plenty of opportunities to get involved at Capital. Religion is important here because it's part of so many of our students' lives.
If you're curious about this aspect of life at Capital, Shane has some suggestions. Arrange a meeting with Pastor Kurt Keljo when you come for a visit. Talk with students in the religion department. Or attend an on-campus worship service. "One of my overnight guests wanted to go to Candlelight Worship, so he made sure to schedule his visit for a Thursday night," says Shane.