Celebrating the Work of the Holy Spirit

I am starting my fifteenth year as President of Calvin Theological Seminary and what a privilege it is to serve the Church in this way.

I get asked from time to time what brings me joy in this role. One of my responses is that I have a front row seat to seeing God at work in the lives of young people who are responding to the call of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

For the last number of years, we have been asking you to join us in prayer for more people to respond to a call for vocational ministry. We even developed a recent Forum Magazine issue with the title and theme “Where Have All the Pastors Gone?”

(Read/Watch/Listen – Where Are the Pastors?)

(Read/Watch/Listen – Where Do Pastors Come From?)

We know that there are a number of churches who are seeking pastors, and there is currently a shortage of pastors, especially when you compare incoming candidates to the number of pastors who are retiring. Thank you for your work in prayer and also encouraging those who are considering going to seminary.

This Medenblog is to note that God is at work and God is responding to our prayers, one person at a time.

What is the report that I can share from the front row of the Seminary?

The Fall of 2025 brought us 120 new entering students! This is a great blessing and an increase of 44 students from our previous fall numbers, as Fall 2024 brought us 76 new entering students.

We have over 340 students in all programs. This includes 16 new international students who come from Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Kenya, South Africa, South Korea and Tanzania. We are blessed to welcome 16 in-person students and 25 hybrid students for a total of 41 students in the MDiv degree, where we train future pastors.

(Watch: Convocation 2025)

What are the reasons for this increase?

There are many contributing causes: the good work of the Admissions and Enrollment Management team (ably led by Justin DenOuden) and the consistent ministry of Rev. Shawn Brix (Canadian Church Relations Liaison). We have more Canadian students enrolled than I can remember since my start as President at Calvin Theological Seminary.

I give thanks to all those teams and the ministry that helps inform students of options and comes alongside them in discernment and scholarship support.

I often recall the words of Rev. Dr. Alvin Vander Griend and the video curriculum “The Passion and Power of Prayer.” In this material, Pastor Vander Griend answered the question, “Why even pray, if God is sovereign?” The answer he gave then has stuck with me for over 30 years. The response given by Pastor Vander Griend was, “God has chosen to act in response to the prayers of His people.”

As we face challenging times in our churches and in the world, I invite you to celebrate with Calvin Theological Seminary as we give thanks for God responding to the prayers of His people!

Let us continue in this work and ministry of prayer together, asking God to provide more workers for the harvest!

In His Service with You,

Jul Medenblik

President, Calvin Theological Seminary