All are invited to attend the Christian worship service planned for 9 a.m. Sunday, June 15, in Gym 1 at Goodhue Public School. The annual Volksfest Service is a joint project of the local Wisconsin Synod Lutheran parishes of St. John’s, St. Peter’s and Grace. Reverend Martin Weigand will conduct the liturgy with special music provided by a joint choir and band of the three churches. Reverend Donald Moldstad, Director of Campus Spiritual Life at Bethany Lutheran College, will deliver the main message.
Reverends Dallas Miller and Randall Kuznicki initiated the community service for the Goodhue Centennial in 1997. Pastor Roger Sachs, who previously served St. Peter’s, was the guest preacher. The special service, held on Volksfest weekend every year except during COVID, always features a different keynote presenter.
This year’s speaker is Reverend Donald Moldstad. Moldstad is a senior administrator and part-time professor of Religion serving Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato the past 20 years. Moldstad’s father was the Dean of Students at Bethany when Don was a child and teenager. He attended two years of junior college at Bethany after graduating from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) preparatory school, Martin Luther Academy. He then earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Minnesota State University at Mankato before entering four years of seminary training. He holds a Master of Divinity from Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary. Don enjoys watercolor painting in his spare time. He met his wife, Gina at Bethany. They have two children and seven grandchildren.
In his role as Director of Campus Spiritual Life, Reverend Moldstad oversees the daily chapel program and teaches various religious courses. “Each semester I teach about 80 freshmen, most of whom know little or nothing about Christianity. Bethany currently has about 160 international students representing 27 countries from all parts of the world. The mission field has come to us!”
There are currently two Bethany graduates working as Goodhue school teachers. Jacob McNamara, who was born and raised on a dairy farm West of Goodhue, graduated from Bethany in 2021 with a degree in elementary education and an endorsement in middle school math. McNamara is currently a fifth grade teacher at Goodhue public school. He also coaches football and boys basketball.
“In the college search process, I visited and toured many different campuses. One of the things about Bethany that stood out right away was the opportunity to go to a Christian college where I was surrounded by people that had similar beliefs to me,” McNamara said about choosing Bethany. “In high school I played football and basketball and was involved in a variety of different clubs and activities. I was able to play basketball (at Bethany) as well.”
He noted the college’s education department is ranked among the best in Minnesota with small class sizes. “I had a great relationship with my professors. In my time at Bethany, I had Rev. Moldstad for a few classes. One of my favorite classes was called Christian Social Thought. This class was very impactful on me because it analyzed topics in our world today that can be controversial. It gave me great insight into how to have conversations with people that may view topics differently than me, and to always approach conversation with the mindset of giving mercy and grace. Another memory that I have is going to daily chapel for 20 minutes and the positive impact that it had on my faith journey.”
Jacob, his wife, Rachel and daughter, Delaney live in Goodhue where they are the high school youth leaders for St. Luke’s Lutheran church. “That has been a life-changing experience because we are able to share our passion for faith with 9th through 12th graders.”
Jessica Duden earned her degree in Communication Arts and Literature: 5-12 Education from Bethany and is currently a high school English teacher at Goodhue. She teaches College Writing, English 10, English 11, and Mythology. Duden’s husband is originally from Red Wing, which is what brought them to this area.
Originally from Mosca, Colorado, Jessica came to Minnesota for an ID soccer camp at Hamline University where the Bethany soccer coach saw her play. “The original draw to Bethany was soccer, but I also knew I wanted to attend a small college. When I stepped on campus, it was so beautiful and felt like the right place to be. Being able to get a Christian education was an added benefit!” Duden went on to describe her college choice saying, “Bethany was such a blessing in my life. I loved my classes, how knowledgeable my professors were as well as the close relationships I was able to build with them, the Christ-centered focus, and I made my best friends during my time there. I unfortunately did not get to take a class with Rev. Moldstad as his classes were extremely popular and everyone wanted to learn from him, but I always enjoyed his messages at daily chapel services.”
Links to chapel services given by Rev. Moldstad and others can be found on the college’s website, www.blc.edu. The website includes much more information about the college, its programs, sports teams and planning a visit. Distinguished graduates can be found under the “about” then “alumni” tabs. Bethany’s 2018 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient, Dr. Richard Bartsh grew up in Zumbrota, and attended Zumbrota High School. After high school, Bartsh enrolled at Bethany Lutheran College, played on the baseball team and graduated with his Associate in Arts degree in 1972. After Bethany, he attended the University of Wisconsin River Falls, where he earned his BS degree, and was a Seymour Award recipient representing the highest-ranking graduate. Bartsh was then accepted into the prestigious Mayo Medical School in Rochester. He practiced family medicine and in 2000 he became the President of John Deere Health Care, the health care division of John Deere & Company that served employees and retirees of John Deere as well as other employers in the United States.
Another alumni most people are familiar with is Marvin Schwan, founder and late president of the Schwan Food Company. Schwan was more than just a businessman, he was a strong Christian who was dedicated to spreading the Gospel. A 1949 graduate of Bethany Lutheran College, he was honored with the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus Award for his generosity toward the college and his dedication to the work of the Church throughout his life.
Reverend Moldstad relayed that he is looking forward to coming to Goodhue saying, “It sounds like a great weekend.” Everyone is welcome to come hear his message and learn more about Bethany while enjoying special music and community fellowship.
NOTE: Bethany is located in Mankato, MN. It is run by the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), a small Lutheran Synod with headquarters in Mankato, which is in full agreement on Bible teaching with the WELS, and cooperates with the WELS in various ways. You do not have to be WELS or ELS to attend.
