Staff photo by Fritz Busch Fourteen Martin Luther College students receive degrees at a Commencement Service in the Chapel of the Christ Thursday.

NEW ULM — Martin Luther College President Rev. Mark Zarling asked for prayer to protect 14 students receiving degrees at a Commencement Service in the Chapel of the Christ.

“And pray that the Lord will bring us many more students,” Zarling said at the end of the service.

Zarling said the graduates selected Psalm 16:7-11 for their commencement service:

“This Psalm upholds wonderful promises,” Zarling said. “Three thousand people were baptized after this text. There is power behind it…there is power in these words because people listen.”

Zarling said the words encourage, build-up, comfort and cleanse. They have no hatred, spite, lust or greed.

“Pray in His words, confident in the truth. You go in the name of the messiah,” he said.

He praised the graduates for going around the world to spread God’s word. Some graduates are going home to work or wait for a call. Others are traveling far.

Elementary Education major Joseph W. Keller of McLean. Va. said he will teach 5th grade for six months at Grace Lutheran School in Grenada; with an option to teach 3rd grade after that.

Grenada is a country located in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain.

Other graduates were Cassandra J. Davis, Stacy; and Malaika D. Robinson, Madison, Wi., Early Childhood Education. Elementary Education graduates were Rachel E. Hartwig, South St. Paul, Keller, Elissa M. Koch, Summerville, S.C.; Rudy d. Nelson, Robbinsdale; Matthew R. Neumann, Fon du Lac, Wi., and Holle N. Rodriguez, Sacramento, Ca.

In addition, Secondary Education grads were Hannah M. Arrowsmith, Fort Atkinson, Wi., Communication Arts & Literature; and Katherine R. Zietlow, Montello, Wi., Chemistry; Christopher R. Beagle, Winona, K-1 Physical Education.

Other graduates included Hannah H. Koss, Rochester, Elementary and Early Childhood Education; Bethany A. Walsh, Onalaska, Wi., Staff Ministry; and Peter J. Nass, Manitowoc, Wi., Staff Ministry Certification.

fbusch@nujournal.com