When God began to prompt Joel Pollitz towards vocational ministry, Winebrenner was his natural choice. The seminary is theologically open to his denomination and the campus is commuting distance from his hometown of Toledo. In addition, the seminary’s mix of online classes, week long intensives, and on-campus courses fit well into his already busy schedule.

For three years, Joel has been working with Brothers United, a division of Pathway Inc. in Toledo, Ohio. This government funded program comes alongside 16 to 24 year old dads and stepdads, counseling, resourcing and training them for the invaluable role of fatherhood. Given Joel’s BA in Social Work, his natural people skills and his tremendous heart for service, Winebrenner's classes are a great fit. Indeed, Joel consistently applies the skills he is gaining directly to his work with the young dads and stepdads in Brothers United.

“Since starting at Winebrenner, I feel much more confident in what I do. I work with men who are very different from me and their stories are so different from my story. I have home visits with them all day long and I am only able to relate to them in a real way thanks to the listening, interviewing and crisis care skills I am learning.”

Joel also recognizes the impact Winebrenner has had on his life as a whole. The seminary’s strong emphasis on personal formation, including personalized attention from faculty members, has guided and strengthened Joel as a social worker, a husband, and soon-to-be father. As he and his wife Kyesha look forward to the arrival of twins this winter, he reflects, “I have what I need to love my kids, discipline my kids, and disciple my kids. I have the tools and skills I need to show my kids how to get to know Jesus. I have a lot of things in my repertoire, I just need to practice them!”

Giving Thanks

We give thanks this season for the students, donors and partners who make up our Winebrenner community.

Students, we give thanks for your obedience to His call. We are grateful for your perseverance in your studies and for your commitment to serve Christ in all that you do. We cheer you on in these last weeks of this fall semester and are excited for all that is ahead for you.

Donors, we give thanks for your vision and for the trust you have placed in us. Your generosity and selflessness allow us to educate, encourage, guide and motivate leaders for the Kingdom. 

Partners, we give thanks for linking arms with us to bring God's message of love and forgiveness to our communities. You inspire us daily with your tireless service and we are grateful for the opportunity to learn from you and grow with you.

"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." Eph. 1:15-16

Amen, Amen, I Say to You!

In John’s Gospel 6:32 Jesus tells us "Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.”

Jesus reminds us in this passage that the real message behind the miracle of multiplication was not the material bread, but instead the spiritual bread of faith. Our Lord points out that material food is temporary, yet spiritual food is eternal (John 6:27; Matthew 6:19-20).

At seminary, we minister the bread of eternity – the living Word and Teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is in this context that we are asking you to consider sharing your blessings with us through an end of the year gift, so that we may continue to provide the Word to those who are called.

You can conveniently make an online donation via the link here:

We only ask that you give what you are able, as we are certain of the Lord’s ability to work wondrous deeds with as few as five loaves of bread and two fish!