FROM VISION TO GLOBAL: The Story of Emmanuel Academies
In 2009, the Spirit prompted a vision that took root—one that would change lives, raise up leaders, and enhance multicultural churches’ abilities to serve their communities. It started with a simple but powerful idea: to provide accessible, high-quality theological education that would equip people for ministry in a rapidly changing world. What began as a tiny vision would soon become Emmanuel Academies, an educational institution “in the South facing Southward” dedicated to forming Christian leaders through innovative education pathways.
THE EARLY YEARS: Laying the Foundation (2009–2017)
The origins of Emmanuel Academies can be traced back to a pivotal moment in November 2009, when the Rev. Steve Wigdahl coordinated a national Lutheran educational conference with the support of Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson to explore a void in institutional pastoral formation by traditional seminaries. This gathering was no ordinary event—it was a watershed moment for Lutheran pastoral formation.
Attended by several ELCA seminary leaders, local thought leaders, and visionaries, the conference underscored a growing concern: Traditional seminaries were not innovating fast enough to serve the shifting dynamics of American society. Churches and congregations were evolving, and the pathways to and training for ministry had to adapt. There was a clear need for a new model that embraced flexibility, affordability, respect for prior learning, and hands-on ministry experience.
For the next several years, our conversations turned into action. The question was no longer about identifying the problem but about building a sustainable solution.
In October 2016, a critical education summit titled "Ministry Through Education: A Platform for Change" was convened. Nationally known consultant Byron Tweeten led the summit and brought together leadership from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Wartburg Seminary, Wartburg College, and Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
This summit was a turning point. It wasn’t just about discussing ideas but about taking steps toward change. One of the key outcomes was the commencement of Emmanuel Academies, Inc. and the identification of its founding board members.
A few months later, in March 2017, Emmanuel Academies was officially founded as a not-for-profit corporation with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, solidifying its commitment to reimagining the seminary model and theological education.
A PERIOD OF GROWTH: First Students and a Global Impact (2017–2020)
As Emmanuel Academies grew, so did the conversation around how best to equip future church leaders. Later, in 2017, the ELCA leadership acknowledged that new church models were emerging—congregations were becoming more multicultural, mission-driven, and community-centered.
To help mold our vision, senior leadership from ELCA headquarters gathered with our thought leaders in October 2017 in Naples, FL, for a conference exploring emerging church models and the best ways to equip leaders for these new ministry environments. The conference reinforced the importance of alternative seminary pathways that allowed students to remain in their home communities, receive relevant, hands-on ministry training, and earn accredited theological degrees.
Throughout this time, we knew we could not “solve the problem” alone. Emmanuel Academies extended branches to prospective ELCA seminaries for collaboration and innovative accredited institutions beyond the denomination. Ultimately, two tremendously valuable institutions emerged based on their visionary leadership: Kairos University and Concordia University—Chicago. Kairos University continues to provide its accredited platform and curriculum for our students.
Through innovative collaborations, Emmanuel Academies emerged as a leader in this movement for the Lutheran Church, developing an integrated model in which students could pursue both an undergraduate and graduate degree while serving in their churches.
This pioneering approach was made possible through significant grants from the Wardeberg Charitable Trust and the Kern Family Foundation, which provided the financial foundation for the program’s development. Their support allowed Emmanuel Academies to implement an academically rigorous and financially sustainable model, ensuring students could access a debt-free pathway to ministry.
In 2018, Emmanuel Academies welcomed its first students into our Five-Year BA+MDiv program and our MDiv program, beginning a transformative journey.
STRATEGIC PIVOT: Leading with Graduate Degrees (2020–2023)
By 2020, the world was facing the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic, but at Emmanuel Academies, this period also brought a critical realization.
Through experience, student feedback, and growing demand, Emmanuel Academies strategically pivoted to lead with its Master of Divinity (MDiv) and Doctor of Ministry (DMin) programs rather than its combined 5-year undergraduate and graduate degree model.
A significant unmet need drove this decision:
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Many adult learners feel called to be pastors but are unable to study full-time at traditional seminaries.
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The demands of work, family, and finances make relocating or enrolling in a full-time academic program unrealistic.
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The church needs well-equipped, theologically trained leaders now, not years from now.
By focusing on graduate-level theological education, Emmanuel Academies refined its mission to serve second-career ministry candidates—those who have already heard the call but lack an accessible, affordable, and relevant pathway to further serve the Church.
This shift solidified Emmanuel Academies as an innovator in theological education, blending curated multi-modal learning, in-person mentoring, and real-world ministry application in a way few other institutions offered.
Since then, the program has expanded beyond Florida, reaching students across Central and South America and Africa. As of Spring 2025, Emmanuel Academies has produced 17 graduates on three continents, and its impact continues to grow. With over 50 graduates projected in the next five years, the institution is equipping an international network of Christian leaders committed to serving their communities in innovative and meaningful ways.
A NEW ERA: The Birth of Emmanuel Lutheran Global Seminary (2024-Present)
By 2025, Emmanuel Academies had evolved into something even greater than its visionary founders and donors had imagined. Its reach extended beyond its original vision, serving students and communities on a global scale. It was time for a new identity—one that reflected its broader mission and growing impact.
Thus, Emmanuel Lutheran Global Seminary was born.
This new name reaffirms the core values that have guided the institution since 2009: faith, education, innovation, and global mission. Our core focus remains raising up leaders for the Lutheran churches in Florida, but our experiences globally build our competence and capabilities. As it steps into the future, Emmanuel Lutheran Global Seminary remains committed to equipping Christian leaders, fostering global connections, and ensuring that high-quality theological education is accessible to all who are called to serve.
With graduates now actively serving communities of faith in Florida, Central and South America, and Rwanda, Emmanuel Lutheran Global Seminary is a testament to what is possible when faith and education come together in bold new ways.
The story of Emmanuel Academies is one of faith, persistence, and transformation. What started as a small vision has grown into a global movement, and the journey is far from over. With God’s guidance and your support, the next chapter is just beginning.