Why I Give: Donor Testimony

From Mike Jaskilka:

Western Seminary was profoundly formative for my life and ministry in particular. Prior to seminary, I had graduated from college but didn’t excel nor enjoy my time there. It was after college that I became a believer in Jesus and got engaged to a fine Christian woman. I thought that I should get some Christian education for the sake of our future. Being dissatisfied with my college experience, I also wondered if my seminary experience would lead me to pursue a different career field.

By the end of my first semester at Western, I was convinced that God was calling me to ministry. I had never experienced such an outstanding learning environment and never had relationships with my college instructors as I did with the professors at Western. Dr. Grant Howard was the one who influenced me the most. All the other professors were wonderful as well: Dr. Radmacher, Dr. Alexander, and on and on!

I received my MDiv and ThM from Western in 1975 and 1976. Over the next 37 years, I served four churches in Oregon as senior pastor. After retirement, I served as interim pastor at an international church Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, several times and have taught at a Christian college as an adjunct professor.

There are several reasons I have been delighted to be able to support Western. I loved my experience there. It was the best academic experience of my life. It was practical, personal, and relevant.

I have been pleased to note over the years that Western has remained faithful to the gospel while at the same time adjusting its methods to the changes in our culture. The school has remained relevant and not become a relic.

For many years, it bothered me that living on a pastor’s salary meant I wasn’t able to contribute much to the school. Since retirement, God has blessed me financially beyond what I ever imagined and so I’ve been able to do what I had wanted to do for years but couldn’t.

It also troubled me that when the churches I served encountered financial difficulties, often the first suggested remedy was to cut support to the school. To me, that was one of the worst places to cut. It would have produced short-term gain perhaps, but disaster in the long run. On most occasions, I was able to steer the congregation toward different solutions but I still found it troubling.

A few years ago, my son graduated from Western with his MDiv. To see his competence in ministry is a delight and I’m grateful for the impact the school has had on his life and ministry. It is a good illustration to me that Western continues to succeed in its mission.

It has been my delight to give to the seminary for several years now. I am confident that Western will to continue to make an impact for the Kingdom of God far into the future.