Cultivate: A Letter from Dr. Brent LaVigne, Vice President of Development

My father has an old rototiller—think late 1970s: Craftsman, red, heavy, and built to last. My earliest memories of springtime include watching him pull that machine out of the garage, knowing that planting season had arrived.

If you’ve ever worked the land, you know the importance of preparing the soil. Growing up near the city, this old rototiller was the most unruly piece of equipment we owned. Once fired up, it made quick work of the ground, but the process was rough—the machine bucked and jerked as it dug deep, breaking up the hard earth to make way for new growth.

That old rototiller still runs today and in fact I’ve borrowed it a number of times over the years. Every time I use it, I’m reminded of the important work of cultivation—of preparing for what’s to come.

Cultivating our Call

At Western Theological Seminary, we intentionally chose the word “Cultivate” when launching our campaign. To cultivate means to prepare the ground for planting—to do the necessary work so that growth can happen.

That’s what we seek to do at Western Theological Seminary: prepare the way for what God is doing in the lives of students called to ministry.

We can’t create the call. That belongs to God. But we can ensure that when students hear God’s voice, they have the support, education, and resources to answer. Already, so many have stepped forward to help prepare the way for our next generation of pastors, chaplains, and church leaders. Rick Capotosto, a member of our development team, shared a powerful story about one such supporter:

“Proper cultivation involves more than just digging—you have to know what the soil needs to nourish the plant. One WTS donor, supportive of our Eugene Peterson Center, desired to cultivate pastors through this program. But before giving, she took time to ‘study the soil.’ She read Dr. Winn Collier’s biography on Eugene Peterson and one of Peterson’s own books. She met with Dr. Collier, spoke with President Theonugraha and our development officers, and attended a Peterson Center presentation—all to deeply understand how this program effectively cultivates our calling. Only then did she steward her resources into the campaign. She knew the soil.”

The Work of Preparation

That old rototiller spent most of the year tucked away in the garage, unseen and unnoticed. When the time came, the rototiller went to work—breaking hard ground so that something new could grow. The rototiller wasn’t the flower or the harvest, but without it, nothing would have taken root.

Similarly, those who invest in the formation of ministers play a crucial role in their preparation.

We are grateful for so many who have said, “We will be cultivators of what God is planting and growing.” Will you join us in preparing the way for those called to ministry?

Yours in Christ,

Brent LaVigne, PhD