God calls people into ministry in all sorts of ways. Sometimes he calls them more than once.

In 2016, Jonathan Anderson was encouraged to consider attending seminary. His response: “No way, not for me.”

At the time, Anderson was working as a middle manager in the construction industry. He said his work life then had been all about hitting corporate goals. He made a good living, but it wasn’t fulfilling. At the same time he was becoming more involved serving in his local parish, Immanuel in Simpsonville, SC. He helped with the church website, worked with the evangelism committee, and was on the board of elders. That work was deeply relational in nature, which resonated with Anderson’s desire to share with people that “the word of the Lord lives forever,” and that “they can have the same forgiveness of sins and faith that I have.”

Throughout it all, people kept encouraging him to reconsider the seminary. In June of 2020, Anderson said, he knew, “It was time.”

By September of that year, he was enrolled in Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, IN. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2024, and a Master in Sacred Theology in May 2025. In June of 2025, Anderson was ordained at Immanuel. Now Rev. Anderson is preparing for his next chapter in ministry, as a missionary in Panama for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. He expects to be deployed sometime around Christmas.

Anderson has no experience working as a missionary, and he doesn’t speak Spanish yet. Still, for him, Panama is just another part of God’s “back yard.”

“Everything that we see around us is the Lord’s no matter where we step foot. It will be a different language, a different culture, which will be a challenge and an opportunity,” he said. “But I am looking forward to it. God’s Church, the Church on earth, is everywhere, and he makes a way.”

Part of making that way will be for Anderson to go through orientation with LCMS International Mission, where he’ll learn about its three core focuses: spreading the Gospel; planting churches; showing mercy. In November, he’ll go to the Dominican Republic for Spanish-language immersion, and to work alongside other pastors who are serving in that area.

Anderson believes his professional background will help his ministry. He wants others, especially those feeling unfulfilled in their careers, to know that it’s never too late to follow a new calling.

“It might be that God has used that time in your life to set you up for what you’ll do later,” he said. “God [uses] every one of us to accomplish a particular purpose in his kingdom. We have to trust that he knows what he is doing.”

• To support and partner with Rev. Anderson, please visit lcms.org/anderson

These outreach spotlights are designed to encourage congregations. Got a story to share about what God is doing through your congregation? Please email Robin Domeier.