A community’s loss became an opportunity for a Global University student to minister with the training received through his course, The Work of the Pastor.

On Thursday, October 12, 2006, the city of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, was shocked to learn that a young man, Andy, only 23 years old was killed in an electrical explosion in one of the area’s taconite mines. He was a crew chief with two men working under his supervision. As the three worked that day, Andy spotted a potentially dangerous electrical problem in the area where his two crew members were. He rushed to reach the area in front of his crew. There was an explosion as Andy reached the source of the problem, and he was killed instantly. His two crew members’ lives were spared because of Andy’s quick thinking and sacrifice.

The ABC television network sent a cameraman and reporter to the funeral to record the community’s reaction. There was a crowd of 600 people who came to mourn the loss of Andy. A Global University student, Rev. Thomas Getlinger, was there to assist with the funeral. He had recently completed the course, The Work of the Pastor. This was his opportunity to apply the skills he had studied in a practical way to minister to Andy’s family and the crowd. A gospel message was preached, and an invitation to accept Christ was given at the conclusion. Ten people responded to receive Christ as Lord.

Andy’s life as a Christian had been an example of how to live ready to die at anytime. Rev. Thomas was ready too because Global University’s course had prepared him to use this opportunity to bring people into the Kingdom of God.