Professor Jacob Behnken (MLC ’08, WLS ’12, music) joined the MLC faculty as dean of chapel in the fall of 2022 and began teaching courses in the spring of 2023.

Originally from Brookings SD, Professor Behnken served as pastor at Good Shepherd-Midland MI from 2012 to 2022. Now, he brings that experience to his role as dean of chapel, head of the Campus Worship Committee, and member of the Evangelism Day Committee. “Getting to organize and plan worship for a WELS congregation was wonderful preparation for the task of planning worship at MLC,” he says.

Not only does Professor Behnken plan worship for the campus family, but he also teaches the course Lutheran Worship. Through this course, he instructs students on the structure of worship, its purpose, and how to integrate elements of worship and the liturgy into their future classrooms.

Professor Behnken also teaches Introduction to Psychology—a subject he’s passionate about. He’s currently working toward an MA in psychology from Liberty University.

While the two courses are quite different, Professor Behnken sees his work in both as a blessing. “I get to teach every student on campus at some point during their degree program,” he says, “which I think is wonderful.”

For Professor Behnken, an even greater blessing is being part of the larger purpose of MLC. “Getting to know personally those who will serve our congregations and schools is a real joy,” he says. “Being able to help shape them through their education is a high and undeserved privilege.”