The Path Isn’t Always Clear--But God is Always There
“What are you going to do after high school?”
It's a question many students hear repeatedly as graduation approaches. Some have a clear answer. Others aren't sure what comes next. College? Trade school? Military service? Church work? A career that hasn't even crossed their mind yet?
For Ryan Peterson, a speaker at this year's Michigan District High School Gathering and the Vice President for Advancement at Concordia University, St. Paul, the answer wasn't always clear either.
A Mission Trip Changed Everything
"I did not grow up at a young age thinking I would be going into ministry," Peterson said. "My dad was a businessman who had started and owned his own company, and so I thought I would work in that company that had our family name. I grew up hanging around his office. Then I thought I'd go into medicine."
A knee injury during middle school sparked an interest in sports medicine and orthopedic surgery. But God had other plans.
One of the first moments that shaped Peterson's future came when his father made an unexpected career change.
"He actually chose to sell his company to go to the seminary," Peterson said. "That was a profound moment where I saw someone willing to change course in order to follow the Lord's calling in their life."
A few years later, Peterson signed up for a mission trip to Latvia through MOST Ministries. He was only 16 years old and knew no one else on the trip.
"I came home from that trip fully believing that the Lord was calling me into ministry," he said.
That realization didn't provide all the answers. It simply provided the next step.
Following God One Step at a Time
Peterson attended Concordia University Wisconsin (CUW), and later Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He has served congregations, taught theology, worked in higher education and eventually stepped into leadership roles. Looking back, he sees a common thread running through every season.
"I like to dig in fully and truly bloom where I'm planted," he said. "Wherever I am, I'm going to be all in."
That mindset has carried him through a variety of callings. While many people think church work means becoming a pastor, teacher, or deaconess, Peterson believes God uses Christians in countless vocations.
"I do believe that the desire to serve God and to make an eternal impact can be done in so many different ways," he said.
That message is especially important for students trying to discern their future.
"Who knows what and where and how the Lord will use your experiences for kingdom work?" Peterson said.
Peterson said the time he spent at CUW as a student was formative. After becoming a pastor, he continued his education and completed his doctorate because he loved school and education. He didn't know if he might someday be a senior pastor. However, God led in a completely different direction.
“I had no idea where the path was going to go, but I felt compelled to continue to grow in my skills and understanding,” said Peterson.
CUW President Pat Ferry, who served as Peterson’s president and also professor while he was a student at CUW, reached out to him to see if he might have an interest in serving as a campus pastor and professor of theology. The role was also part of a team designed to rebuild Concordia Ann Arbor amid its merger with Concordia Wisconsin.
“My call was to continue to be a pastor, but to be a pastor of students, and to be able to pastor them while also teaching them, which I just loved, because I could interact with students in a way that you might not otherwise have the opportunity,” said Peterson. “It was just the best years of ministry.”
Following that, Peterson served as the campus vice president for administration.
“I left the title of campus pastor, but I never left being a pastor,” said Peterson, adding he still preached in chapel, met with students and interacted with parents. However, his job also involved extending the university president’s mission and vision everyday at CUAA.
Throughout that time, Peterson said he began to work closely with major and principal givers to the university, which is part of the advancement work he does today.
Finishing his time in Ann Arbor, Peterson didn’t know what was next for him, but he followed his model of TRUST, and it’s something he said students can use as well.
When the Next Step is Unknown
For students facing important decisions, Peterson encourages them not to become paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice.
Instead, he teaches a framework for discernment built around the word TRUST:
- Turn to the Word.
- Reflect with the right people.
- Unpack your motives.
- Soak it in prayer.
- Take a step of faith.
"It's all about discernment," Peterson said. "How do I know what major? How do I know what school to go to? How do I filter and process the decisions that are ahead of me?"
The final step may be the hardest.
"You've got to walk the path. The Lord will make it clear," Peterson said. "Don't say, 'I can't do it' or 'I won't do it' until you walk down the path a little bit. God will make it clear. Walk down the path."
That willingness to trust God has shaped Peterson's own life. His career has taken turns he never expected, yet each step has provided opportunities to serve others and share Christ. It’s also what shaped his personal mission statement: To inspire excellence in others through Christ-like living and creating environments where people experience joy.
The High School Gathering is another opportunity for Peterson to live out that mission. Whether that inspires students to pursue church work, business, education, healthcare, public service, or something entirely unexpected, Peterson encourages students to trust that God is already at work.
"The Lord will use you no matter what," he said. "In fact, our home church regularly prays this simple prayer: 'Lead me from the safety of the shore to the deeper waters of faith.' I pray God would grant all of us courage and confidence to do this everyday.”
Peterson presents “What Do I Do?” during the two sectional sessions on Monday morning and “Dealing with Doubts” on Tuesday morning. He will also be on stage Tuesday evening at the Mass Gathering.