I graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary May 19, 2024. It was a project I started seven years ago (read about why I started here) and with a category 5 hurricane, a pandemic, graduating two children from high school and one from college, knee surgery, a denominational break-up, and a few other challenges… I finally finished! If Eugene Peterson had not already written a book on discipleship called “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction” I could have used that title for my story…

I learned a good deal about theology, church history, the Biblical text, John Wesley and Methodism, preaching, ethics, leadership, missional thinking, spiritual warfare, healing, teaching, revival, and caring for people. I love the Grand Narrative and how it has changed my vocabulary and thinking forever. I actually read all the books I was assigned and I have some new favorite authors (Scot McKnight, NT Wright, and more!). I learned a lot about myself – partly from class projects, and partly from having to juggle all the class tasks and my actual family and ministry life over seven years. I often got stressed out the first week of class when I opened the syllabus and the last two weeks of class when so many projects and exams were due. I dropped out of Hebrew (cheers to you ancient language learners!) and had to change my degree program. I took a year off because of a hurricane, but then I got to be a Teaching Assistant for Inductive Bible Study classes and loved that. I made all A’s but no one cared and there was no award for that. Scholarships were only available for full time students, so I paid for the program out of my salary at Lynn Haven Methodist (thanks team!). I loved that Asbury students were from many different nations, from extremely varied ages and backgrounds, and that they were always willing to share their stories and perspectives. I loved having the Africans in my classes. I liked commuting to the Kentucky campus and driving in the rolling hills. I commuted to Orlando campus too, some great professors there! I love that Asbury elevates educated women and is committed to opening doors for women who are called into ministry. It was a fantastic experience overall! I’m so grateful. All glory to God.