Can you believe that it is already February? 

Classes have begun, we have seen snow days and 60* weather, and the 2014 Winter Olympics will begin tomorrow! With Valentine's Day right around the corner, February is often a month dedicated to love. While we don't mind talking about love (after all, we serve a great God whose very nature is love), we are excited to shift your focus a bit this month. 

For the month of February, Walking Worthy will be dedicated to the celebration of Black History Month. 

We have loved the Casual Conversations and intentional emphasis that Southeastern has devoted to diversity on our campus and in our churches. This month, we will continue the discussion with posts from students and faculty.

To whet your appetite, here is a brief introduction to Black History Month from the History Channel's history.com (click here for a video, too!):

"Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of 'Negro History Week,' the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history."

We can't wait to see what this month holds!

Have you ever wondered about a program offered by the Women's Life Office? There are so many things going on around here that it can be hard to keep track! As the fall semester draws to a close, we have asked a few ladies who have been involved with the Women's Life Office to talk to us about their experiences. In the coming weeks, we will have guest bloggers writing about:

Thrive is a mentoring program available to female students and student wives who attend churches that do not offer mentoring opportunities.  A dedicated team of mentors, women associated with SEBTS, have offered to spend intentional time with Southeastern ladies on a personal basis with the specific goal of encouraging practical and spiritual growth. Stephanie Bates, our guest blogger, will share her experience as a mentee and help you understand what such a relationship can look like.       

The LEAD{women} ministry was established by Southeastern Seminary in an attempt to serve the women in North Carolina churches while providing practical ministry experience for our female students. The LEAD{women} ministry team includes women pursuing degrees at Southeastern who seek to serve women in a speaking or teaching capacity. Kiersten Griffith will share her experience at a LEAD event this semester. 

D-Groups: Ladies from all over campus are involved in D-Groups through the Office of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation.  Over the years, the WL office has served as a meeting place for a few of these groups.  We love being a part of students' lives through these groups.  This year, Leslie Hildreth co-leads a group with Mrs. Faye Dunbar, who has written a wonderful post on her experience.
    

Connecting Point exists to foster fellowship and spiritual maturity among women of Southeastern. Connecting Point events are held 4-5 times per academic year. Each has its own unique flavor and is designed to encourage fellowship among the Southeastern women.  Our guest blogger will share from her experience attending one of this semester's Connecting Point events.

We can't wait to share these posts with you! The first post will be available next Tuesday, November 12 at 9am. 

Comment below and let us know what else you would like to hear from us!

The Women's Life Office would like to extend a huge 
THANK YOU 
to all of our vendors and the 500+ people who attended the Craft and Bake Sale this year. It was a beautiful day, and we loved having the chance to share the talents of our SEBTS family with the Wake Forest community.

Check out the pictures below for a glimpse into the day.

  

Some words from our vendors:

“Loved the opportunity to make extra money in a well-organized, quality environment.”

“Awesome fellowship! I met new people and got ideas for next year.”

“The Craft and Bake Sale got my name out there. It also gave me the opportunity to meet people & provide financial support for family”

Hope to see you all next year!

About Me

Hi!  I’m Jill Barbour and I’m a student in the Master’s of Arts degree in Christian Studies at SEBTS.  I am currently in my 4^th year of part-time studies.  I live in Clayton, NC with my two children, Luke, 21, and Emme, 10, and my supportive husband, Rusty.  We have been married almost 27 years. Our oldest son, Wes, got married to a beautiful woman, Allison, this summer; they live in Chicago. 

This is not my first master’s degree!  I received my Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing from ECU and several years later, I received my Master’s in Nursing from UNC-Chapel Hill.  So why in the world would I want to return to college for another degree? Have you ever studied the Bible or listened to a sermon and knew that there was far more that you wanted to know?   Or heard of a missionary and wish that was you? I had never envisioned going back to school again and yet, I realized that God was calling me to an opportunity to study under great teachers at SEBTS.  

We have been members of Baptist Center Church in Clayton for over 40 years.  Baptist Center is a small church with only one paid pastor on staff.  The opportunities for service are abundant.  I have enjoyed working in all areas of the church but the same area that called me to my career as a women’s health nurse practitioner was the same area of ministry that I was being called to in the church: women’s ministry.   

While many of the degrees interested me- women’s studies, biblical counseling, etc- I decided to go with Christian Studies.  I liked the broad nature of the degree.  Since obtaining this degree more than likely will not change my career, I wanted the broadest education that I could receive.  My desire is to increase my knowledge so that I can better serve others in the local church.  I don’t know if there is a specific order of classes that is best but I began with Old Testament 1 with Dr. McKenzie.  It was truly a life altering class! He taught me how to properly view the Old Testament.  The OT went from a book of interesting yet disconnected stories to a beautiful grand narrative of God redeeming the world to Himself through His Son. 

I can honestly say that all of the professors I have had have been incredible examples of men who love the Lord and want to help each of us to grow in our depth of understanding of Scripture.  They live the lives that they teach.  Hermeneutics with Dr. McKinion was an incredible class that taught me how to read and understand Scripture and see the interconnectedness like never before.  I have used so much of what I have learned already in my local church.  I think I practically taught my entire hermeneutics class to our Wednesday night Bible Study group.  My Sunday School class could teach Genesis to anyone after we studied it for almost six months! 

Is school easy with a family and a busy job?  NO!!  Do I want to give up at times?  Yes!!  But I keep hanging on because of the value of what I am learning!  I don’t want to miss out on a single class.  I’m not sure how this might change my future, but do know that it is giving me a direct application within the local church every single week and for that I am very grateful!

About Me

Hi there! My name is Lacy Fairchild, and I am in my third semester here at Southeastern where I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies. I attend Bay Leaf Baptist Church in Raleigh, and I am so thankful the Lord has placed me there.

What made you choose this degree?

When I first came to Southeastern, I was going to study Missiology. However, after spending some time in prayer, I decided to switch to Intercultural Studies.  I chose this degree because of a mission trip to Turkey that I went on when I was a sophomore in college.  It was after that mission trip that I felt like God was revealing to me the call of missions on my life.  After going to Turkey, I served a summer in South Africa and I was able to serve in China with Bay Leaf this past summer.  I want to share the love of Christ with the nations.

How do you want to use this degree when you finish?

When I finish this degree, I hope to go overseas (in God's timing, of course!). My undergraduate degree is in Fitness and Wellness. Therefore, I want to work in countries where they suffer from malnutrition because of the poverty levels. Most of all, I just want to love on the people and share His Word and love with them.

How have some of the courses that you have taken benefited you already?

I have benefited from taking a lot of mission classes already, because the professors of those classes have been such an encouragement.  In each class that I have had the opportunity to attend, I have been able to see my professors’ passion for how we need to go and reach the nations.  Currently, I am taking an Evangelism course, and it has been teaching me how to get out of my comfort zone in sharing the Gospel with people around me.  This is helping prepare me for going overseas to share about the love of Christ.

Is there any advice you would give to students who are thinking of pursing this degree?

I would give the same advice to students who are thinking about pursuing any degree: set aside some time to have a quiet time with the Lord.  That is one thing that has truly helped get me through each day.  Also, get involved in a local church where you can be around a community of believers who build you up and encourage you. 

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Then I said, “Here I am! Send me." - Isaiah 6:8 

About Me

Hello! My name is Bailey Shoemaker, and I am in my third semester here at Southeastern. Originally from Mississippi, I moved to Raleigh a little over a year ago to attend seminary. Currently, I work as a graphic designer and I am pursuing an MDiv in International Church Planting. Life is crazy and awesome, but I am just taking it one day at a time, loving people and enjoying this season of learning. I am a member of the Summit Church, which is my family, and love seeing what God is doing!

I originally felt led to go Seminary in early college when God began fostering a deep love for the Scriptures in my heart; as I read more, I just needed to understand the context and the history behind the passage.  As I continued on in college, I really started to see some type of international missions as a part of my future.  God used time that I spent hanging out with a lot of international students and an opportunity to spend several summers overseas to radically change my view of the world and ministry.

To make a long story short, seminary was not what I expected.  The material didn’t just affect me academically, but spiritually as well, penetrating deep into my soul, provoking questions that I did not know the answer to.  It was quite difficult, but oh so good!  God shook me upside down that first year, challenging and refining me as questions emerged about who I was and what I believed.  I struggled a lot to figure out why God brought me here, even though I knew without a shadow of a doubt I was supposed to be here.  I slowly started to realize that my focus was too limited.  I had one idea of what I should do and how I should get there.  Throughout the last year, God has broken me and shaped in me new ways, and given me a renewed sense of joy!  He has opened my heart to a variety of ministries.  

Don’t get me wrong; I still love international missions, but in a beautiful way, God has released my grip on what I think my life should look like, and transformed my perspective into an open-minded one.  Oh, it has been a rough year wrestling with who am I and coming back to the amazing truth of my identity anchored in Christ, strengthened now with a better understanding of His gospel and dependency on Him, but I would never trade it for the world!

I am still in the same degree program, but as I tell most people, I am pretty much just winging it!  Who knows where God will lead, but I am so privileged to be a part of his perfect plan, and know that whether I end up in a hut in Africa, an ESL center in Chicago, or a coffee shop in Ukraine, He is so good!   

Southeastern has been such an amazing source of growth and theological richness.  I am so thankful for each of the professors here that have brought a new challenge and perspective of the elements of the gospel.  I am so excited to continue to sharpen my understanding of the Scriptures, grow in my knowledge of theology, and ultimately just learn as much as I can during this season.  I am so grateful for the opportunity, and we shall see what lies ahead!

About Me

Hi there, my name is Adrianne. I am a Southern California girl transplanted by the Father to the desert of Central Asia and then to the extreme green of North Carolina where a Florida boy who had lived in South Asia decided I should marry him, and I whole heartedly agreed!  Though I have finished the classes for an MA in Christian School Administration, I have yet to write my thesis and graduate. I have taught in public school, Christian school and a homeschool co-op for third culture kids, and I have seen how every child and every family in every place needs the grace and forgiveness of our Savior. My husband is 4 classes away from his MDiv, and our goal after graduation is to be used as God's tools among the nations once again.

What is your degree program?

I am currently pursuing an MA in Christian School Administration.  Most people in this degree program plan to be Principals or Headmasters at Christian schools in the United States.  Many are already teaching or in leadership at a school.  The purpose of the program is to develop skilled Christian school leaders who will put Christ first in their own lives as well as in relation to the faculty, staff, students and parents they will minister to. 

The classes are usually small, which leads to a sort of family feeling.  They often take place during a few weekend sessions or over the summers because so many of the participants are already working full time in schools.  The assignments are very practical and applicable to the job of leading a school.

Dr. Coley is the main professor for most of the CSA courses.  He has a wealth of experience; he has taught and led Christian schools for many years, raised his own children, consulted with Christian school leaders, written books on the subject, and led conferences in various locations.  He is very approachable and cares deeply for his students.  His vision is to see godly, passionate, well trained leaders in Christian schools who are able to handle all of the pressures and intricacies of school headship.

Why did you choose this degree?

My pursuit of this degree is a little different than most and is a bit of a long story . . .

I have a strong and deep passion to see the Good News go out among the nations. I long to one day stand before the throne of God with people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, singing praises to the Father in a joyful jumble of music and voices.  However, I'm fairly introverted, and my skill set is better suited for behind-the-scenes work than the main stage.  I laugh daily at how the Father took this bookworm and showed her how He wanted her to serve Him in unexpected ways.

My undergraduate degree is in Child and Adolescent Development and Teaching.  I taught public elementary school in Los Angeles County for 4 years before God led me to move overseas for 3 years to teach.  I also helped start a homeschool co-op for the children of North American Christian workers living there.  During this time, I learned that the need for trained educators to help overseas families is often overlooked (though the need for Christian teachers in America's public schools is fairly obvious).  One major issue that contributes to families leaving the field is education for their kids.  Many factors play into a family’s decision to stay or leave the field.  Some cannot be helped, but others could be solved with a bit of help and support.

My goal and vision as I pursue this degree is to help overseas families in the realm of education for their children.  In doing this, I can help them to stay in the places they have been called to.  They already have the language skills and relationships into which they can share the Good News; my part in seeing the nations reached is to support the families doing the reaching!

While I was living overseas and trying to decide what to do when my 3 year term ended, I came across Ecclesiastes 10:10: 

“If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.”  

I instantly understood this to mean that, though I had been doing the job that the Father had called me to with some skill, with more training I could be much more useful to these families.

I am still not sure what exactly God would like me to do with this training.  I would love to teach Third Culture Kids again, or help others set up homeschool co-ops like the one I taught in, or to be a voice on Skype to encourage and strengthen the teachers and parents in the skills needed to teach, or to offer ideas for how to deal with specific educational issues, or help educators choose the curriculum that will best prepare their children for life and godliness.  I am excited to see how God will use the training I have received in the CSA program!

What are some of your favorite courses?

From the core classes: All of the courses were good.  The Old and New Testament courses give a deeper understanding of the Bible.  The theology classes make you think about what you believe in ways you likely haven't before.  Ethics makes you apply those beliefs to situations in real life.   

From the CSA classes: All of Dr. Coley's classes are useful and practical.  My favorites were Philosophy of Christian Education, Curriculum Design, and both of the courses that deal with supervising and administrating.  These are really the bones of the educator’s job, and getting your mind and heart wrapped around the concepts presented in these classes is essential to doing it well.

Do you have any additional tips that you would like to share with anyone considering pursuing a degree in Christian School Administration?

1) Make your relationship with God your priority.  Seminary life can suck you dry if you let it. Take daily time away with Him.  Get (and stay) deeply connected to a local church.  Intentionally form a couple of close friendships with people who will love you well and call you out when you need it.  All of this will help you to walk away with stronger faith and calling rather than as a former servant with a lot of head knowledge.

2) There are not any biblical counseling classes as part of the degree.  My tip is: take one anyway.  I took Counseling Parents and Children because Christian school teachers and administrators do quite a lot of this as a normal part of their job.  The course was very insightful and helpful.

ABOUT ME

My name is Denae Gold, I am in my second year here at Southeastern Seminary and I can’t think of a better place to be pursuing the Lord’s calling on my life.  I attend The Summit Church in Raleigh, and I am a part-time staff member with CRU High School while I am completing my degree.

When I visited Southeastern my first question was, “Is it possible to complete a double degree, one being a Master of Divinity in Youth Ministry and the other a Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling?”  With great excitement the answer was, “We can make it work.”  There began my journey of completing two different masters degrees at the same time.

The Lord has grown in my heart an incredible passion to see teenagers come to know Jesus and be on fire for proclaiming His glory among the nations.  While the Lord began to grow my heart for teenagers, He was also breaking my heart for them as well.  Today’s teenager is often faced with the realities of broken homes, drugs, alcohol, and the list goes on.  The more teens I meet, more the reality of deep hurt and pain becomes evident.  Because of this daunting reality, the Lord opened my eyes and gave me a desire to pursue a degree in biblical counseling along with my youth ministry degree.

As I sought the Lord in prayer about the decision to take on the task of two degrees and the calling that was before me, the Lord reminded me that this task was not about me.  This task was about the students I would one day come across and their desperate need of heart change that only comes from the transforming work of the Gospel.  It was at this point that the Lord reminded me that He would equip me with everything I would need to complete His will.

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Ultimately I am joining Him on a mission He has already begun.

I feel a desire to become equipped to handle the turbulent situations that often enter the life of a teenager with the biblical truths that are presented in Scripture.  My desire in completing both the MDiv and MA is to help teenagers look through the lens of the Gospel when facing the realities of life.  I want them to be so captured by the glory of Jesus that they rest in the truth that their identity is a beloved child of God.

About Me

My name is Melissa Garcia, and I am in my fourth semester at Southeastern.  I am working full time for Hope Services as an Intensive-in-home therapist while I pursue an MA in the Philosophy of Religion.  I attend First Baptist Church of Durham and look forward to graduating soon.

“What made you choose this degree?”

Initially, I was in the apologetics degree program, but after my first year at SEBTS, I switched over to the Master of Arts in the Philosophy of Religion program.  This is a fairly new program, and I am one of the first to enter.  I may even be the first female?!  

Because of the range of questions that people have asked me about Christianity while sharing the gospel with them, I have always been fascinated by apologetics.  While serving as a journeyman, that fascination was intensified.  For that reason, I started the apologetics program, but during my first year I realized that my philosophical and theological questions were not being answered to my satisfaction.  

When I first heard about Philosophy of Religion, I originally thought that it would be too daunting of a task to study without any background in philosophy.  However, after learning more about the requirements of the degree program from Dr. Little, I was encouraged to pursue the degree, since it was aimed toward providing the answers to precisely the questions that captivated me.

“How do you want to use this degree when you finish?”

To be quite honest, I have not decided if I will pursue a PhD in Philosophy of Religion or not, but I wholeheartedly believe that I will use what I have learned from this degree for the rest of my life.  This degree program has helped me learn how to think more clearly and how to provide a better defense for the Gospel.

“How have some of the courses that you have taken benefited you already?”

When people first learn that I study philosophy, they give me the most grievous looks!  And then they proceed to provide a defense for exactly why they would and could never study philosophy.  So, like any good philosophy student, I take that time to show them their logical fallacies.  (Kidding!)  I do, however, tell them why I chose to study philosophy!  

Although philosophical arguments may seem abstract to most people, the truth is that once you follow philosophical views out to their logical conclusions, there truly are real life applications.  I think that we don’t often realize how philosophical issues permeate all aspects of our lives.  Additionally, the responses I am able to supply to people who try to undermine my beliefs shows just how philosophy has already benefited me! 

“Is there any advice you would give to students who are thinking of pursing this degree?”

I would urge them to make a game plan when they first enter the program.  It is easy to overlook a class that is being offered and then have to wait another year before it is offered again.  Also, do not be afraid to contact your major professor; he is there to help you.  Oh, and we need more girls in this program!  

If nothing else, I recommend that everyone take Critical Thinking and Argumentation as well as Philosophical Theology!  Those have been two of my favorite classes and possibly the ones that have equipped me the most for the sake of the kingdom.

Hi ladies!  My name is Hilary, 

and I am pursuing a Master of Divinity in Women’s Studies.

To be totally honest, this wasn’t my first degree choice.  Or I should say . . . it wasn’t the program I applied to Southeastern to pursue!  But, God has searched me and He knows me {Psalm 139} and He so graciously guided me to it. 

I originally applied to the 2+2 program with the intention of ministering to women overseas.  After a series of prayerful decisions, I switched my degree to Women’s Studies and have been so blessed!  God has confirmed my decision over & over again by revealing the {core} of what He has called me to do – minister to women, all over the map. 

I'm not your traditional M. Div student. In fact, I'm a {distance learning} student, which basically means . . . 

·       *  I am full-time at Southeastern

·       *  I take classes on campus

·       *  I live in Charlotte, NC

·       *  I work at a local church in Charlotte

So you may be wondering, how does that work??!  (classes on campus + not living in Wake Forest = doesn’t add up). Well, that’s a great question! 

It does complicate things a bit.  And it has been tough sometimes to arrange my schedule to take the classes that I need for my program during the short window I have to be present on campus.  But it’s worked for two years already (this is my 3^rd fall on campus) & I’m slowly checking off core requirements.  It’s also helpful motivation to carpool to campus weekly with other students, including my hubby. J 

I chose the Master of Divinity in Women’s Studies (rather than an MA) because I truly wanted to learn the original languages // Hebrew & Greek.  Those tidbits of Hebrew in various Beth Moore studies over the years gave me the desire to know it for myself.  I, too, wanted to be equipped to dig into and study the languages of the Old & New Testaments.

As you may have guessed from my carpool hint, my husband is also a full-time student at Southeastern.  He is pursuing a Master of Divinity in Christian Ministries. 

At this time in our lives, we are {expectantly} waiting upon the Lord for next steps.  My husband is currently serving as a pastoral intern in the young adult ministry at our church.  At the same time, we have also begun the application process with the International Mission Board. 

Thankfully God knows the plans He has for us.  Wherever we land {geographically}, I’m so grateful for the equipping, the encouragement, and the education I have received through the Women’s Studies program at SEBTS. 

The program, actually (more importantly) the ladies behind the program {like Denise O'Donoghue} have taught me how to better minister to women in a variety of settings and in a variety of locations: from the formal speaking engagement to the informal counseling session {over tea & cookies} at the kitchen table.

And for that them, I’m grateful..  

We want to let you know about four opportunities for you to spend time with other SEBTS ladies that we are quite excited about. Check out the information below!

Our first Connecting Point event of the year is next Monday, September 9th:

On September 14th, come join women from around North Carolina and around the US to learn from a well-respected women's ministry leader:

You have a chance to see an awesome movie and to meet Mrs. Akin and the wonderful women of the Women's Auxiliary who support us with their time, prayer, and support:

And an ongoing opportunity to make new friends and stay fit at the same time:

About Me

     

My name is Lauren Horn, and I just started my third semester here at Southeastern.  I work on campus in the Student Resources and Financial Aid office and as a Resident Assistant at Flaherty. I attend Christ Covenant Church in Raleigh and am very grateful that the Lord brought me here to Wake Forest.

People always act surprised to find out that I am pursuing a Master’s of Divinity in Christian Ethics.  Now, I don’t know if that means they find Ethics an ambitious degree for me specifically or if they are surprised to discover that Southeastern offers a degree in Ethics.  Whatever the case, the response is usually the same, a slightly high-pitched “Oh.” 

I chose to study Ethics because I feel it is basic to the Christian life but so often overlooked as a field of study.  I don’t want to be someone who has passion for the Lord but dispenses ignorant boisterous objections to cultural events to the masses.  I recognize my need to be trained to think and to pray to the Lord daily for wisdom and a love for His Law.  I want to be able to produce a well-reasoned and Biblical response about the events taking place in the world around me.  I have discovered that people are not always willing to talk about theology or philosophy, but they don’t have a problem giving me their two cents on homosexuality or abortion.  Ethics can be a handy tool regarding evangelism. 

When I am asked what I plan to do with the degree once I have it, I usually respond bluntly, “Live ethically.”  But it is the truth.  I think often about God’s words to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:19b, “Therefore, choose life in order that you and your offspring may live” and Christ’s words in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.”  I think there is a practical and immediate implication to both of these passages.  The Christian life is not about escaping this world but living rightly in it so that we may flourish through obeying God and by grace draw others to Him.  Proverbs is probably one of my favorite books for this very reason.  Chapters 7 and 8 give such a clear picture of God’s desire for right living.  The chapters portray Wisdom and Folly personified and calling out to the ignorant youth to follow them.  That “youth” is you and me.  We have a choice: to either live or to die, to find blessing and life or to descend into the chambers of death.  That may seem dramatic, but what are we to expect from such a holy God?

I want to incorporate my everyday living under the Lordship of Christ and by the aid of the Holy Spirit.  I want my words and my life to be a witness for Him, and I would encourage anyone considering an Ethics degree to take an additional ethics course apart from the Intro course, if only to sharpen the mind to better honor him with holy living and intellectual cultural engagement.  I believe firmly that we need to do a better job speaking out about the evil in the world.  I know I need to.  My fear is that the poet Yeats is right when he comments in The Second Coming,

“The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.”

 I hope at the end of my days that will not be true about me.