Seminary Entrance Essay

When I was three, I would raise my hands in the air praising Jesus, singing hymns.  My favorite was “I Love you, Lord,” but sometimes I made up my own, I have video proof.  I gave my heart to Jesus when I was about 7 or eight years old.  I was outside in my back yard and I said a prayer asking him to come into my heart and be the guiding force for my spirit.  I had a heart-shaped balloon in my hand that had “I love you” written on it, and I let it go, to float symbolically to my Savior.  I will never forget how tangible the Holy Spirit was at that time.

My desire to attend seminary began as a slight urging, almost like a question in my head and became more prevalent each day. Since that glimmer of curiosity has become a glaring, screaming declaration that seems to transcend me and is oblivious to any obstacles that may exist, I decided to apply. If a ministerial vocation is, indeed, God's call on my life as I expect it is, He will provide a way. However I desire His will, not mine.

I am an active member of Colonial Heights Baptist Church. My husband Dario was born Catholic in Palermo, Sicily. For almost seven years now, ever since we got married, we visited just about every church in the area. We became disillusioned because we have very different perspectives of what worship looks like. Thankfully we both love to learn. Pastor Randy Hahn is the consummate teacher. Our kids love the children's programs there and Dario was baptized last November.  Since we joined in June of 2011, we have joined a Sunday school class, which I now co- teach.

I adore my Sunday school class, we are family.  I was just asked to co-teach the class; last Sunday was my first time speaking and it felt so natural.  Mostly young married couples with children, we engage in quarterly community service projects, such as painting a pregnancy center, cleaning the yard of a local museum, and feeding people lunch in lower income communities. We support Chosen Children Ministry in Nicaragua and have adopted in prayer and relationship a missionary couple named Brent and Amanda Turner in Botswana, Africa. One of our Sunday school teachers just left the class because his wife was called to start a home for women with unplanned pregnancies from ages 12-21 called Grace Home Ministries, in Chester, VA.  I am the volunteer coordinator for that nonprofit.  I also teach the 4 year olds every other Sunday during the last hour, and lead Awana programs for them on Wednesday nights.  I help, when I can, to go on FATIH visits to guests that have visited the church, inviting them back and answering their questions.  

I work full time at a lovely church, Derbyshire BaptistChurch in Richmond. I have been there since July 2012, when I instantly was endeared to the people there. They demonstrate such faith in action and are so welcoming and genuine. Dr. Jeffrey Raymond is the pastor, and I am his secretary. I have learned a great deal about how expansive my love is for Christ’s Church.  For example, I prefer contemporary worship, but Derbyshire has a breathtaking 80-person traditional Chancel Choir. At one point just prior to my employment at Derbyshire, I was feeling convicted about my perspective of the elderly and aging, and God sent me to work at a church with a large and thriving population of very active seniors, and has instilled in me an inexplicable genuine love for these people.

The Baptist doctrine of believer’s baptism by immersion is near and dear to my heart since my beautiful husband was baptized last November.  He was Catholic, and therefore sprinkled as an infant, and so we worked through the practical and scriptural reasons for baptism.  He decided that practically, if one is pursuing a relationship with Christ, the first step should symbolically demonstrate that choice before a church family so that they can hold one accountable and encourage and support that faith relationship.  I believe that while baptism doesn’t save someone, it is a necessary step in their walk with Christ because Jesus said ‘confess be before men and I will confess you before my father’, and because we look to Jesus as our example for how to live. The perfect son of God was immersed in the waters of baptism to set an example for His followers.

I hope to employ Christian education in a ministerial or congregational role in a Baptist church. I value the opportunity to teach others about God’s word and how to read it, allow the Holy Spirit to interpret, and apply it to their lives in a systematic and clear manner. My goal is to alleviate some of the intimidation people feel toward scripture and also to demonstrate that the bible is neither boring nor out of touch with current life, rather, that it is a living document, God-breathed and perennially relevant.  I also enjoy the ministerial role of pastoral care; I have always been very concerned with others’ feelings.  I realize that my opinion or perspective will never be as effective at ministering to another as the Word of God, which includes direction for remediating any problem, consolation for any fear, doubt, worry or sadness, and praise for every measure of worship.

My life consists of Jesus, family, church and work, and friends, in that order. I am organized and continually try to balance the various components of my life in order to remain content and fulfilled.  I enjoy working in a church because there is no chance of a competition for priority between my livelihood and my faith. I am so excited by the possibility of going to seminary to learn more about God’s Word and my beliefs, in order to help others do the same.  Thank you sincerely for your time and consideration of my application.