Hello Graduate Fellows,
My name is Allen. It’s a pleasure to learn and deepen my understanding and appreciation of biblical knowledge alongside such a diverse Christian Fellowship. I am from the Greater Los Angeles Area in California, where I served for several years in a youth ministry as a deacon (equivalent title in my former church). Eventually, I left my role in my local ministry and joined a foreign missionary work, where my ministry took me to serve an East Asian language/culture and took me to the country. Even under intense pressure to cease any ministry efforts by the foreign government, I got to attend services and support ministry and public preaching campaigns (though discrete). Eventually, I returned to the English-speaking ministry field, and most recently, I joined an entirely different ministry with a different church group in my area.
Presently, the focus of my personal ministry is aimed at relief work, helping people who have left my previous church group to transition to a more balanced life, discover the potential they were called to achieve, and keep their hearts open to a personal spiritual relationship and/or a deeper understanding of the scriptures.
I will take this time to leave a brief disclaimer: my former church group, though well-intentioned, has a leadership that focuses heavily on Christian works that benefit the church, while the life-saving relationship with our Savior and our connection to the Word felt secondary. Where possible, I will use veiled language when referencing that church group due to a now-constrained relationship with loved ones who still attend that church. Please understand that I do not wish to paint that group (or any group) or my loved ones in a negative light; these ones are trying to walk their spiritual journey in the best way they know how. Instead, I continually thank the heavens that I was able to join a refreshing, restorative ministry where my zeal and appreciation for faith works have been reignited and transformed.
I have a diverse cultural and educational background and work experience outside my current research in this program. I look forward to getting to know as many of you as possible!
- Allen E.
PS: This introductory post comes after a brief delay in engaging with the discussion threads (I’m behind), so some of you might see several discussions and replies from me appearing across a few lectures rather rapidly.
I wish you all the best on your graduate journey!