Ronald knew about Grace through the Provost, Dr. Mark Haywood, and Alabama Site Director, Robbie Roberts, who introduced him to the seminary at a revival event in his church in 2019. It was a time when Ronald had been serving as an Associate Minister. Upon learning about the programs Grace offers and its accreditation, he enrolled in the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MABS) and, eventually, the Master of Divinity (MDiv).

During his time of study at Grace, Ronald answered God’s call for him to be the Campus Pastor of his church. It is a new role wherein he must preach weekly sermons to the congregation. Ronald was thankful for his Effective Preaching class with Dr. Mark Haywood, wherein he learned how to structure and deliver sermons properly. And because the ministry of a pastor doesn’t only include preaching but also building unity inside the church, he is also thankful for his Conflict Resolution class with Professor Garry Kiker.

Regarding his walk of faith as a disciple of Christ, Ronald considers Spiritual Life with Dr. Ken Wilson as a course that made an impact in him. The course taught him the importance of fellowship in his relationship with the Lord. Most pastors get burned out in the ministry, so the course imparts some very useful lessons in developing a personal intimacy with Jesus. It helped Ronald learn the importance of daily Bible reading and encouraged him to start journaling.

“I learned that I cannot pour from an empty cup, and pouring into myself first is critical for my family and ministry.”

Ronald’s student journey has its challenges, but they did not stop him from fulfilling his goal of becoming a better servant and disciple of Christ. With the many responsibilities of becoming a Campus Pastor, he still managed to continue improving himself and finding the balance between serving in the ministry and learning more about God. One of the factors that helped him during the challenging times of his student journey was his discipleship group at Grace.

You, too, can be a better spiritual leader like Ronald. Join Grace and start taking the first step toward your goals as a follower of Jesus. Become more ready to share His love to the world!