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How to Love and Serve Others through Chaplaincy
Grace in Action

How to Love and Serve Others through Chaplaincy

Stephanie Hillberry desires to serve others, and Chaplaincy was the path God directed her to do so. Even with her apprehensions, she sought to pursue this direction God has led her and enrolled in the Master of Arts in Chaplaincy program at Grace School of Theology.

Grace in Action

How to Love and Serve Others through Chaplaincy

Stephanie Hillberry desires to serve others, and Chaplaincy was the path God directed her to do so. Even with her apprehensions, she sought to pursue this direction God has led her and enrolled in the Master of Arts in Chaplaincy program at Grace School of Theology.

How to Love and Serve Others through Chaplaincy
How to Love and Serve Others through Chaplaincy | Stephanie Hillberry's Family
God placed a desire in me to serve others throughout my entire life, and Chaplaincy was the direction God kept in my heart. It was a great fit with the Master of Arts in Chaplaincy degree that Grace offered.

She shared that many factors kept her from pursuing her education to become a Chaplain in the past. With her being out of school since 2006, Stephanie experienced an adjustment period to shift into online and distance learning. However, she is a testament to how Grace can be a perfect fit and benefit lifelong learners of all positions and seasons. She is grateful that even at 56 years old, she was able to take classes in an accredited seminary and graduate with a Master of Arts in Chaplaincy degree with the Class of 2022. His timing is always perfect, and she is continually reminded of God’s call to serve Him.

Stephanie exclaims how amazing it is that every person she met during her time at Grace showed overflowing grace, support, and patience toward her. The encouragement from professors and fellow students helped her press on and give her best in every circumstance. Even as her classmates were from the other side of the world, they had a shared experience of supporting one another and praying for each other through life’s formidable challenges.
She declared that God gave her the “strength, courage, desire, grace, and unfailing love” especially when she thought of giving up. Her first step was to trust God during her application period, and everything flowed from there. She only needed a computer and the desire to pursue her passion for serving others. Stephanie shares that during her application process, she was encouraged to see that Grace offered evidently affordable degree programs compared to other accredited seminaries. Grace’s accreditation made a difference as she entered the hospice industry.

As she recollects her Grace journey, Stephanie shares the classes and professors that stood out and left an impact on her life and ministry. The courses on Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) taught by Professor Dallas Speight and his son, Scott Speight, were life-changing. She reflected on her core theological concepts as she learned to grow in her walk with God. Lessons she learned through the course gave her better understanding of how to communicate and minister to others. Stephanie considers the time she invested in this class invaluable to her ministry and life growth. CPE became a safe place to learn, grow, and allow God to sharpen and strengthen her for what God has called her to do in the future.

Her other core Chaplaincy courses taken under Senior Chaplain Ken Schlenker were also meaningfully thought-provoking and life-transforming. When he taught, Chaplain Ken expressed great passion and care for those hurting. These courses taught her to come alongside someone in need and provide a ministry of presence by actively listening and being completely present for every individual God has placed along her path.

She also adds that her theology classes, particularly the Soteriology class of Dr. Dave Anderson, made her think deeper and wider. These classes further encouraged her to pursue a holistic understanding of God’s Word. She learned from Dr. Anderson that God desires that His children have an abiding relationship with Him and we are to enjoy this relationship through fellowship.

With everything that she has learned, Stephanie loves applying it through serving her patients and their families. She had her internship at Devotion Hospice during the Fall of 2020 and now joins its team as a full-time Hospice Chaplain. With the help of Grace School of Theology, God turned her life around. God transformed the hurt and trauma of her past to build and strengthen her to have the ability to show deep compassion and empathy to others.

Are you interested in getting a degree or Certificate in Chaplaincy? Grace School of Theology envisions the development of spiritual leaders in every nation who can teach others about the love of Christ, a love that cannot be earned and cannot be lost. We provide degree programs that would enrich you spiritually, intellectually, and professionally. We are here to prepare you to serve God in a global and culturally diverse society. Get in touch with us now and be equipped as servant leaders in different areas of society.

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