2011 was a great year. There were two significant events that took place.
Fuller Theological Seminary.
When I first moved to Los Angeles in January of 2010 I came with hopes of being a student at Fuller but the Presbytery of Tampa Bay said I had to go to a “Presbyterian” seminary for a year before I could transfer to Fuller. I have to do what they say to be ordained when I finish. I decided to go to the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa because it is the only Presbyterian Seminary that offers classes online and by going to two week intensives. You can actually do an entire Master of Divinity that way. I did a full year from Fall, 2010 - Spring, 2011 which included two, two week intensives and two online semesters. I learned a lot and met some outstanding people.
All that is to say that 2011 began with a bit of uncertainty. There were questions. Would my Presbytery allow me to transfer to Fuller? Would I get in? At my annual meeting the committee decided that I could begin at Fuller in the Fall of 2011 since I would have completed my year at Dubuque. I applied in the Spring and was accepted. My first quarter at Fuller was surreal. I couldn’t believe I finally made it. I was stretched farther than ever in my classes and experienced learning from professors of the highest caliber. I remember times when classes would end and I would just sit there. I never wanted to leave.
Associate Director of Student Ministries
Second, I took a full time position at my church in September. Until then I had been working 28 hours each week at the church splitting my time between middle school, high school, and the alternative worship service. I was also a full time student and was working at the Los Angeles Youth Network about 20 hours each week. In September I was offered a full time position as the Associate Director of Student Ministries at my church. I took the position at the church and moved from staff to volunteer at LAYN. It was an exciting time. It will always be a great memory. There is no other place I would want to experience my first official full-time ministry position.
This year
This year the journey continues. I hope to become an official candidate for ordination and begin taking the 5 ordination exams. I am scheduled to take the Bible Content exam in February. I have a feeling this year won’t be as eventful as 2011 in terms of job/school changes. I’ll continue serving full time at Westminster, I will volunteer at LAYN, and I will enroll in the Winter, Spring, and Fall quarters at Fuller.
There are a few trips I will go on. I’ll go skiing in Park City Utah in March, go on a mission trip to West Virginia in August, and will be back to visit family in North Carolina in December.
I am proud of my two older brothers- Ben and Andrew. They are both starting businesses this year. Check them out at:
www.phillipscopywriting.com and www.keylessautoremotes.com My mother is finishing her nursing degree and my father was just accepted into a Ph.D program after just finishing his second masters.
In 2011 I gave 2 sermons. Click here to watch them.
