What advice would you give a student who is just beginning their journey at Grace?
Lawrence: If I could give students one piece of advice, it would be this: it’s not about what you do; it’s about who you are. Too often I see students get overly concerned about what they are going to do vocationally or how they are going to provide for themselves in the future. While these are genuine concerns and they matter, the reality is that God cares more about who you are than what you do vocationally. He wants all of His people to be disciples regardless of their vocation. Does He care about their vocation? Certainly! He’s a God who cares about the details. Yet, the detail He is most concerned about is the relationship His people have with Him. Never let the minors (career/vocation) overcome the majors (relationship with God). Pursue Him first. I have also heard it said, “Remember who and whose you are.” Again, it’s not about what you do vocationally. It’s about who you are and the fact that you are God’s child/disciple. He will fill in the details. We just have to keep moving toward Him and let Him lead.
Emily: Make sure to find a church in the first month of college! You need an outside source pouring into you other than chapels. This is so important for new students to keep growing their faith and to keep them rooted in Jesus!
How did your degree in ministry at Grace positively impact your life and relationship with God?
Lawrence: My relationship with God grew over my time at Grace College for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest was the influence of my professors and their teaching throughout my education. I learned more about God, more about Scripture, more about the church, and more about faith over the last five years than I may learn for the rest of my life. Of course, I will always pursue growth, but that time was something special. It was also unique to have like-minded peers and classmates who were pursuing the same things that I was. Iron sharpens iron, and that is exactly what happened to me at Grace. Moving into the future, I have much deeper relationships horizontally (friends, peers, professors), and I have a far deeper relationship vertically (with my Savior).
Emily: Grace positively impacted my life by allowing me to be in a space that I could be an adult, but still have support around me. I learned how to be independent while still having amazing leaders and friends around me. Grace impacted my relationship with God by having outstanding Bible professors who encouraged me, stayed true to the Word, and challenged us to have a relationship with Jesus outside of Bible class!
If Lawrence and Emily’s story inspires you to pursue a bachelor’s degree in theology or something similar, click here to explore our options and here to read more about our seminary offerings.
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