Where are you originally from?

I grew up in beautiful Northern California, in the obscure town of Potter Valley, a few hours north of San Francisco.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

My time at Western has helped me approach theology and ministry with a greater measure of grace and humility. The commitment to teach students to think biblically, theologically and critically rather than merely to pass on a particular theological system has been a refreshing challenge.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

The simple answer is ministry. I love teaching, and my wife and I would love to someday pursue some sort of ministry internationally, but are really open to what God brings our way. The MABTS has been a great option for me, allowing me to lay an academic foundation, while giving me some exciting tools to put to use in my local church. I love learning and would love to continue on into Western's ThM program after I complete my MA.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go? And what's the best vacation spot you've ever been to or want to go to?

I'm terrible with these kinds of questions. How do you choose with the whole world sitting there? Maybe the British Isles or New Zealand, maybe Iceland, Israel, Turkey. They always seemed like places I'd love to visit that are rather cost prohibitive. The list could go on and on.

Favorite place I've been? Again, impossible to answer. I've been blessed to be able to travel quite a bit and going back to an Island in Malaysia (or anywhere else I've been) sounds pretty good right now.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Hmm...favorites again. It's been far too long since I've seen The Princess Bride.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

We looked at seminaries all over the country, but family in Portland drew us to look closely at schools here. As we narrowed it down to a few schools, my wife and I ended up at a wonderful church with a number of Western students and alumni. As we got to know them as we worshipped and served with them, we were able to get a first-hand account of what Western has to offer and were quickly convinced it was the place to be.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to read, play sports, hike, hunt, fish, pick mushrooms, cook and eat good food, bake sourdough bread, play guitar, drink coffee, watch Giants baseball, travel, and most especially, do anything at all with my lovely wife.

What's your favorite quote?

One favorite I have no doubts about is my favorite book, The Lord of the Rings. This is one of many fantastic quotes from Tolkien:

“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” - Gandalf (to Frodo, regarding Gollum)

Besides Jesus, who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

I was powerfully influenced by JP Moreland during my undergraduate studies. Interacting with a number of his books helped me grasp the importance of thinking deeply and critically. It sparked a desire to read more widely than I had before and to examine my life more closely.

Not a person, but another powerful influence on my life has been traveling and living abroad. Traveling in Europe, Asia and South America opened my eyes to a world that is far larger and smaller than I had ever imagined. Living in South Korea for a year, immersed in such a foreign culture, made me vulnerable enough for God to work some deep life change through relationships we built while there, and allowed me to see myself and my own culture in a much clearer way than I ever had.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

Ministry is a difficult task. Seminary is an opportunity to approach that task with greater preparation and a better understanding of what lies ahead. God had used me to minister before I ever came to seminary and he has continued to use me since I've been here. Having said that, I have been so very blessed to have learned what I have so far, to have dialogued with professors, to have prayed together with students, and to have been challenged to approach whatever ministry God has for me as well equipped as possible.

Where are you originally from?

A little bit Minnesota, a little bit Nebraska! I've seen more snow in my life than Portland has seen EVER.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

I have been incredibly blessed by my time here. I am grateful especially that counseling students get to take theology and Bible classes, and I'm thankful for the emphasis on learning how to think critically and integrate psychological science with the core beliefs of Christianity. Along with being challenged to grow in my thinking, I have felt more and more personally anchored in the gospel of Jesus and am grateful that I am being equipped to offer His healing and comfort to my clients.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

I'm planning to go on to get my counseling license. In my practice, I'd love to partner with a church, and also to continue working with the college population in some capacity. One day I'd love to work with couples. The great thing about a counseling degree is its flexibility.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

I've done some traveling in Thailand and Japan, and that was pretty sweet! At this point, I think I'd spend about two months with some friends and some books on some tropical island with no internet service and nothing I am required to do, in order to detox my grad-school brain....

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Pride and Prejudice, the 6-hour BBC version, hands down. Other less-dorky favorites are What About Bob?, Les Miserables, and... Well, all the other ones are pretty dorky too.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

After getting a degree in music, I realized what I really wanted was a helping career (even though the starving artist thing is very popular these days). I moved to Portland on a whim after college, and one thing led to another. I lived in a house of four Christian girls, one of whom was getting her MABTS at Western (and who later, through my excellent matchmaking abilities, became my sister-in-law!). Through our social circles, I ended up meeting several people who attended Western, and they were quality (and one of them is now my fiancée... good things happen at Western! How's that for advertising?). Since I was in the midst of a quarter-life crisis, I looked into Western's counseling program more, and it more than exceeded my expectations.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Socialize, catch up with old friends, exercise, road trips to anywhere(!), adventures, painting, people-watching, 80's dancing, sing loud so that my neighbors can hear... you know, the usual. Lately free time isn't free. You gotta steal it from the time you should be doing something responsible and scholarly.

What's your favorite quote?

Too hard! So many!

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

My parents. My dad is an amazing, godly, scholarly man who has forgotten more than most people ever knew. My mom keeps him in line and has all the social graces.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

Anytime you are in a helping profession, most especially ministry, you will often find yourself dealing with the messiest pieces of people's lives. You will need to be grounded in what you believe, able to maintain your faith in God's redeeming love and his ultimate control, or you will not be equipped to offer real hope, and are in danger of burning out yourself. Seminary offers a time and place to wrestle with God's word among others with a passion to follow his heart, and can be in incredible place to grow.

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in North Carolina.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

Western Seminary has taught me the importance of Biblical knowledge and theological understanding as it applies to the local church. Apart from having a robust awareness of the faith we cannot lead the church with grace and truth.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

I hope to spend my life revitalizing dying churches through making disciples.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

I would take my family on a boat, traveling down the entire East Coast, stopping at every town along the way.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Ties between Field Of Dreams, The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Gods & Generals.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

The fact that Western isn't inward focused, but is set on marrying ministry and education.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my family doing things outdoors or reading a book on the couch.

What's your favorite quote?

"Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs!" — Jonathan Edwards

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

The Puritans, Stonewall Jackson, my father, my friends, and my wife.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

I think seminary training is necessary because it gives the leaders in the local church a vision for the importance of training up their people in the ways of God—through gospel depth, holy pursuit, and biblical growth. Apart from this understanding, the leader is not really leading their people anywhere worth going.

Where are you originally from?

I was born in Cleveland, OH, but grew up in Spokane, WA and have spent most of my life in the Pacific Northwest.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

My training at Western has absolutely given me a broader perspective of the Lord and His Church, and at the same time grounded me in essential and central truths of the faith. I have not only had some of my thinking challenged or stripped away if need be, I have also had some foundation laid in areas of my thinking and practice that were lacking. Furthermore, with my apprenticeship at Trinity Church on campus, I have gained invaluable experience and insight regarding the work of the pastor and church planter.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

After completing the M.Div. program, my hope and plan is to serve in pastoral ministry and obtain further formal education; likely pursuing a Th.M. and possibly a doctoral degree somewhere down the line.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?And what's the best vacation spot you've ever been to or want to go to?

Having already been to Israel with Western's Israel Study Program, my next on the list would be to tour in Italy and Greece. I also hope to one day spend a Christmas in New York with my wife, and I would love to go to a few Stanley Cup Finals games (preferably in Colorado).

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Without a doubt the movie I've seen the most is The Transformers: The Movie. Not the recent Michael Bay abominations, but the original cartoon complete with cheesy 80's rock and dated animation.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

I wanted to stay in the Northwest and wanted a school that is firmly rooted in the Gospel and the Word, and that provides a range of perspectives while still holding to this center. I also wanted to attend a seminary that seeks to produce preachers of the Word of God and capable pastors of the local church. After several years here I can say that I am in the right place!

What do you like to do in your free time?

Of course there is little free time these days, but when I do have some down time I generally find myself relaxing with my wife, usually reading or watching comedies.

What's your favorite quote?

There are few more quotable than George Whitefield - “Let my name be forgotten, let me be trodden under the feet of all men, if Jesus may thereby be glorified.” Those are words to live by.

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

Obviously my family has been hugely influential, but aside from them I have had the great fortune of crossing paths with many excellent church leaders and pastors. It has been hugely helpful for me to glean insight from a variety of good men, specifically a few pastors in Spokane and some of the pastors/professors here at the Seminary. For that I am eternally grateful.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

I think many aspiring leaders and pastors simply don't know what they don't know. To say it another way, we all have blind spots in our vision, and seminary is the perfect environment to gain wisdom and insight from men and women who have walked the road for a while and know the twists and turns ahead. I believe seminary training to be an essential tool for alerting church leaders to their blind spots, grounding them in the word of God, and building their ministerial skills. There is no greater place to have misconceptions challenged and gifts affirmed, both of which I believe are necessary for men and women seeking to lead in ministry. We need to be humbled and at the same time build a confidence in the Lord's ability to work through us, and I believe seminary training can provide this in spades, especially when coupled with activity in a healthy local church!

Where are you originally from?

Cleveland, Ohio

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

I benefited from gleaning from my husband's DMiss courses. (We have been missionaries for over 20 years.)

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

n/a (yet)

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

Israel

What is your favorite movie of all time?

I don't really have an all time favorite, but I like Driving Miss Daisy. (I'm not a big movie fan)

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

I'm actually working here, but my husband came in 1999 for the DMiss program because it came highly recommended.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Music, exercise, read, visit with people.

What's your favorite quote?

Prov. 14:4a “Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty” Life is messy.

Besides Jesus, who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

My husband

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

If both professor and student desire spiritual transformation, studying God's Word in deeper ways can help bring that transformation about. Seminary training has also given us tools that we have used to present the truths of God's Word more effectively.

Where are you originally from?

Most recently from La Mirada, California, but I've moved around a lot.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

I am not in a degree program, but I have greatly benefited from taking courses at Western through our Learning Together Program. This program is designed to allow spouses of those who are in degree programs, to also take advantage of the training that Western offers. Being able to take courses alongside my husband Matt not only helped us have common ground as we dealt with the rigors of graduate school, but it also personally challenged me to think through how I approach ministry, the Church, and my relationship with God. I am so thankful that Western values not only equipping individuals, but also couples for ministry.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

My husband graduated with an MA in 2009, and he is serving as an Associate Pastor. Because I feel like God has brought us together to do His kingdom work, I am serving alongside him in ministry. I have been so blessed to be able to minister to people as we invite them into our home and also to be able to invest in the lives of young women.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

And what's the best vacation spot you've ever been to or want to go to? I would love to go to Fiji.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Les Misérables.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

When Matt and I prayed about it, we knew this is where God wanted us to go. We knew that we wanted to go to a seminary that would challenge us not just academically, but also that would help us to continue deepening in our walks with the Lord. It was refreshing to interact with professors and students who weren't approaching seminary just as an academic endeavor, but who really wanted to apply what they were learning to their lives and ministries.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Moving up to Portland, I have developed a great appreciation for coffee, so I love going to a fun coffee shop and hanging out with friends. When the sun is shining, I really enjoy spending time outdoors (mountain biking, walking, hiking, lying on a blanket in the park). I also enjoy good food, so my husband and I always have fun finding new date restaurants. And, I'm a big basketball fan so it's great when I get to catch a Lakers game or a college basketball game.

What's your favorite quote?

“Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.” — Charles Spurgeon

Besides Jesus, who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

R.A. Torrey. Both for what I've read and been influenced by personally and for the influence he's had on my parents, husband, and the pastors that have influenced my life.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

Having seen my husband go through seminary, I realize that this time was essential for him to really think through his approach to ministry. We had served in youth ministry for 3 years before coming to seminary, but I think we had a lot of blind spots and things the Lord wanted to teach us. Having professors and students with a variety of perspectives and being challenged to think through so many different issues really enriched us and prepared us to be more effective in ministry.

Where are you originally from?

Born and raised in Sunnyvale, CA a city amongst many others cities in the Bay Area.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

Definitely the UK. I lived in Germany when I was 18 and it was an incredible experience being on that side of the world and would love to see England and Scotland. My husband's family has a castle in England that we would both be thrilled to see one day, even though it is technically a stable now!

What is your favorite movie of all time?

I definitely can't pick one, so my top 3 are: Any Harry Potter movie, Mrs. Doubtfire, and The Proposal.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I grew up being very active outside and love to spend any time I can in nature. Swimming, hiking, camping, canoeing, running, snowboarding...pretty much anything that gets me into God's creation is perfect.

What's your favorite quote?

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.'” -Erma Bombeck

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

I've had a few exceptional coaches in my life that have made a profound impact on me and molded me a great deal. It's really hard to pick one person because I've been blessed with an abundance of amazing people to walk through life with. The top two I would say are my husband and my Dad. My husband is a strong but an exceptionally compassionate man of God, who sharpens me every day and is always encouraging me to be refining my gifts. He pushes me outside my comfort zone and grounds me beautifully. My Dad has always been a stable, silent servant. I tell others he is the best physical representation of Christ on earth that I can think of. He modeled his high expectations of morality and grace to me without lectures and, being an Eagle Scout, has fostered a love for nature, exploration, and finding joy in unexpected places in me, which is a huge part of who I am today. These two men make a lasting impression on me each day and are such a gift!

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

Seminary training is so necessary, especially in today's social climate. Where our society would say God is an irrelevant part of the human existence, seminary training equips counselors, pastors, coaches, and others to intricately weave God and spirituality into their relationships with others. Contrary to our society's theory, I've encountered countless people who are empty and searching for the fulfillment and healing that only their Maker can provide. As I've spent the past few years working with drug-addicted teenage gang members, I've seen the emptiness that the world's standards brings to them and the restoration that only Christ can provide. Being able to use my training as an MFT alum from a school that made the Gospel an integral part of the educational experience has been priceless.

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in Los Altos, California. After high school, I went to college in San Diego, moved to China, then returned here to the Bay Area!

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

One of my favorite places on earth is Italy. I was fortunate enough to visit the country in high school as well as study abroad in Florence during my college years. My time was unbelievble. My Mom is fullblood Italian, despite the fact, I was shocked as to how much the foreign country felt like home. The streets, the food, the people, in fact, the entirty of Italian culture is comforting to me!

What is your favorite movie of all time?

I have interesting taste in movies. I tend to enjoy the "out-there," colorful, creative ones, though I also like historically plausible films. I can't give you just one, but here are a few: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the original), Stardust, Moulin Rouge, Shawshank Redemption, and the Gladiator.

What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I love being outdoors, singing, dancing, and doing just about anything creative. I've had a longstanding passion for art, particularly oil painting. I can paint for hours and hours, and time seems to pass almost instantly. In addition, I enjoy reading, journaling, and spending time with friends.

What's your favorite quote?

Now this is a difficult question; there are so many amazing quotes out there! Though it's not my absolute favorite, this is one I heard recently from a dear friend and I can often relate: Every morning I awake torn between a desire to save the world and an inclination to savour it. This makes it hard to plan the day. – E.B. White

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

My family. I don't know if I could name just one person, seeing as that I have four siblings and two amazing parents. They've each challenged me in their own way at varying points in my life. My family is constant, honest, and unbelievably supportive. They have each pushed me to grow more than anyone in the world.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

Hmm, good question. I'm not in seminary, though I do feel it is essential for those entering into a pastoral, counseling, or ministry role. What an amazing calling to be entering into such a position, though what an even greater responsibility?! I know this is how Tony stated his answer, but what an appropriate way to illustrate the point: If an individual wants to be a doctor, he/she cannot begin to operate solely because they have an innate desire. He/she must study, train, and prepare for their career as a doctor. I feel the same goes for those in ministry.

Where are you originally from?

Muskego, WI (suburb of Milwaukee).

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

Western has added a wealth of knowledge and practicality to how I be and do ministry. I graduated with my B.S. in Education from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee so I didn’t have a vast amount of instruction in terms of ministry preparation and application. I now have enhanced my gifts and skill set in order to better lead and shepherd others and be a much more effective preacher and teacher of the Word.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing (list degree in response)?

Being enrolled in the Master of Divinity/M.A. in Marital Family Therapy dual degree program will aid me in moving towards my goal of running a counseling center within the walls of a church. I hope for this to also be a crucial resource for neighboring communities.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

Jamaica, Hawaii, Tahiti, and there’s a bunch of different locations in Europe I would love to travel through.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

I’m not sure I have one. Typically, it would be any movie I can pull some theological themes out of.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

A close friend of mine lives in California’s central valley, relatively close to the Sacramento Campus. Also, I found Western’s theological statement to be very sound and its tuition rate very reasonable comparative to other seminaries.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I’m a movie buff, so tell me about a good movie and I’m game! I’m also a sucker for watching sports and getting out and about with friends doing pretty much whatever sounds exciting!

What's your favorite quote?

There’s a few that come to mind, but I believe this one tops it: “Grace is enough and until you understand that grace is enough, and even if you never do, grace will be enough.” – Unknown

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

So many to choose…all the people that have sacrificed for the betterment of my life: Joni, Dad & Mom, Jesus…I could go on for a while.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

Check this; I don’t think seminary is necessary…for everyone. Training can come in all different forms. Being involved in ministry doesn’t necessarily mean having to go to seminary. If God calls you to seminary as part of your process and/or you feel this is the route you want to take than it is necessary. Educators, doctors, therapists, etc. all require some form of training; so should the minister of Christ.

Where are you originally from?

I grew up in beautiful Northern California, in the obscure town of Potter Valley, a few hours north of San Francisco.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

My time at Western has helped me approach theology and ministry with a greater measure of grace and humility. The commitment to teach students to think biblically, theologically and critically rather than merely to pass on a particular theological system has been a refreshing challenge.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

The simple answer is ministry. I love teaching, and my wife and I would love to someday pursue some sort of ministry internationally, but are really open to what God brings our way. The MABTS has been a great option for me, allowing me to lay an academic foundation, while giving me some exciting tools to put to use in my local church. I love learning and would love to continue on into Western's ThM program after I complete my MA.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go? And what's the best vacation spot you've ever been to or want to go to?

I'm terrible with these kinds of questions.how do you choose with the whole world sitting there? Maybe the British Isles or New Zealand, maybe Iceland, Israel, Turkey.they always seemed like places I'd love to visit that are rather cost prohibitive. The list could go on and on.

Favorite place I've been? Again, impossible to answer. I've been blessed to be able to travel quite a bit and going back to an Island in Malaysia (or anywhere else I've been) sounds pretty good right now.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Hmm...favorites again. It's been far too long since I've seen The Princess Bride.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

We looked at Seminaries all over the country, but family in Portland drew us too look closely at schools here. As we narrowed it down to a few schools, my wife and I ended up at a wonderful church with a number of Western students and alumni. As we got to know them as we worshipped and served with them, we were able to get a first hand account of what Western has to offer and were quickly convinced it was the place to be.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to read, play sports, hike, hunt, fish, pick mushrooms, cook and eat good food, bake sourdough bread, play guitar, drink coffee, watch Giants baseball, travel, and most especially, do anything at all with my lovely wife.

What's your favorite quote?

One favorite I have no doubts about is my favorite book, The Lord of the Rings. This is one of many fantastic quotes from Tolkien:

“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.” - Gandalf (to Frodo, regarding Gollum)

Besides Jesus, who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

I was powerfully influenced by JP Moreland during my undergraduate studies. Interacting with a number of his books helped me grasp the importance of thinking deeply and critically. It sparked a desire to read more widely than I had before and to examine my life more closely.

Not a person, but another powerful influence on my life has been traveling and living abroad. Traveling in Europe, Asia and South America opened my eyes to a world that is far larger and smaller than I had ever imagined. Living in South Korea for a year, immersed in such a foreign culture, made me vulnerable enough for God to work some deep life change through relationships we built while there, and allowed me to see myself and my own culture in a much clearer way than I ever had.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

Ministry is a difficult task. Seminary is an opportunity to approach that task with greater preparation and a better understanding of what lies ahead. God had used me to minister before I ever came to Seminary and he has continued to use me since I've been here. Having said that, I have been so very blessed to have learned what I have so far, to have dialogued with professors, to have prayed together with students, and to have been challenged to approach whatever ministry God has for me as well equipped as possible.

Where are you originally from?

A little bit Minnesota, a little bit Nebraska! I've seen more snow in my life than Portland has seen EVER.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

I have been incredibly blessed by my time here. I am grateful especially that counseling students get to take theology and Bible classes, and I'm thankful for the emphasis on learning how to think critically and integrate psychological science with the core beliefs of Christianity. Along with being challenged to grow in my thinking, I have felt more and more personally anchored in the gospel of Jesus and am grateful that I am being equipped to offer His healing and comfort to my clients.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

I'm planning to go on to get my counseling license. In my practice, I'd love to partner with a church, and also to continue working with the college population in some capacity. One day I'd love to work with couples. The great thing about a counseling degree is its flexibility.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

I've done some traveling in Thailand and Japan, and that was pretty sweet! At this point, I think I'd spend about two months with some friends and some books on some tropical island with no internet service and nothing I am required to do, in order to detox my grad-school brain....

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Pride and Prejudice, the 6-hour BBC version, hands down. Other less-dorky favorites are What About Bob?, Les Miserables, and... Well, all the other ones are pretty dorky too.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

After getting a degree in music, I realized what I really wanted was a helping career (even though the starving artist thing is very popular these days). I moved to Portland on a whim after college, and one thing led to another. I lived in a house of four Christian girls, one of whom was getting her MABTS at Western (and who later, through my excellent matchmaking abilities, became my sister-in-law!). Through our social circles, I ended up meeting several people who attended Western, and they were quality (and one of them is now my fiancée... good things happen at Western! How's that for advertising?). Since I was in the midst of a quarter-life crisis, I looked into Western's counseling program more, and it more than exceeded my expectations.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Socialize, catch up with old friends, exercise, road trips to anywhere(!), adventures, painting, people-watching, 80's dancing, sing loud so that my neighbors can hear... you know, the usual. Lately free time isn't free. You gotta steal it from the time you should be doing something responsible and scholarly.

What's your favorite quote?

Too hard! So many!

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

My parents. My dad is an amazing, godly, scholarly man who has forgotten more than most people ever knew. My mom keeps him in line and has all the social graces.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

Anytime you are in a helping profession, most especially ministry, you will often find yourself dealing with the messiest pieces of people's lives. You will need to be grounded in what you believe, able to maintain your faith in God's redeeming love and his ultimate control, or you will not be equipped to offer real hope, and are in danger of burning out yourself. Seminary offers a time and place to wrestle with God's word among others with a passion to follow his heart, and can be in incredible place to grow.

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in North Carolina.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

Western Seminary has taught me the importance of Biblical knowledge and theological understanding as it applies to the local church. Apart from having a robust awareness of the faith we cannot lead the church with grace and truth.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

I hope to spend my life revitalizing dying churches through making disciples.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

I would take my family on a boat, traveling down the entire East Coast, stopping at every town along the way.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Ties between Field Of Dreams, The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Gods & Generals.

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

The fact that Western isn't inward focused, but is set on marrying ministry and education.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I enjoy spending time with my family doing things outdoors or reading a book on the couch.

What's your favorite quote?

“Lord, stamp eternity on my eyeballs!” – Jonathan Edwards

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

The Puritans, Stonewall Jackson, my father, my friends, and my wife.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

I think seminary training is necessary because it gives the leaders in the local church a vision for the importance of training up their people in the ways of God – through gospel depth, holy pursuit, and biblical growth. Apart from this understanding, the leader is not really leading their people anywhere worth going.

Where are you originally from?

Born in Santa Barbara, California.

How have you benefited from your training at Western?

Western has trained me to understand and apply what God's word says. I used to rely on and apply worldly, pragmatic advice and solutions.

What do you want to do with the degree program you are pursuing?

I am pursuing a Master of Divinity, hoping to apply it in leading a church, which desires renewal.

If you could have an all-expense paid vacation, where would you go?

And what's the best vacation spot you've ever been to or want to go to? I'd like to take my wife through Europe during April.

What is your favorite movie of all time?

The Incredibles (I'm a kid at heart).

What made you decide to come to Western Seminary?

My pastor had taken Greek through the Western Seminary Online campus, so I took Carl Laney's classes online, loved them, and moved to Portland for more.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Go for walks in my neighborhood, go backpacking with my kids, and grow vegetables and roses in my garden.

What's your favorite quote?

“In Him you have been made complete.” Colossians 2:10

Who has had a powerful influence in your life (living or non-living)?

My wife, who has faithfully loved me for 22 years, whereas my life prior to her had been marked by broken relationships.

Why do you think seminary training is necessary?

To learn to accurately handle God's word, and to gain skill and wisdom in leadership from professors who are also church leaders.