This internship was launched through a memorial offering in 2000 from Dr. Jim Lee in memory of his wife. For two decades, the Judd H. Jones internship allowed Saint Paul students to serve in Kansas City, Kansas at Trinity UMC. Trinity closed its doors in July of 2019 and Saint Paul looked for another opportunity for students to serve in the neighborhood. In partnership with Rev. Carter Ellis, the internship will now place a seminarian at .泭

The Hub is a ministry of the Kansas City District of the United Methodist Church designed to bridge the divide between Wyandotte and Johnson counties. The Hub partners with the United Methodist Churches throughout the Kansas City District to serve alongside and support the efforts of the Argentine neighborhood. The Hub practices Asset Based Community Development and prioritizes using the gifts of the neighbors in Argentine. The Hub has a community garden, clothing closet, community market that provides free food, and programming for children. Interns will have the opportunity to practice ministry in an incredibly diverse community, develop existing programs and start new ones, and practice ministry in non-traditional ways. While The Hub is a United Methodist ministry situated in Kansas City, the internship does not exclude applicants from other denominations, nor UM students outside of The Great Plains Conference.

Along with excellent mentorship and experience in a collaborative new ministry, the recipient of this internship will receive a scholarship for $1,000 per month for ten months of ministry (15 hours/week), August 2023-May 2024. 泭

All those interested in applying for the internship, contact Rev. Dr. Tiffany A. Nagel Monroe (tiffany.nagelmonroe@spst.edu) by April 1^st.

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Isaiah 58: 1-2a,6 NRSV

Shout out, do not hold back!
Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
Announce to my people their rebellion,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
Yet day after day they seek me
and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
and did not forsake the ordinance of their God

泭

Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of injustice,
to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?

As we sat on the steps of her first appointment, First United Methodist Church of Guthrie, Oklahoma, I grappled with the juxtaposition of her age and the poise with which she detailed her call to ministry and her habit of ���following God��� faithfully and intentionally.

Almost twenty-two, Sara Martin claimed with confidence and boldness how the question posed to her at Youth Force — ���Have you ever considered ministry as a vocation?��� — changed her life.泭 At the age of 16, she had not thought about full-time ministry, but the seed was planted, and Sara began to wonder if ���maybe there were places in the church where I could use my gifts and talents,��� and affirmations of these wonderings began to emerge.

It was just three weeks later while on vacation in Dallas that Sara randomly met Oklahoma City University Professor of Hebrew, Dr. Lisa Wolfe.泭 Sara listened as Dr. Wolfe explained the 3+3 program where students would condense the four-year course of study for the new seminary track of the Bachelor of Arts in religion into three years, followed by the completion of the three-year Master of Divinity degree at 勛圖窪蹋厙.泭 Sara, still unsure of what she would pursue after high school, tucked the information away.泭 However, she grinned when she relayed this to me as she now knows that her path was being set without her fully understanding it at the time.泭

Once Sara did discern more fully that indeed she would commit to a pastoral vocation, she did so with deep intent.泭 She continued to be active in the United Methodist Church in Prague, OK, as well as a Certified Lay Servant, which has offered opportunities to write devotions and deliver sermons.泭 Her affiliation with the Conference Council of Youth Ministry has lent practical experience in writing curriculum, leading small groups, facilitating conversation, and organizing events.泭泭 She enrolled and graduated at OCU and will start her first year of Seminary at Saint Paul in August of 2020 while also seeking certified candidate status in the UMC.泭

Sara has also served beyond the Oklahoma Conference as a board member on the General Board of Church and Society for the last four years.泭 During this tenure, she has developed a curiosity and purpose for understanding the relationship between ministry and disabled congregates and what it means to build an inclusive ministry.泭 Her senior paper, Developing a Disability Positive Hermeneutical Approach for Preaching and Teaching, stemmed from this passion.泭 She has also co-authored a paper with Dr. Leslie Long, Web Accessibility, and the Church in the 21st Century, which examines ���ways religious educators, service providers, and disability advocates can work towards creating an accessible learning environment whether virtual or in person.���[1]泭 She is currently working with the United Methodist Association of Ministers with Disability caucus group.泭

She is excited about serving her first appointment and like a wise-sage, she offered that a great deal of her leadership will include listening as the congregation has much to teach her.泭 She

hopes to build inter-generational partnerships that spur ministry that is fully inclusive and sets the example of how to love God and neighbor.泭 She proudly detailed the history of the church and offered a description of the congregation as faithful and ever-learning servants.泭

She chuckled as she ended our conversation telling me that it seems fitting that her first appointment is in Guthrie.泭 ���It is the first home of Oklahoma City University in a way.���泭 She explained how ���the second incarnation of Epworth University (Oklahoma Methodist University)��� settled in Guthrie in 1911 before moving to Oklahoma City and becoming Oklahoma City College in 1922.泭 It seems that Sara will be attending Saint Paul on the OCU campus and leading just down the road from its genesis.泭 We both found some irony and the Divine in the symmetry of it all.泭

[1] ���Creating New Space for People with Disabilities,���Aymeducators.org, accessed July 7, 2020,泭

I am a young Native woman from Oklahoma. I have spent the majority of my life feeling like I was part of two worlds but also excluded from both at the same time. This has caused me to work towards reconnecting to my Native community and learning more about my heritage since becoming an adult. This life goal was a major deciding factor in choosing to attend Saint Paul. I was drawn to the Oklahoma campus��� central location in Oklahoma and its close affiliation with the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference.

In February, I was chosen to attend the OIMC���s immersion experience as a representative of Saint Paul. I was ecstatic, as this was an opportunity to reconnect and learn more about Native faith communities in Oklahoma. The immersion also provided an opportunity to connect with another amazing Native woman at SPST, Dr. Anne Walker.
The immersion event was wonderfully constructed and very informational. While it���s main focus was on how the OIMC functioned within the UMC, there were several opportunities for learning about Native communities, tribal relationships with the government, and Native history both prior to and after relocation.

The immersion began with an informational session on the OIMC in Oklahoma. This was led by OIMC Superintendent Dr. David Wilson who guided the entire experience. The immersion group included people from all over the country, including Louisiana, Massachusetts, Texas, and Illinois. The group alone had an immense impact on how the immersion changed my perceptions of the OIMC and the Native community in general.

Our first full day in immersion included a trip to the Oklahoma History Center, the only Smithsonian affiliate in Oklahoma. They had a wonderful exhibit on all the Oklahoma tribes which included ancient artifacts, dioramas of traditional housing for several different tribes, and wonderful stories and first-hand accounts of the Native experience in Oklahoma. This was followed by a wonderful dinner at a local OIMC church, Mary Lee Clark UMC. The dinner included traditional Indian tacos and meeting some members of the community. Following lunch, we drove out to Ponca City, OK and visited the Standing Bear Park and Memorial there. This included artists’ depictions of the famous Native and recounts of his trial. The park is also home to a gorgeous statue that invoked powerful reflection. We then traveled to the Ponca Nation, where we visited Ponca Indian UMC and took part in worship. We then were treated to another amazing dinner of Indian tacos!

Our second full day of immersion took us to the Washita Battleground in Cheyenne, OK. This was a difficult day as we walked in the place where so many Native people were betrayed and massacred by the US Army. The weather fit the mood, as it was rainy, cold, and very windy! Lunch was hosted by an OK UMC church, First UMC Cheyenne. It was wonderful to see the support and love between the two conferences in action. We then went to Clinton, OK where we visited the Clinton Indian Church and Community Center where we were able to meet Dr. Henrietta Mann and have a wonderful thought-provoking panel discussion. Dr. Mann���s grandparents were first-hand witnesses of the Washita Massacre and to hear the story being told through their eyes was truly heartbreaking and eye-opening.

Our third and last full day was slightly interrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak and response and we had to make adjustments. It began with a debriefing and Q&A with Dr. Wilson about the OIMC and our observations. This was followed by a trip to Thopthlocco UMC where we experienced a traditional Green Onion Dinner and many different Native dishes! The church itself was gorgeous and was constructed by local masons over 80 years ago. We then traveled back to Oklahoma City where we visited a beautiful Native art gallery and saw a performance by talented powwow dancers.

Our last morning was spent in worship together, led by Dr. Wilson and Rev. Donna Pewo. It included Native hymns and a wonderful interactive experience including a dream catcher and prayer ties.

The immersion experience is something I will never forget. I experienced so many emotions throughout each day that I would just be exhausted when I got back to the hotel room. Experiencing pain for my ancestors and hope for my Native peers. Feeling more than ever that I am called to be in ministry and help the communities around me. I was incredibly grateful to be able to debrief daily with Dr. Anne Walker and share our feelings, frustrations, and call to action as Native women in ministry. There were a lot of difficult conversations spoken and a lot of harsh truths heard, and I think everyone who attended the immersion experience left with a new perception and respect of the OIMC and the Native community. I would recommend this immersion experience to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Native American community, their relationship with Christianity and the UMC, and new mission opportunities. The immersion is held every spring in Oklahoma City.

More and more colleges and universities today have responded to this conundrum by offering accelerated programs that save while letting students complete their degrees in less time.

And for students answering the call to a life in ministry, 勛圖窪蹋厙 offers a 3+3 program, which combines a 4-year bachelor���s degree with a 3-year seminary degree in only 6 years. The program is offered in partnership with two outstanding United Methodist institutions, and .

Saint Paul and Kansas Wesleyan University

Beginning with a memorandum of understanding in 2015, Saint Paul and Kansas Wesleyan established a partnership that is the first of its kind between a United Methodist university and a United Methodist seminary.

It enables students to complete a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Leadership at KWU, followed by a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Saint Paul in a total of 6 years.

The undergraduate Christian Leadership program prepares students for full-time ministry careers through a combination of internships and hands-on coursework. Core requirements include the following classes:

• Bible
• Religion
• Philosophy
• Ministry
• Educational and Social Sciences

KWU undergraduates may also participate in the university���s vibrant campus ministry offerings:

• Monday Night Alive weekly worship
• Student-led Bible studies
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes
• Wesleyan Journey course, which involves intentional service and travel, domestic or abroad

Saint Paul and Oklahoma City University

Saint Paul first established a branch campus at Oklahoma City University, which is also affiliated with the United Methodist Church, in 2008.

A 2016 memorandum of understanding further cemented this partnership with the launch of a 3+3 program.

The program combines a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies at OCU with an MDiv from Saint Paul. For added convenience, both degrees may be completed on the same campus.

• A religion studies major is an excellent path for students planning careers in a range of church-related vocations including Christian ministry, Christian education or graduate work in religion.
• Coursework includes English, history, philosophy and social sciences.
• Undergraduates may apply to the World House Scholars Program, which offers service learning projects and at least one approved international education experience. Courses address peace and nonviolence, social justice, ecological sustainability among other important topics.

MDiv Degree at 勛圖窪蹋厙

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is one of three graduate-level degrees at Saint Paul, along with a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies.

The MDiv program prepares graduates for religious leadership, including ministry in a church, a chaplaincy or similar position.

• Graduates provide critical leadership that promotes church renewal
• The program deepens a critical and practical understanding of the Bible
• Students will obtain all necessary requirements for ordination in the United Methodist Church
• The program offers specialization options including Evangelism, Wesleyan Studies and Women, Society and Church Studie

Is 3+3 the right option for your seminary education? Contact us for more information or if you have questions.

For the Kansas City or Oklahoma City campus, call 913-725-8289 or email admiss@spst.edu.

One day, a woman���a complete stranger���approached him and said, ���Is your name Fredrick? I want you to know, you need to be a pastor. You need to dedicate your life or you���ll never be satisfied.��� After praying and talking with his pastor, Fredrick started realizing this could be his calling after all. All his professional experiences thus far seemed to give him skills that could aid him in ministry. ���Looking back, God was doing a tremendous amount of preparation in my life,��� Killian says. Providence led Killian to Saint Paul, where he felt everything fell into place.

He now works at Ames First UMC in Ames, Iowa and is in his second year at the seminary, serving on the Student Council leadership team. ���I truly enjoy the Saint Paul faculty, staff, and students. On days when I come in running on empty, I always leave feeling renewed and full again.��� Killian laughs that with his stocky frame, long beard, and booming voice, he doesn���t fit the bill of the stereotypical pastor. But talk with him for a while and you���ll begin to understand that he���s a person for the people.

���I love doing God���s genuinely raw work,��� he explained. Killian began a prison ministry program about eight months ago. He goes into jails for three, one-hour worship times. Each gathering now has an average of 40 inmates. Recently a self-proclaimed atheist asked to be baptized after six weeks of worship and discussion. ���God is so powerful,��� said Killian.

Fredrick Killian attended a workshop at Women at the Well, a United Methodist congregation located within the walls of the Iowa Correctional Institution for Women in Mitchellville, Iowa. There he met and received mentoring tips from Saint Paul Alumna, Rev. Lee Schott, MDiv ���07, and team member Brenda Hobson. This experience led Killian to become involved in reentry ministry for women –finding clothing, housing, and calling in favors to get women jobs. He smiles as he tells of one former inmate assigned to his team that recently got promoted to a manager position at a local fast food restaurant. It���s her first time to feel like a contributing member of the community, and to complete a successful stay in the local half-way house.

Killian attributes much of his seminary and ministry progress to his high-quality professors at Saint Paul. He moves forward with an authentic attitude to show Christ���s love: ���I want everything I do, every pore in my body, to scream Christ in me.���

According to a recent article in The Atlantic, the average Master of Divinity graduate accrued more than $40,000 in educational debt and five percent accumulated more than $80,000 in debt. Meanwhile the U.S. department of labor states that the median wage for a pastor is $43,800 ��� not a salary that lends itself to paying off high-end loans.

Carpenter was especially drawn to Saint Paul at Oklahoma City University after hearing an announcement about a newly established Oklahoma Fellows program. Recipients would receive tuition, a church placement, and ministry mentor. Carpenter was elated to later receive the news that he would begin seminary in 2015 as a Fellow. He was also welcomed into the fold at Oklahoma City based,

Michael began his internship by simply observing ministry and later took on more leadership roles. “I view all of the clergy here as mentors,” said Carpenter. “They are all experts in their fields and open to sharing. It’s a wonderful church.” Michael turns to one pastor for academic questions, another for pastoral care advice and another for advice when working on Sunday sermons.

Now into his third year as a seminary Fellow, Michael has grown through his multiple experiences around the church. He has enjoyed planning worship for the early-morning chapel service and preaching in both traditional and modern worship settings. He currently leads the young adult ministry and focuses on the church���s hospitality and follow-up ministry with guests.���One of the things I appreciate is that this 1500 member church remembers that they have grown through personal relationships, one member at a time.”

Carpenter has learned so much from the congregation and his church leadership mentors — all while keeping up with his seminary studies. ���Saint Paul has been incredible in readying me for real-life ministry. In every class the professors discuss how we can use what we learned not just for our own edification, but also for building God���s kingdom on earth through our ministries.���

Randy Shrauner, Church of the Servant Executive Pastor and clergy mentor sees the collaborative program as a win-win situation. Together the church and seminary are raising up young, high-caliber clergy for the state.

“I have no doubt that Michael���s acumen in the classroom will make the short jump to the local parish intact and energized. We are grateful for his ministry among us and look forward to a life invested as clergy colleagues.���

泭
Saint Paul at OCU student Michael Carpenter and his wife Rachel were pleased to welcome a baby boy to their family in May.

Our solution hearkens back to ideas used historically at family reunions.

Saint Paul held an ice cream social and “optional” talent show. The participation varied greatly with the dynamics of each weekly group. The first week and third weeks had a variety of participants sign up. The second week preferred to visit while they ate their ice cream.

The Course of Study students proudly danced, sang, and played instruments ranging from a pocket harmonica to a red accordion. Some told stories, danced and another told a string of jokes. One group did animal noises with loud applause ���especially for the turkey call. The most interactive event was when one student asked the audience to participate in learning Taekwondo moves. The second-career COS students laughed as they kicked and punched through the air.

Students left the room more energized that when they arrived. Laughter, talking, and congratulatory remarks filled the air. This ice-breaking event at the beginning of the week, helped others get to know each other more quickly. It was a time to turn off their phones and appreciate the varied gifts God had given them.

It���s not often that seminary students find themselves outdoors for their theology courses. It���s even more unique to be coexisting with wild animals.

勛圖窪蹋厙 Science, Theology and Ministry students went to the zoo recently to better react to reflection questions posted by Dr. Nancy Howell. Since Dr. Howell is now serving as Acting President of the seminary, she requested that Dr. Kyle Butler, a 2007 MDiv alum of Saint Paul, lead students at the Kansas City Zoo. Meanwhile she experienced the Oklahoma City Zoo with students from Saint Paul at Oklahoma City University.

Each group opened with the prayer of St. Basil the Great.
O God, enlarge within us the sense of fellowship with all living things, our brothers the animals to whom thou gavest the earth as their home in common with us.

We remember with shame that in the past we have exercised the high dominion of man with ruthless cruelty so that the voice of the earth, which should have gone up to thee in song, has been a groan of travail.

May we realize that they live not for us alone but for themselves and for thee, and that they love the sweetness of life.

The group then answered reflection questions individually while observing wildlife and nature. As they observed the wildlife, students reflected on Scripture passages. They met together at the end of the afternoon to reflect as a group. A highlight was watching the gorillas as each zoo had a baby gorilla around a year old. Several social interactions and feelings were observed while watching the gorillas.

Some students identified with the antics of one species or another. What do you think this identification between a human and an animal means? Is it a welcome or a troubling one? Some students empathized with the animals when they saw them desperate to escape. Another student realized that as humans we can be helpful in saving some species from extinction.

The afternoon concluded with this question, ���Are humans the only children of God?” Food for thought.

It wasn���t unusual that Art agreed to be a mentor for a teenage confirmand in his congregation. He enjoyed the experience and was talking about that with the teenager on the last day of confirmation.

She looked at him very seriously and said, ���you should be a minister.���

Art Moore was surprised to hear these words coming from a thirteen-year old, and it made an impression. Later that same year, his own 14 year old son mentioned that he thought that his Dad would be a good pastor. ���I was surprised to hear it from him, too,��� said Moore. ���Especially since, as most teens, he sometimes acts like he doesn���t even like me!���

Moore looked into the requirements to become a pastor and began his studies at 勛圖窪蹋厙 as a Course of Study student. Later, he was notified that his job was being downsized. Circumstances had aligned for him to pursue full-time ministry.

���The Lord called me to do this and gave me the desire in my heart to serve Him,��� Art said. ���I now serve a two-point charge at the Centenary and Clarksville UMC churches in eastern Missouri.���

Pastor Moore believes in helping those in need.

The Clarksville Church, which is only 14 members, stepped up to serve the volunteers that came to help sandbag the area when the Missouri River flooded. They worked with the local grocery store to provide food for the workers.

The Centenary UMC church also wanted to focus on community. They came together with four other churches in the area to provide 420 free meals at Thanksgiving to local residents.

���I want to not only be part of a local church, but to lead people to Christ. It���s important to not always focus inward but to reach out the community, especially to those in need,��� said Pastor Moore. He looks forward to his next trip to Kansas City to learn and exchange ideas with both faculty and fellow Course of Study students.