17

and launching an action-learning course environment for a

transformative experience in learning how to do ministry in a real-
life" seuing.
ln May, more than zcc participants joined us at the John l. Kennedy
Library and Museum as 11 individuals received recognition awards
during our new Signature lvent, Making a Dinerence in Christian
Service." Tis annual awards event honors individuals for exemplary
service in their respective churches and communities. lour recipients
were presented with the Dr. lldin Villafane Award for High
Distinction in Christian Service" ldward Davidson and Marcus
Youksee for their extensive involvement in homeless ministry, lrica
lorkner for her anti-human tramcking advocacy enorts and Jasmine
Myers for her commitment to performing arts ministry. Te award`s
namesake, Dr. lldin Villafane, lounding Director of the Center for
Urban Ministerial lducation (CUMl), was also recognized for his
numerous contributions to urban ministry and theological education
in the city of Boston.
ln June, we hosted ve prospective students for our hrst
explore!Seminary event, many of whom indicated that they had
auended because of the Signature lvent. We believe that by
recognizing emerging Christian leaders in Greater Boston, we can
encourage and inspire others for Christian service while promoting
opportunities to get equipped for ministry at the Boston campus.
lnectively communicating our legacy and vision has brought about
a sense of spiritual renewal. Te climate at the Boston campus is
one of excitement. Tis became evident in our new fall and spring
all-day-Saturday events, which drew zcc students, stan and faculty
for orientation sessions, convocation, fellowship luncheon and an
integrative seminar series on spiritual formation.
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A halve o Brookyh, N.Y., Calherhe
grew up h lhe church. Wheh she
came lo khow lhe Lord persohay al
age 26, she reay look a khg lo Bbe sludy ahd
wakhg aohgsde hew beevers. As her passoh
or lhe Word hcreased, she became deepy hvoved
h a humber o mhslresrom vslhg lhe sck
ahd grevhg, lo slreel evahgesm ahd youlh
prsoh mhslry. Bul, she says, l hever cohsdered
semhary because l aways assumed l heeded a
bacheor's degree.
A 20year velerah h lhe ega ed, Calherhe
had slarled coege ahd dabbed h cohlhuhg
educaloh courses, bul hever compeled her
degree. Ralher, she devoled her lme lo work,
mhslry ahd dahce. Formay lrahed h moderh
dahce ahd bael, Calherhe slarled a commuhly
based, Chrslah moderh dahce program whe
vhg h New York. Aler marryhg her husbahd,
8heloh Mer, h 2005, ahd movhg lo Rahdoph,
MA, she cohlhued lo hosl Cospe Dahce Workshops
h hearby Cambrdge ahd Bosloh.
lh 2008, Calherhe expahs, a coworker ahd
rehd, who was aso hvoved h dahce mhslry,
pohled me lo lhe dpoma program al Cordoh
CohweBosloh (CUME) where her husbahd
sluded. 8he beeved h my gls ahd cahg, ahd
urged me lo cohsder ehrohg.
l was bowh away wheh l earhed lhal l coud appy
lo a masler's program aler earhhg my dpoma.
The Lord |usl dropped me hlo semhary al 40 years
odwho woud have lhoughl!
lh December o 2011, Calherhe compeled lhe
Dpoma h Urbah Mhslry ahd s how pursuhg a
Masler o Dvhly degree. lh lhe ulure, she pahs
lo ehro h lhe Masler o Theoogy degree program
ahd has her eye oh doclora sludes, because, she
says, l cah'l slop howl l ove l, l ove l, l ove l.
Aler hshhg her sludes, Calherhe hopes lo
serve h hospce chapahcy ahd provde paslora
care. lh lhe meahlme, she uses her educaloh ahd
experehce lo equp, uhdergrd ahd ehcourage
olhers h lhe lrulh o Cod h ahd oulsde lhe
church. Al her church, Cohgregach Leh de Jud,
she s hvoved h Ehgsh mhslry, aclales prayer
meelhgs ahd Bbe sludes, presehls worshp
dahce ahd hosls worshp dahce workshops, ahd
occasohay preaches. Aohgsde her husbahd,
Calherhe's currehl ocus s hurlurhg Leh de
Jud's parlhershp wlh lhe homeess commuhly.
l have so much grallude or lhe vsoh behhd our
Bosloh campus, she says. Feope rom a over
lhe gobe have a pace lo ehgage souhd bbca
ahd lheoogca sludy as lhey parlcpale h Cod's
mssoh o 'budhg lhe !"# Jerusaem.'
8.4, "%-11+**"23+ '4 ",,+.*+$

'9: ;<=>? Dr. Edh Vaae receves lhe Deah's 8ghalure Award. '9: @ABC>? Dr.
8eohg Fark, Assslahl Deah o lhe Bosloh Campus, laks wlh guesl. 29>>9D?
Allehdees al 8ghalure Evehl.