The Class of 2014: Rebecca Wilson and Grace Oh

As we prepare to welcome our incoming class in a few weeks, we wanted to spend some time with our newest alums - the Class of 2014 - and their reflections on their time at Garrett-Evangelical.

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Rebecca Wilson Master of Divinity

I came to Garrett-Evangelical with a broad desire to serve God and the people of God. I leave with a clearer vision of full-time servant ministry; an excellent theological, biblical, and practical seminary education; and the support of an amazing community.

In January of 2012, I traveled with Dr. Barry Bryant as part of his study tour of Israel/Palestine “Outrageous Hope: A Peace and Justice Immersion in Israel/Palestine.” I am forever changed as a result of walking through a checkpoint from Bethlehem into Jerusalem with our Palestinian Christian tour guide. In that moment, at the intersection of my privilege and the marginalization of an entire population, I saw up close and very personally that silence in the face of injustice is incompatible with faithful living.

As a newly commissioned deacon in the Detroit Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, I plan to serve in the city of Detroit, and ultimately, I hope to open a resource and empowerment center for women

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Grace Oh

Master of Divinity

Starting seminary studies at Garrett-Evangelical was not easy for me because of financial issues and the language barrier, but the grace of God kept me here. At first, I believed that I could not handle the pressure, but my advisor, Mark Fowler, kept me from the quitting. He said, “Grace, the grace of God brought you to this place, the grace of God will bring you to the next level of your journey.” The word “grace” followed me, and I did not give up.

Garrett-Evangelical became a special place for me because my view of humanity changed radically during my time here. As a traditional Korean woman, my perspective was molded by my culture and Confucianism. I believed the most important qualities of human character were to be highly teachable and disciplined. In other words, I found the meaning of life to be based on what I could do or appeared to be. At seminary, I learned that a human being is not about what he or she can do, but who she or he is. Because of this change in theology, I am embracing a new place in my journey with marvelous peace.

My first appointment has started at Evangelical United Methodist Church in Ottawa, Illinois. The church is a different setting from my background, but I am remembering the encouraging words of Dr. Fowler and seeking to fully embrace each new person.