Continuing to Highlight Our Gifted Student Ambassadors
By Rev. Margot Perez-Greene, Ph.D.
We come to the last in the series of introducing our Student Ambassadors who have served well in recruitment activities during a complicated and uncertain time in the history of theological education. We applaud their efforts to come forth amid their challenges of navigating new educational delivery systems, stressors caused by the pandemic, uncertainties in their ministries, and curiosity about what the “new normal” will look like. In all this chaos, these students were, and are, fervent service providers to prospective students. Enjoy their personal testimonies and, as always, keep us in prayer.
Sincerely,
Margot
Associate Dean of Enrollment Management
Steven Lefebvre: In His Own Words
“I chose Perkins because it is one of the 13 Methodist seminaries, and the Houston-Galveston program allowed me to stay in my job as a youth pastor. I have always wanted to be a pastor since I was a little kid (I know weird, right?). But the road to ordination has been winding and full of challenges. However, I believe with each closed door or day spent wandering in the spiritual wilderness, God has been building in me the character, empathy, and patience to be the man God’s calling me to be. I am so grateful my path has unexpectedly led me to the Methodist Church and Perkins School of Theology. Perkins has been a wonderful theological home.”
Steven Lefebvre is a certified candidate in the Tennessee Conference and hopes to serve as an Elder in the United Methodist Church upon ordination.
Shandon Klein: In Her Own Words
“I chose Perkins because of its emphasis on not only learning about God but also being with God. The professors’ desire to provide students with tools for our own problem solving in ministry (as opposed to spoon-feeding us what to think) was very attractive to me. My call is to plant multiethnic churches and help other churches integrate, creating a tangible glimpse of God’s kingdom. I also feel called to bridge the gap between academia and the local church. After completing my time at Perkins, I will continue my pursuit of my PhD in Christian Ethics at SMU and (hopefully!) become an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church.”
Shandon Klein, a third year Master of Divinity Student, is currently serving at First United Methodist Church, Richardson.
