REAL Possibilities: New Candler Grads Ready to Serve
Media Contact: Laurel Hanna
Posted June 9, 2015
After graduating on May 11, Candler's newest alumni are serving in local churches, nonprofits and hospitals, and going back to school—again! Meet three 2015 graduates who share how Candler prepared them for their ministries.
Elizabeth Pollard, interim youth minister at Ben Hill United Methodist Church, Atlanta:
"I love being in community with youth. It's a privilege to journey with them as they work through their faith. I encourage them to embrace their questions about God, Scripture, and life. One of my favorite parts of youth ministry is how excited youth become when they gain a new insight. I see it in their faces when faith is becoming real, and they feel empowered to live it out. Candler taught me that questioning is an important spiritual act that allows people to grow stronger in faith and gain clarity in their beliefs. In the classroom and through community, I learned how to be a pastoral caregiver for people of all ages. This has been particularly useful as I advocate for both parents and youth."
Eunil David Cho, PhD student at Emory's Laney Graduate School:
"My research will focus on a narrative approach to pastoral care, with particular attention to seeing how narrative can be used in understanding human development and experiences of trauma. Candler provided wonderful opportunities for me to develop my identity as a practical theologian, such as Contextual Education, Clinical Pastoral Education, work in the Office of Student Programming, singing with the Candler Singers, and more. I am very thankful to the faculty members who have helped me explore and develop the gifts that God has given me for research and ministry. I am truly indebted to their teaching, mentoring, and kindness."
Andrew Toney, Development Assistant with the nonprofit L'Arche Atlanta:
"I assist in administering L'Arche's fundraising, which emphasizes spirituality, stewardship, and community. I've also been tasked with developing a new Congregational Partners Initiative while we continue to grow our network. At L'Arche, I most cherish the opportunity to develop relationships. My Candler coursework and contextual education experiences working with refugee children and underfed populations have formed me significantly. I also was fortunate to work in Development at Candler for three years, where I learned what healthy fundraising with people of faith looks like. I've carried many of those practices into my work with L'Arche."
Elizabeth Pollard, interim youth minister at Ben Hill United Methodist Church, Atlanta: "I love being in community with youth. It's a privilege to journey with them as they work through their faith. I encourage them to embrace their questions about God, Scripture, and life. One of my favorite parts of youth ministry is how excited youth become when they gain a new insight. I see it in their faces when faith is becoming real, and they feel empowered to live it out. Candler taught me that questioning is an important spiritual act that allows people to grow stronger in faith and gain clarity in their beliefs. In the classroom and through community, I learned how to be a pastoral caregiver for people of all ages. This has been particularly useful as I advocate for both parents and youth."
Eunil David Cho, PhD student at Emory's Laney Graduate School: "My research will focus on a narrative approach to pastoral care, with particular attention to seeing how narrative can be used in understanding human development and experiences of trauma. Candler provided wonderful opportunities for me to develop my identity as a practical theologian, such as Contextual Education, Clinical Pastoral Education, work in the Office of Student Programming, singing with the Candler Singers, and more. I am very thankful to the faculty members who have helped me explore and develop the gifts that God has given me for research and ministry. I am truly indebted to their teaching, mentoring, and kindness."
Andrew Toney, Development Assistant with the nonprofit L'Arche Atlanta:"I assist in administering L'Arche's fundraising, which emphasizes spirituality, stewardship, and community. I've also been tasked with developing a new Congregational Partners Initiative while we continue to grow our network. At L'Arche, I most cherish the opportunity to develop relationships. My Candler coursework and contextual education experiences working with refugee children and underfed populations have formed me significantly. I also was fortunate to work in Development at Candler for three years, where I learned what healthy fundraising with people of faith looks like. I've carried many of those practices into my work with L'Arche."