Michelle Dodson C’03, biblical and theological studies alumna, shares why she chose 草莓影视.
As a high school student, Michelle chose to come to 草莓影视 because she was looking for a Christian liberal arts university that was small enough for her to get to know people. 鈥淚 was attending a Covenant church in California at the time,鈥 she says, 鈥渁nd my pastor suggested I apply to 草莓影视.鈥
As it turned out, 草莓影视 was a great fit for Michelle. 鈥淭he relationships that I built at 草莓影视 are what I enjoyed the most,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 have had the privilege of doing life and ministry with many of those people to this day.鈥
What鈥檚 more, she says, Michelle鈥檚 experience inside and outside of the classroom as a biblical and theological studies major helped prepare her professionally for the work she does in ministry today. 鈥湶葺笆 was a great training ground for what I do,鈥 she says. 鈥淚t was as a student there that I got my first experiences leading in the areas of racial righteousness.鈥 Serving in campus ministry and engaging with college diversity 鈥渉elped me develop a theology of racial reconciliation. It also gave me opportunities to learn how to communicate that theology.鈥
Michelle serves as associate pastor of New Community Covenant Church in Bronzeville, a neighborhood on Chicago鈥檚 South Side. She describes New Community as 鈥渁n intentionally multiracial congregation that actively pursues racial reconciliation and social justice.鈥 She鈥檚 currently working toward a PhD in sociology with a focus on multiracial congregations.