Sten-Erik Armitage Th.M.

Which professor has made the greatest impact on you?

Impossible to narrow down to just one! Dr. Blount for giving me a passion to help others think Christianly. Drs. Hannah & Bingham for teaching me that an understanding of history is essential for right-thinking in the present. Dr. Kuruvilla for shaping my philosophy of preaching. Drs. Allen & Allman for exposing me to the unfathomable depths and riches of God's Word. Drs. Coover-Cox & Fantin for their patience in equipping me with the right tools to work in the languages. I could go on—God has profoundly used the faculty here to shape me and my ministry.

How have you been changed during your time at DTS?

The past five years at DTS has been a crucible experience. My wife and I have learned as much (if not more) from going through the experience of seminary as I have in attending classes. The reality of God as provider, God as faithful, and God as good has been hammered home in powerful and at times painful ways. Our faith has been tested and refined during our time in seminary. DTS has been more than an educational experience. Indeed, God has used DTS as a catalyst in forming a deep and abiding faith in Him and His character. God is good, even when it seems like He's not!

Where are you headed after graduation?

I will be continuing on into the PhD program in Theological Studies here at DTS. The goal is to be trained and equipped so that I might be able to invest into the lives of those who are going out into the ministry field. I pray that God would use me to equip disciples that He has called to go out and make disciples so that they might be able to do the same.

Rick Foddrill Th.M.

Which professor has made the greatest impact on you?

I would have to say Dr. Bingham. He opened my contemporary, evangelical, American mind to the world of the faith community throughout history. In his classes, I was challenged to see myself as a member of the body of Christ which has encouraged and deepened my own faith.

How have you been changed during your time at DTS?

More than anything I think DTS has made me a more humble person. In my classes, I've learned so many things that I had never considered before and my pride has had to take a back seat. There is so much that I still need to study and learn. I am immensely grateful that DTS has helped me to grow in this way.

Where are you headed after graduation?

I am proud to say that I am following my wife, a DTS alum of 2011, into an outstanding opportunity. She has helping open a counseling practice in California and I am currently applying to pastoral ministry opportunities focused on youth and associate pastoral positions. I hope to be in full time ministry whenever the Lord provides an opportunity.

Phillip Herbert Th.M.

Which professor has made the greatest impact on you?

I had never preached before coming to DTS, so Dr. Anderson's classes were challenging because I had to face my fear of preaching in front of others. Dr. Anderson taught that it is hard getting up and receiving criticism for our sermons because a sermon is kind of like a baby. It is an idea drawn from Scripture that starts within us, and then it grows in us before finally being birthed as a sermon. When people criticize our sermons, it feels like they are saying we have an ugly baby. However, it is the constructive criticism that we must hear now, because when we graduate and leave DTS, we will never receive this type of feedback again. And it is this type of feedback that causes us to grow. I am very thankful for the feedback I received from students and professors at DTS, and I am thankful for the lessons I learned in Dr. Anderson's preaching classes.

How have you been changed during your time at DTS?

The more I learn about God, the more amazed I am that He would want to have anything to do with me. I struggle at times in my devotional life and intimacy with God. These last two years in particular, I have busy trying to balance a full-time class load, a part time work load, an internship at my church and family life. At times it is balanced but at other times I feel like the weight on my shoulders has been too much to bear. I know the answer is to turn it all over to Christ, but I have felt like there weren't enough hours in the day. Thankfully, God has remained faithful. He has not turned his back on me but has enabled me to persevere while providing a lot of perspective about life and the situations I have faced.

Where are you headed after graduation?

I am planning to enter a one-year residency as a hospital chaplain at Baylor in downtown Dallas. I'm not sure if God has called me to a career as a chaplain, but I know that the skills and lessons I learn in this residency will benefit me in any ministry setting.

Travis Moen Th.M.

Which professor has made the greatest impact on you?

Dr. Timothy Warren. I showed up in his preaching class in my 4th semester about ready to drop out of seminary. Until taking PM103 I could not put all the pieces together and I was getting frustrated. Dr. Warren showed me how exegesis and theology are tools that enable the preacher to make a valid connection between the ancient text and the modern audience.

How have you been changed during your time at DTS?

During my time at DTS, I've learned to listen to God rather than crowd Him out with my own thoughts and goals. It has taken time for me to make peace with the fact that I'm not going back into the Army. God has a different direction for my life and I'm okay with that. My calling as a minister is not about my desires, its about Jesus and His kingdom and I've committed to follow Him where ever He leads.

Where are you headed after graduation?

After graduation I am moving to a small town in western Kansas. I use my vision of discipleship to pastor of a congregation of about 50 people. This is going to be a great place for me to develop into a pastor that matches my character and calling.