Charleen Jongejan Harder's story

When I first arrived on campus, I was uncertain what I would do with a
seminary degree. Before seminary, I had been working in urban ministry in
Toronto, particularly with women and young families. This was a vibrant and
diverse community. I felt a sense of calling and vocation. I didn’t particularly want to leave it all behind. But, nevertheless, my life was leading me to Elkhart, and I needed to make some decisions about what I was going to do while I was there.

For a long time, I had anticipated going to seminary “some day,” but I had always envisioned that as a much later step. Yet, here I was, living at a Mennonite seminary. I had been recently grafted into the Mennonite tradition and this was an opportunity to build up my knowledge and training Anabaptist history and interpretation.

Here was a chance to broaden my understanding of the peace position, and clarify for myself what my own place was in the church I have chosen to belong to. Here was an occasion to think deeply about ministry from a biblical and theological perspective. I could return to community ministry in a few years, refreshed and creatively energized. I took the plunge and enrolled at AMBS.

I was surprised how quickly I felt at home here and how much I’ve grown since I arrived. The professors are inspiring and the courses engaging. I discovered that I love to preach and lead worship and that I have gifts in these areas. I started on the biblical languages track and found the Bible open up to me in exciting ways. I am developing my own interpretive voice and am more confident in negotiating a variety of themes and passages. Perhaps the most significant learning that AMBS has provided for me has been a vision of integrating my spiritual life with my intellectual and vocational life. I have become more disciplined in setting priorities and patterns for living an intentionally faithful life.

I am now planning to be a pastor together with my husband, Kendall (who is also graduating from AMBS). This past summer we had the exciting opportunity to pastor a church together while the pastor was on sabbatical. As we preached, led worship and visited the members of the community, we received affirmation about our gifts and training. We frequently drew from what we had learned in classes at AMBS. I don’t know what lies around the bend, but I am confident that the rich community life and holistic training that I have encountered at AMBS has prepared me well for ministry.