This sermon was preached by Amy Davies during our Seminary Chapel on Wednesday April 22, 2015.
Mrs. Davies is a wife and mother of two beautiful children. She lived in Wales, United Kingdom for 10 years. She is currently a student in our Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation program and will be graduating from Ashland Theological Seminary on May 16.
Today we bring you a sermon preached by Dr. John Byron at our Seminary chapel service on Wednesday April 13, 2015.
Dr. Byron has a desire to serve both the church and the academy, and, for him, Ashland Theological Seminary has been a wonderful joining of those two institutions. ATS is a place where freedom of thought and expression are grounded in commitment to God, and Dr. Byron’s teaching reflects that same emphasis. This stems from his own Ph.D. studies, when he began to realize that easy answers don’t exist, and the Bible, like life, is more complex than most of us will admit.
Though he is now a sought-after teacher and enjoys using that gift at churches and seminars outside of his seminary position, Dr. Byron didn’t always aspire to become a teacher. In fact, if you had told him as a high schooler that he would become a professor, he would have run as fast as possible in the opposite direction. He considers it a blessing that God doesn’t let us see our future too early in the game!
Dr. Byron is an experienced traveler, counting Europe and the Middle East among his favorite destinations. By their 10th wedding anniversary, he and his wife, Lori, had already lived in three states and three countries. Adding to his travels, Dr. Byron participates in Ashland Theological Seminary’s Tel-Gezer project, through which groups from ATS tour Israel and excavate ancient sites.
Dr. Byron is also a home-brewer, and friends in Ashland consider it a privilege if they’ve had the chance to taste his beer! Beyond brewing, he enjoys an eclectic mix of books and music. And if given the choice, he will eat Italian food most days of the week.
Today, we bring you a sermon preached by Rev. Reid Firestone. The message was recorded on Wednesday April 8, 2015 during a special Alumni Seminary Chapel. Originally from Spencer, Reid and his wife Terri now reside in Ashland. They have two adult children, three-point-eight grandchildren and one Labrador retriever.
Reid is a graduate of Ashland Theological Seminary, and serves on the Seminary Foundation Board of Trustees. Reid has been in pastoral ministry since 1990, after sixteen years in the retail and financial industries. He has served churches in Medina, Brook Park, North Canton, West Salem and Homerville, Ohio. Reid is ordained in both the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and the Church of the Brethren. Terri and Reid are “college sweethearts” and both graduates of Ashland University. He is also a licensed funeral director in the State of Ohio.
Terri and Reid enjoy travel, especially to their little “Sturgeon Bay Getaway” in Wisconsin. Reid enjoys golfing, reading, is an avid Ohio State and Ashland University fan, and he still roots for the Cleveland Browns and Indians (a test in patience!). He also has a heart for pastors, and enjoys to have fellowship while ministering to them.
Rev. Reid Firestone 90′ is currently serving as Sr. Pastor at Grace Brethren Church in Homerville, Ohio.
Today, we bring you a message by Roberto Ponce. The message was recorded on Wednesday March 25, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.
As Vice President of Marketing and Recruitment, Roberto brings 15 years of marketing experience to Ashland Theological Seminary. He has created and managed national and international integrated marketing campaigns in the pharmaceutical, banking, insurance, automotive, construction, retail, and higher education industries. Roberto led his own multicultural marketing firm until he was called to ministry.
Prior to joining the ATS’ team, Roberto was responsible for all branding, promotions and recruitment efforts for an Assemblies of God international university. He also worked planning government, public and media relations in Washington, D.C.
His passion in ministry is simultaneous interpreting during church services for Hispanic outreach.
Roberto lives in Columbus with his wife Debra and their three daughters Yolani, Isabel and Sofia.
Today, we bring you a message by Dr. Dan Hawk. The message was recorded on Wednesday March 18, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.
When it comes to Old Testament scholarship and theology, Dr. Hawk is an expert. He is also an excellent communicator, able to make complex issues of theology accessible to those in his classroom. Students find Dr. Hawk to be kind, compassionate, and a compelling teacher.
Dr. Hawk is married to his beautiful wife, Linda, and they have two wonderful sons, Danny and Andrew.
Today, we bring you a message by Dr. Terence Mournet. The message was recorded on Wednesday February 25, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.
Dr. Mournet sees his position at the seminary as a life-giving cycle of service. Students and colleagues form a supportive, diverse, and vibrant community, which enables Dr. Mournet to strive for his personal and professional goals. In turn, he is able to serve students and God with his gifts of teaching, writing, and scholarly research. Students appreciate Dr. Mournet’s consistency in expectations and his ability to lead class discussions that fully communicate the topic at hand. They find that he is eager to build relationships both in and out of the classroom.
In addition to teaching, Dr. Mournet has a passion for worship. He loves working with fellow musicians as they, together, seek to direct people’s attention towards worship of the one, true God. He plays numerous instruments, including electric and acoustic guitar, bass guitar, drums, and trumpet. Dr. Mournet also likes to express himself through painting, sketching, and other artistic pursuits. To top it all off, he has extensive home-renovating experience – something that was likely passed down through his DNA, as his father was a carpenter and construction foreman.
Dr. Mournet is married to his wonderful wife, Krista, who serves alongside him in leading worship at their home church. The Mournets have one son, Lucas.
Today, we bring you a message by Krista Mournet. The message was recorded on Wednesday February 11, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.
Krista, her husband Terence and their son Lucas have been a part of the Ashland Seminary community since 2010. Krista’s interest in music and worship extends back most of her life, beginning when she would sing with her mother in church as a child, to singing in various church choirs and worship teams over the course of her life and up to the present day. In addition, she and Terence have ministered together in various worship groups since before they were married. In recent years, her university training in theological research has served to deepen and mature her desire to help people worship God through music. Krista derives a great deal of joy from bringing people together to use their gifts in God’s service, in this case in Ashland Seminary’s chapel services. She enjoys cooking, spending time with her family, reading and sharing laughter and fellowship with friends, usually including music, coffee or food.
Today, we bring you a sermon preached by our own Wanda Coleman. The message was recorded on Wednesday February 4, 2015 during our Seminary Chapel.
Prior to becoming the D.Min. Director of Recruitment, Wanda was a recruiter in corporate America, pursuing a seminary degree despite her full schedule. When this position opened at Ashland Theological Seminary, Wanda prayerfully submitted her resume and eventually came on staff. Wanda is also an Associate Minister at Imani Church and enjoys preaching, teaching, and the opportunity to explore and exercise other gifts, such as healing and song. Recently, she was able to attend one of ATS’ Formational Prayer Seminars and experienced a healing encounter with the Lord. He ministered to her brokenness, healed old wounds, and gave Wanda her laughter back!
Above all, Wanda views her family as her greatest achievement, knowing that they are growing and learning about Christ. She is married to Robert and they have two beautiful teenage children, Ambrielle and Emmanuel.
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. Mark 15:21 NIV
