Stories from current MFCC students
Amy
Amy was interested in being a counselor even when she was in high school, and she has always wanted to attend seminary. But she could not justify going to seminary… until she found out she could take both Bible and counseling courses at MB Biblical Seminary.
Amy says, “I was craving a community of people who wanted to talk about theology, and therapy is my calling.” After several years of teaching junior high, and then several more years being a mother and struggling with her adopted daughter’s attachment issues, Amy decided to pursue her goal of becoming an attachment therapist.
Amy is also ecstatic about the diversity at MB Biblical Seminary. “I love having class in a room with ten different denominations represented by students.” Now that she is attending the seminary, Amy realizes what a priceless gift it is to be freed to learn in a Christian community. When speaking of the relationships she has built on campus Amy explains, “These are people that will be with me the rest of my life, no matter where I go. I know I’ll always be in touch with them.”
Amy is married to Jonathan and they have three children: Ethan (9), Noah (7), and Mia (4). They attend First Presbyterian Church in Visalia.
Danny and Beth
Danny and Beth moved to Fresno from Abbotsford, BC to attend MB Biblical Seminary with their two children Elijah (4) and Sara (2). After visiting the Fresno campus of MBBS and hearing from family and other alumni, they found the seminary to be a relational community that they wanted to be involved in. And now after a year of studying at MBBS they have realized that, not only is it a vibrant community, it is so much more. Beth says, “In our first year at MBBS we found the theology they were teaching to be so life-giving.”
As a family, Danny and Beth have been pursuing a life that is true to their understanding of God’s plan for humanity. Part of this pursuit is their gratefulness that they chose to continue their education in an Anabaptist setting. “The seminary has given words to what we’ve always felt, and it’s gotten us excited about church again.”
Danny is pursuing a degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling, and Beth is working towards her MA in Theology. Danny agreed that the seminary is a perfect fit for their family because, “We don’t do jobs, we do life; and studying at the seminary has given us hope to live our life, not just get a job.”
Danny and Beth are members of South Abbotsford MB Church.
Stephanie
A few months before Stephanie graduated from Fresno Pacific University with a BA in Psychology, she married Jeff. Stephanie knew that if she did not return to school right away, she might never get up the courage again. So four months after they were married, Stephanie entered MB Biblical Seminary’s Marriage, Family and Child Counseling Program.
Stephanie was not certain she wanted to complete a Masters when she entered the program, yet her experience this last year has made her excited about the opportunity to counsel, and even teach counseling at some point in the future. “I’ve been encouraged because the professors really try to help their students, and that just doesn’t happen in a huge school.”
Stephanie knows what a long road lies ahead but says, “The seminary sends graduates out feeling confident. The professors want to develop the person, not just the academic. A student is not just a number.”
Stephanie and her husband Jeff attend The Bridge (EV Free), where Jeff is a Junior High Youth pastor.