Roni Flischel: A Woman’s Journey to Ministry

I became a Christian as an adult in my late 20’s at White Oak Christian Church. I had attended a church growing up but had very little understanding of the Bible and so was immediately drawn to the Biblical teaching that White Oak provided. As I participated in ministry and Bible study groups I found I had a growing desire to learn even more. I met several alumni and faculty of CCU who attended White Oak and I soon realized, “I want to know what they know!”

At that time my husband and I had four young children so it wasn’t feasible for me to take classes for several years, but in the fall semester when my youngest entered school, I did too. I had originally planned to take just a few classes, but when I found there was a graduate degree for people whose bachelors was not from a Bible college I knew that’s what I wanted to do. Because of the prerequisite courses it’s a long road, and because I’m still a mother of four it’s a slow one, too. I can take just one course at a time and not every semester, but I’m about half-way through now and I plan to keep going as long as God allows.

What I have learned at CCU has changed me. It’s illuminated my understanding of scripture, strengthened my ministry, and made my heart more tender. Because knowledge fuels my faith, my love for God grows and deepens with each new thing I learn. I love to teach and these classes have made me much more effective in that practice. As a result of my personal growth I developed a desire for vocational ministry and am currently serving as the Director of Women’s Ministry at my church.

The time spent in my classes and on my coursework has been truly life- and faith-changing. I am thankful that CCU is here and that it provides a way for a non-traditional student like me to gain so much in my love and knowledge of the Lord.