Created for Hope: Finding Hope in Seminary Education

Metamorphosis is defined as a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one by natural or supernatural means. This was the topic of conversation for Kimberly Hope and her mom as they drove from Massachusetts to Indiana.

The subject was a timely one, defining Kimberly’s past. But it was also, unbeknownst to her, a prophecy about her future.

It was February 2024, and Hope was on her way to Winona Lake for a campus visit at Grace Theological Seminary. Although she wasn’t quite sure about the idea of seminary, conversations with her pastor had her considering it. She was months away from earning her undergraduate degree in biblical studies and felt a loss of direction. 

Her life was not without purpose. Working at Gandara Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, she was a growing success story in the field of outpatient mental health. Gandara Center provides recovery services for those facing homelessness and those struggling with substance abuse. Like many nonprofits, it struggled to stay viable.

Hope was hired to help create a new program that would assist those new to the recovery process. These were the people who most needed help with the next steps: things like finding housing, receiving government assistance, and finding work. 

In just six months, Hope had built a multi-million dollar program, helped Gandara’s second location get out of debt, and now had 18 employees working for her to serve more than 400 patients. 

An Experience Like Metamorphosis

Hope’s own metamorphosis allowed her to build a successful recovery program. She understood their needs on a personal level. It was a simple application of the Golden Rule, doing for others what she would have wanted to have been done for her.

Homelessness and substance abuse were all Hope knew for more than two decades. She understood a life of feeling helpless, lacking solutions, and needing support to change her circumstances. 

There were moments when she knew she should have died, but God saved her for reasons she is still discovering. Then there was the moment she accepted the saving grace of Jesus. She had what she calls an awakening experience, and she found healing in an 18-month-long, faith-based program called Adult and Teen Challenge. 

Hope was no longer just a name. It was an experience in her life. But leaving the program in New York and returning home to Massachusetts terrified Hope. All she previously knew was pain, and it would be easy to take steps backward. So, she was determined to get involved in her local church and grow in this new faith she had been born into.

A Conversation About Metamorphosis

While the Bible studies at her church were helpful, she desired something more structured, so she pursued a biblical studies degree. But nearing the end of that undergraduate program, and sensing a calling bigger than the recovery program she had helped build, she found herself traveling to Indiana for a seminary visit. 

Along the way, she shared with her mom about her life’s metamorphosis from one of addiction and homelessness to one of knowing she had more to offer to those around her. 

“What Jesus did in me was a miracle,” said Hope. “Anybody who saw me at the beginning of my recovery would not recognize me.”

The day Hope and her mom met with Dr. Freddy Cardoza, vice president of Grace Theological Seminary, he had metamorphosis on his mind and asked them if they knew what it meant. Having not told him of their discussion on the car ride, Hope knew exactly what it meant. 

“This was confirmation that God was speaking to me,” she said.

Later, in a class with Professor of Spiritual Formation and Women’s Ministries, Dr. Christy Hill also brought up metamorphosis in a class discussion. Hope was convinced that she needed to enroll at GTS.

Metamorphosis; Revisited

To move from Massachusetts to Indiana was an easy decision, given the confirmations about her metamorphosis.  But it still required bold faith and some help. This move meant leaving behind her family, her friends, and her support system. While the move is no small deal, she acknowledges it is minor in comparison to what Jesus did for her. 

“Jesus gave up much more for me,” she said. “He laid down His life for me.”

Hope raised enough money to cover her rent and bills for the three-year program. There was even enough to cover furnishing and travel expenses. 

In August, Hope graduated with her bachelor’s degree and moved to Winona Lake two weeks later. 

“I’m not here for a degree,” said Hope. “I’m here for spiritual development.”

Hope will receive exactly that in the Master of Divinity in Exegetical Studies program. While she is not 100% sure what the future holds for her, she knows she has a story to tell. 

Hope knows she was created for more than her past could have predicted. Her metamorphosis has been life-altering, and it isn’t over yet. 

A seminary education is not just about a degree for a resumé. It is about discovering the truth and the purpose for which you were created. If you’re interested in learning more about God, the Bible, and your calling, check out all the residential master’s degrees offered at GTS.