1) Where are you currently serving?  Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.

I currently serve as the Lead Pastor of First Tongan Christian Church (DOC) located in West Valley City, Utah. We are a multi-generational and bi-lingual congregation that emphasizes both Tongan and Modern culture. Our mission statement states, “Seeking Christ, Fostering Community, and Cultivating Culture.” One of the ways we try to uphold God’s mission is through our music ministry under the direction of my younger brother, Sifa Uesi. He helped start a marching band for the church by offering free music lessons to the community. Students come from different backgrounds regardless of religious affiliation, race, age, gender, etc. The congregation also works in partnership with our fellow sister congregation, Granger Community Christian Church (DOC), led by Rev. Vinnetta Golphin.

2) What are some of your memories from your time in the DLI program?

Some of my memories from the DLI program involve being able to meet other Disciples from across the country. Worship and fellowship with fellow DLI participants were refreshing, considering there are not many Disciples here in Salt Lake City, Utah. There were activities that helped build our relationship with each other and with God. It was also nice to hear different perspectives about how to do church as well as reflect how we can help our particular congregations.  It was a really good time, especially when Beau Underwood talked about the meaning of hashtags (this is when hashtags became a thing lol!).

3) What skills, experiences and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in the DLI program?

One of the skills I gained by participating in the DLI program is learning how to network and stay connected not only within DLI but the wider church and the community. I believe networking is an essential part of ministry, and I learned how to essentially connect with people that I had never met before. To this day, I still connect with my fellow DLI members, even some who have continued to higher positions in the church as well as serving their respective communities.

4) In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it means to be a leader?

One way that this experience helped me to become a better leader is learning how to build relationships, which I believe is one of the components of the Disciples of Christ ethos. The invitation to the table is not necessarily about a ritual but about relationships. Christ sought relationships with his disciples and those on the margins of society. Building relationships with my fellow DLI participants opened my eyes that the table of life extends to different parts of the world. I witnessed this when we gathered together at the table to break bread. Building relationships is therefore an act of service to the community.

1) Where are you currently serving?  Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.

I serve as the Director of the National Benevolent Association XPLOR Program. XPLOR is a ten-month service residency year within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for adults 21-30 seeking to explore the connection between the life of faith and the work of justice. (XPLOR programming is currently on hiatus as NBA navigates our best responses to the pandemic). I have served in this role for six years. I attended DLI in my first year working with NBA.

2) What are some of your memories from your time in DLI?

I attended the Disciples Leadership Institute in 2014, in Salt Lake City, UT. Favorite memories include using free time one afternoon to go with several participants exploring the city by public transit, and then getting massages and a meal together. I remember a very powerful closing worship experience led by a person in active recovery from self-harm and addiction. I also remember missing my departure flight and being grateful for one of my co-participants, Rev. Delesslyn Kennebrew, who let me bunk with her for one extra night at the retreat center. We went shopping for shoes together!

3) What skills, experiences and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in DLI?

I experienced an enormously diverse group of emerging leaders within the denomination who were seeking to bring their faith to bear on the major issues facing society and church: racism, environmental degradation, immigration justice, indigenous rights, and more. I especially heard and learned in this group about the history and relationship between a colonial US church and Canadian Disciples and one takeaway I had was to stop speaking of the “national church” and instead speak of the “general” church, which truly is inclusive as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada. I experienced a growing relationship, trust, and friendship among many people who I still encounter and serve within ministry.

4) In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it means to be a leader?

The network of relationships I began building at DLI has been especially impactful in my faith and work commitments – to have a broad framework and access points to think through the most important questions, opportunities, and faith perspectives within the church and beyond. This greatly informs the questions I bring to my work, the wisdom I am able to draw from, and the ways I am able to help further build trust and relationship among emerging Disciple and other leaders.

1) Where are you currently serving? Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.

Since 2011, I have served at the Robert G. Culp Jr. Director of Service Learning at High Point University and I’m an Associate Professor in our Religion and Philosophy Department. Basically, my ministry has evolved into teaching and mentoring college students how to carry out Christ’s command to love our neighbors in a pluralistic society that is built on the scaffolding of white supremacy, sexism, and other hierarchical power dynamics. I teach Christian theology, ethics, and civic engagement courses, and I also help faculty all over the university develop classes that will teach students how to use the skills of their discipline or professional field to promote justice and community change. It’s a constantly evolving and challenging field of work, but it’s empowering to see students grow and our town/gown relationship strengthen.

2) What are some of your memories from your time in the LF and DLI programs?

I remember being pretty nervous to meet everyone with LF. As an introvert, being dropped into a group of people I don’t know and asked to do ice-breakers is my worst nightmare. But there were a few friendly faces (and Dennis Landon and Brad Lyons quickly became two of them) and by the end, I’d met disciples from all over the nation that I still work with today. I have even more memories of DLI because of the intensive nature of that program. Since I got to help structure it, I rooted out most of the ice-breakers and we focused on in-depth personal dialogue. My favorite part of DLI were the interviews we did with each other. One person would be tasked to speak deeply about an aspect of their faith, and then another participant would ask them questions (hard questions). The vulnerability and honesty in those conversations helped me understand my own faith and what it means to be a disciple more than anything. I also learned how pomegranates can be a great metaphor for faith (thank you, Wilson Dickinson).

3) What skills, experiences and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in the programs?

Most importantly, I developed relationships with the most incredible people. People who, 20 years later, are still my friends, my confidants, my professional connections, and people who keep me honest about my work and ministry. I certainly gained a better understanding of my own faith as well. I started to see a world of ministry beyond being a senior pastor, which helped me see how my academic passion and call into ministry could fit together.

4) In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it means to be a leader?

DLI, more than anything, shook my foundational assumptions about the world. It was through those conversations and relationships that I started to awaken to the level of white, straight, male privilege I had. Hearing the stories of faith and life from colleagues who grew up all over the US and had very different experiences of the church and the world was a shock. For the first time, I realized I wasn’t “normal,” but I had a distinct experience in how I engaged the world. I realized I had work to do on myself and in the world.

1) Where are you currently serving?  Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.

I have been in my current call at Vine Street Christian Church in Nashville, Tennessee for a little over a year and a half. My primary focus is on ministries for children, youth, and families, with a focus on programming and developing intentionally intergenerational relationships and worship leadership. In the COVID era, it has taken some reimagining to see new possibilities for these types of ministries.

2) What are some of your memories from your time in the LF program?

While I enjoyed the themes and speakers each week, I most enjoyed building relationships with my fellow Fellows. They continue to be folks who have walked alongside me as I discerned a call to seminary and which seminary to attend, invited me into exciting projects (like the Constructive Theologies Project), and are the people I am most excited to see at Disciples gatherings like General Assembly.

Specific memories include visiting the arch during our retreat in St. Louis (2008), exploring the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (2007), and working with Caroline Hamilton-Arnold in Dallas (2009) to lead worship services for the group. Other memories include also nearly missing my flight for my first retreat and making the entire bus stop at a Target so I could get toiletries.

3) What skills, experiences and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in the LF program?

It is explicitly because of the LF program that I remain invested and committed to the work of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a denomination and movement. I took seriously the covenant to be involved in a Disciples congregation in college and because of the generosity of members, I attended church every Sunday class was in session. Because of that continued commitment and the relationships built, I felt empowered to lead, first by helping with music during Sunday morning worship and later, on campus, through two student groups of which I had spent the most time.

Because of my time in the LF program, I was introduced to denominational leaders who encouraged and empowered me to continue to lead by doing and learning, listening and being.

4) In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it means to be a leader?

Ministry and leadership begin with relationships. By leaning into relationships and interdependency, you can go much further than by yourself.

Where are you currently serving?  Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.

I currently serve as the Minister of the United Church of Christ of Kent, Ohio. In its 200-year history, I am the first female Senior Pastor. After more than two decades of ministry in global and ecumenical settings, serving the local congregation has been a new experience for me. While my previous positions for both the wider church and ecumenical organizations opened the whole world to me, ministering to and with a local community has allowed me a depth of experience with people’s daily lives. Admittedly, I miss the overseas partners with whom I was so honored to accompany in my ministries with Week of Compassion, Church World Service, and, just prior to serving the Kent UCC, as Vice President for IMA World Health. Working for the general church and the global NGO community was a “wide” ministry but serving a congregation is a deep dive. There is nothing quite like baptizing a child, officiating the marriage of a young adult who had been in your youth group, or burying a cherished long-time member of your church. Sharing congregational and personal life with a particular community, day in and day out is an extraordinary privilege. You become family.

What are some of your memories from your time in DLI?

DLI was, in all honesty, my most treasured experience as a young Disciples leader. I loved every minute of my time as part of the first DLI cohort. Both challenging and nurturing, DLI was a learning community that created the space for encounters with diversity, self-reflection and deep personal growth, and the opportunity to build a beloved community among those who focused not on “saving the church” but on being the body of Christ in an unjust, oppressive world. DLI sparked creativity and imagination while encouraging us all to be innovative in our spiritual, theological, and ecclesial perspectives and practices. I recall the first time I heard the terms “established church” and “emergent church” and having to navigate new possibilities for what it means to gather in Christ’s name for the sake of the gospel. The friendships and collegiality formed at DLI are the foundation and the lasting impact of our intense moments together. Some of my best friends, to this day, are from DLI.

What skills, experiences, and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in DLI?

The skills I gained participating in DLI are deep and active listening, and an ability to ask critical questions. We developed a very real sense of holding one another accountable, not only for our own sakes but for the sake of the church we were attempting to serve and impact. But we also committed to creating a church that works and that was true to its gospel mission, reflecting the diversity of all of creation. We learned how to “do” church differently so that we could be the church for this generation—relevant, meaningful, and one that strives to do justice in an otherwise mad world. DLI demanded, in the way it was conceived and organized, that we all took a good, hard look at ourselves, our own social locations, and how that would impact our ministry and work in the church and society. It also taught us empathy, courage, and instilled a sense of confidence in us as servant-leaders.

In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it means to be a leader?

DLI shaped my understanding of what it means to be an adaptive leader, able to mobilize people for a common mission in the midst of rapid change. Leadership in this era demands well-honed adaptability and creativity alongside the commitment to invite people to new ways of moving through the world. DLI also instilled in me the importance of communicating openly, honestly, and effectively as a church leader—and that oftentimes this means initiating courageous conversations. DLI was perhaps one of the first spaces where we, together, created a safe and even brave space to explore who we are as children of God, how we are uniquely called, and challenged us to take courageous and innovative steps forward. But most of all, DLI taught me that no one leads alone. The most inspiring and effective leaders are those who lead with and alongside others, seeking out and honoring a multiplicity of voices, experiences, and hopes.  DLI truly was, for me, a glimpse of the kin-dom.

1) Where are you currently serving?  Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.

I am currently serving as the Director of Student Ministries at Hillyer Memorial Christian Church in Raleigh, NC. In this role, I work with our Director of Christian Education to oversee the curriculum and programming for middle school, high school, and college-aged students. In addition to our weekly youth group meetings, I lead a weekly meeting for our college-aged students called Disciples Student Fellowship (DSF) in which a member of the congregation hosts our group for dinner and a brief bible study.

2) What are some of your memories from your time in the LF program?

During my time in the Leadership Fellows Program, my most memorable experiences involved the yearly retreats and an international trip to Cuba. These experiences included having the opportunity to meet people from very diverse backgrounds and allowed me to have a more well-rounded understanding of events and issues throughout the world, better preparing me for my future. One moment that stands out was during our trip to Cuba. We had the opportunity to sit down with a group of Cuban college students and discuss how our worldview was fostered in our school and church settings growing up and how that has changed over time.

3) What skills, experiences and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in the LF program? 

The Leadership Fellows Program prepared me for my future by teaching me how to communicate and reach resolutions on issues when you have a group of people from multiple backgrounds and beliefs. With students and adults from all over the country, we came from different backgrounds and although we were all Disciples, each church has subtle differences in beliefs and practices. This was a new experience for me and it helped me become more comfortable with my speaking skills while also becoming more confident in my leadership abilities as I saw what I can bring to the table in a group
setting.

4) In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it means to be a leader?
Overall, the Leadership Fellows Program taught me that I can be confident in my abilities as a leader and not to be afraid to speak up. The environment that the program provided was so open and inviting that I was able to break out of my shell without fear. This allowed me to open my heart and mind and realize
that I do have a calling to serve in ministry. The Leadership Fellows Program taught me that there is more to ministry than just standing up and giving a sermon on Sunday mornings and that there are multiple avenues that we are called to serve. I am very thankful for what the Leadership Fellows Program taught me and I use these skills every day in the church as well as my personal life.

1) Where are you currently serving?  Please share a bit about the work/ministry in which you are involved.

I am currently the Assistant Dean of Worship and Music and Assistant Professor in the Practice of Worship at Candler School of Theology. I also serve in ministry with my husband at Providence Missionary Baptist Church as first lady and an associate minister.

At Candler, my job and ministry role is to oversee the worship life of the seminary. This includes leading a team of seminary students in the planning and execution of over forty worship services per semester. I get the privilege of watching these students grow in their thoughtfulness in worship leadership.

At Providence, I lead the women’s ministry and work with a team to offer vital spiritual growth for the women of the church through discipleship, learning, and service.

2) What are some of your memories from your time in the DLI program?

My best memories involve connections with others who were in seminary. It was a great time of coming together and meeting others in the discernment of the next steps in ministry and life, and to know that there were other Disciples out there experiencing the same or a similar journey as my own.

3) What skills, experiences, and/or knowledge did you gain by participating in the DLI program?

I will speak more about it below, but one skill that I gained was a mindfulness of presence. I know it may sound weird as there were other more pressing things covered through the program, but there were intentional times of stillness, reflection and listening that were shaped into the program that required us to be fully present. It required me to let go of the things I had left undone and really lean into the experience. When I did that, I experienced my surroundings and those I was there with in very different ways. It was a great lesson I learned that I carry with me.

4) In what ways has this participation shaped your understanding of ministry and, in particular, what it
means to be a leader?

Ironically, the most impactful part of DLI that has shaped me was the charge to be fully present. I continue to keep this mindfulness with me ever since my time at DLI. We engaged and learned a lot, but the intentionality that was placed on being fully present in the moments was the most impactful, and has certainly shaped me as I juggle highly demanding roles professionally and in ministry. Over time, carrying that awareness has taught me that no matter how busy we are (and ministry is busy), it is important to be fully present in the moments as a matter of pastoral care and presence, as well as a matter of self-care. You can easily miss what God is doing in and through you if you are not fully present.