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Alumni Spotlight
Greg Merlo
Greg Merlo has been hired to serve as the new Pastor of Youth and Young Adults at Parkwood Baptist Church. He is excited about this opportunity to invest in the next generation of Christ followers and work alongside Leland professors who helped equip him for ministry.
Alumni Spotlight
Ernest C. Jones “E.J.”
Blessings to you E.J. and Persephone as the Lord leads you in service at Greater New Friendship Baptist Church!
Alumni Spotlight
Lisa C. Smith
Rev. Lisa Cole Smith, Pastor and Executive Director of Convergence in Alexandria, was awarded the 2022 Pastoral Study Grant Project from the Louisville Institute.
“The Forming Young Emerging Leaders in the Arts Project wants creatives to experience their own transformation for the sake of the people and cultures who will be shaped and influenced by the work they will create.”
Alumni Spotlight
Rev. Jim Paraboschi
Rev. Jim Paraboschi, Associate Pastor of Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church, is serving as Adjunt Faculty for the John Leland Center School of Ministry. He is teaching Introduction to the Old Testament this semester. We welcome Jim back to the classroom, albeit in a different capacity!
Testimonials
Be Challenged.
I started at Leland at the same time I started in full-time ministry which for me was great. I was able to test out what I was learning while ministering, and bring my challenges and issues back to the classroom. Leading in the church fueled my eagerness to learn and grow in order to be a more effective minister. While at the same time Leland challenged me to bring a higher standard of intellectual integrity to my ministry.
~ David Perdue
Master of Theological Studies (2005)
Leading a small neighborhood mission group
Gain Experience.
While pursuit of theological education provided me with necessary tools for effective ministry, my Leland experience provided so much more. Leland was a door beyond the confines of the four walls of the church expanding my reach and message in both writing and in diverse venues. It provided me with opportunity to find my voice and continue my study as I became a Princeton Black Theological Leadership Institute fellow in 2016 and was accepted in the RISE Together Mentorship program for Women of Color in Ministry in 2018 and graduated from that program in March of 2020.
~ Monica Leak
Master of Divinity (2019)
Associate Minister, FBC Vienna Leland Librarian
New Perspectives.
Leland reflects the broad diversity that epitomizes the regions surrounding our nation’s capital. Having direct access to so many varying points of view had been invaluable to my growth and development in living out my calling and working in ministry.
~ Roderick Lane
Master of Divinity (2019)
Associate Minister, Mount Olive Baptist Church in Arlington, VA