Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s graduating senior Sarah Macias was named the 2015 Chidester Preaching Award recipient, a prize made possible through a gift from First Presbyterian Church in Malvern, Arkansas. Macias, a native of Plano, Texas, was recommended for the award by the Seminary’s homiletics (preaching) faculty. The Chidester Award is given annually to recognize a graduating student who shows greatest potential in the area of preaching. The award includes a $5000 prize and an invitation to preach and worship with the Malvern congregation.

“I am honored to receive the Chidester Award and grateful to churches like First Presbyterian, Malvern, Arkansas, for encouraging all of us in proclamation of the Word,” Macias said. “Those who have helped me find my voice in preaching have been professors like K.C. Ptomey, Jennifer Lord, Kristin Saldine, and Blair Monie. I also credit my sisters (Marianne, Kathy, and Nancy) for the times when we ‘played church’ as little girls. Preaching is a relational discipline—a triune dance between pastor, congregation, and the one who is the Word. To the congregations of The Sanctuary and University Baptist in Austin for letting me get my feet wet in your holy spaces, thank you. As I continue in ministry, I will hope to live into the worthiness of the recognition that goes with the Chidester Preaching Award.” 

“Austin Seminary is deeply grateful for the generosity of the First Presbyterian Church of Malvern, Arkansas, for providing the Chidester Award,” President Theodore J. Wardlaw said. “We are also deeply grateful for Sarah Macias, who is demonstrably such a fine, gifted, and promising preacher. Across the years of her ministry, she will be a credit to the Chidester!” 

First Presbyterian Church, Malvern, funded The Chidester Award through an endowment gift in 2010 to support Austin Seminary’s mission to prepare new pastoral leaders.

“Sarah Macias is a bright light in the future of the Christian churches. She has an inquisitive, creative theological mind and a clear, passionate voice,” said Austin Seminary Academic Dean David H. Jensen. “Deeply attuned to the ecological dimensions of Christian faith, Sarah knows that the Gospel is good news for all creation, and knows that a faithful life lives into the questions of faith. To hear Sarah preach is to hear words that give life.”

Macias will attend Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey, starting in Fall 2015, where she will begin working towards a Master of Sacred Theology degree.