Laura Messer Learns to Find the Balance
in First Year at Austin Seminary

The first year on campus at Austin Seminary can feel to some like speaking a new language. For students like Laura Messer (MDiv/middler), who grew up in Topeka, Kansas, and came to Austin Seminary after graduating from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, that notion has become both a literal and figurative experience. Messer just completed her Junior year and is currently enrolled in a summer intensive course of biblical Greek. 

"Greek camp has been a fast-paced and completely immersive experience in which I have felt the joys and frustrations of trying to cram an entire ancient language into my brain in six short weeks," said Messer. "Luckily, Anna Bowden (MDiv'12) is an incredible instructor who approaches the language with patience and humor. She has broken it down into digestible pieces that help me believe in my ability to truly master the material. It has been wonderful to begin to see the richness that lies within the Greek text of the New Testament that no English translation could ever quite capture. As I move into my middler year, I can’t wait to put my new translation skills to use as I take Intro to Preaching and begin writing sermons."

The six-week intensive course meets daily for two hours, and each student is expected to dedicate several hours each night to reviewing vocabulary and practicing the grammatical concepts introduced each day. The aforementioned Anna Bowden, a 2012 graduate of Austin Seminary and a PhD candidate at Brite Divinity School, leads the class. 

Messer is well equipped to handle the crash course of Greek after a junior year that taught her the beauty of moderation and communal connection. "My junior year at Austin Seminary has been a lesson in balance," explains Messer. "Classes this year have introduced me to a wide range of tools that will be invaluable for ministry. I have learned about the rich history of the church and theological movements, studied the Bible from cover to cover, learned two languages, and gained knowledge and techniques to help me find my voice as a worship leader. At the heart of it all is a deep and abiding joy for serving God and the church that is embodied by the faculty, staff, and students in this community. I have learned the importance of balancing the interpersonal and spiritual side of ministry with the academic work it takes to faithfully interpret scripture and lead people to an intellectual understanding of their faith."

"Being a part of a diverse community has helped me grow in my ability to relate to people from all kinds of backgrounds. I have had the opportunity to travel to the NEXT Conference, attend lectures and workshops on campus, and interact with visiting faith leaders and alumni of Austin Seminary who are doing incredible work throughout the PC(USA) and beyond. It has been inspiring to witness the ways my friends and colleagues have been working to break down boundaries between God’s children."

Messer says she is interested in pursuing parish ministry, college chaplaincy, or prison ministry because of her passions for community building, teaching, and healing through restorative justice, and she enjoys the comfort of the Seminary and the progressive culture of Austin. She said, "I knew Austin Seminary was right for me when I came for Discovery Weekend and found an open and affirming community of brilliant individuals who were helping each other grow into their own callings. Austin has felt like home since day one."