Emmie Thompson ’18

Graduate school:

Master of Arts in Teaching, Covenant College. Degree in Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, FL.

Current city and job:

Lookout Mountain, GA | Co-Director of Middle School Ministry, Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church

What first interested you in your career? How did you discern your calling?

I didn't ever really plan to be in youth ministry. Since I chose to double major in philosophy and biblical and theological studies at Covenant, I figured either the church or classroom were in my future. I was consistently encouraged by my peers, professors, and mentors in the direction of grad school, academia, and ministry. Throughout my time at Covenant, I consistently volunteered at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, where I now work. I fell in love with being a part of a community that sought to do life with another, pursuing Jesus and encouraging each other specifically and individually in Gospel hope. I consider it a deep, humbling privilege that I get to do this as a career.

Discerning this calling was a beautiful and encouraging–though often tumultuous–journey. But the Lord put people, places, gifts, and desires in my life very intentionally.

What has your career path looked like since graduating from Covenant?

After graduating from Covenant first in 2018 then with a graduate degree in teaching in 2019, I attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida and worked at Orangewood Church, PCA as the youth coordinator. After graduating from seminary with a degree in theology, I moved back to Lookout Mountain where I currently work full-time.

Since working at LMPC, I have been privileged to teach youth ministry classes for the BTS department as an adjunct professor. In addition, I serve on the PCA's Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) for Student Ministry. I also assist in running the NextGen Certification program launched in September 2023. Each step of my career path has been aided by the training, personal encouragement, and networking that the Covenant College community has continued to offer me! Thanks be to God.

In my job, I enjoy being able to read the Bible, pray with and for others, and talk about who God is. I enjoy getting to know others and learning how God has uniquely made and gifted them. I love getting to learn alongside others and show them that Jesus made us for joy and fullness of life in Himself.

Looking back now, how did Covenant prepare you for graduate school and your career?

Covenant prepared me in every way, it seems! The coursework prepared me excellently as I was introduced to an array of resources and skills needed to succeed in grad school and in ministry. The coursework was appropriately challenging, engaging, and diverse. The faculty are excellent in both their content and pedagogy. They are approachable and eager to assist both academically and vocationally. The more I am exposed to other academic institutions and practices, I realize the excellence and wisdom of the Covenant professors that I was privileged to sit under and learn from. They are not only excellent in their fields, but are deeply wise and kind. I was encouraged very personally, continually pointed to Jesus in the fullest sense.

The faculty and community at Covenant deeply and specifically encouraged me in my calling in ministry and teaching. I can confidently say I would not be doing what I am doing without their guidance, wisdom, and prayer. I continue to see God’s faithfulness in the fruit of the relationships I made during my time at Covenant. Seemingly random connections have led to kingdom work that is showing me time and time again the small and powerful ways the Spirit moves and unites His people together.

In what ways did Covenant impact your faith, and how does your faith inform your career?

Throughout my time at Covenant, I was consistently pointed to the preeminence of Christ in all things. Not only in my theology classes, but in every subject area, in student and hall life, and beyond. There was intentional discipleship by faculty and staff alike that trickled down to peer discipleship, creating a community that sought the presence of Christ in all things–from how we spent our free time, to our intramurals, classes, relationships, and how we related to our communities.

Because of this, my faith impacts my career in so many ways words can’t capture. The Lord used many if not all aspects of Covenant to draw me closer to Himself. But the two most significant, I think, are through the Christ-centered friendships formed on the hall I lived on and through consistently sitting under godly teaching–classrooms and chapel alike. I had role models who loved and encouraged me in both peers and professors who made me want to know Jesus more intimately. Who God is as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit informs every possible aspect of my existence. Because of Jesus, the rest of my life I give to Him to show me all the ways in which I am to relate all things unto Him.

What advice would you give students who are considering Covenant?

Go and visit! Stay on a hall and experience what it is like to live at Covenant. Even though it may be intimidating and overstimulating, it is a beautiful campus with friendly people.

If you are interested in a career in ministry, then get plugged into a church community and seek mentorship. In addition, ask for prayer, encouragement, and honest feedback from others who know you: family members, peers, professors, and mentors. Listen to the Lord and to others in whom His Spirit indwells.

Why did you choose Covenant?

If I am honest, I chose Covenant because it runs in the family–my older brother went to Covenant and my dad and all of his siblings did as well. I grew up loving the friendships and relationships that came from that mountaintop–receiving love and nurture from them as well. I grew up hearing stories about hall and campus life, travels, pranks, prayer and praise, excellent professors, and life-long friendships that made Covenant irresistible to me. Not only did I hear stories from family, but some of my favorite teachers in high school were Covenant grads. They taught and modeled for me what it looks like to love and wonder at God's creation and the implications of His preeminence in all things. I wanted to go to a place that seemed to teem with the life and love of Jesus and His community. Also, I love the mountains!

What are some fond memories or a favorite story from your time at Covenant?

There are too many specific memories that come to mind, mostly related to late night, hall-related shenanigans. Outside of those, the consistent theme that comes to mind are my memories related to traveling with hallmates and times of prayer and praise. Traveling to Asheville every fall break or to Ft. Myers every spring break with hallmates is near the top of the list! But some of my most spiritually connecting moments of life took place during 3C's prayer and praise on Sunday nights. No matter what was happening, gathering together on Sunday nights to share our hearts–our burdens and joys–with one another and lifting one another before the Lord in prayer was deeply healing and life-giving.

The overall community, not just the personal, life-long friends I made at Covenant, but the transformative, unique opportunity to live and work in a community with fellow believers is something I’ll never forget! It was such a sanctifying gift of which I continue to reap the benefits. There is a deep, real connection to be had, I have found at least, with any fellow Covenant alum because of our shared experience of a Gospel-centered community.