Cascade at Emmanuel Christian Seminary

September 12, 2021

Here are some posts about Cascade (and others) while she studied at Emmanuel Christian Seminary (2021-24), leaving quite a mark there! These all come from posts on Emmanuel’s Facebook page or ECS’s Ministry Resource Center Facebook page.

August 20th, 2021:

We helped welcome new students to seminary yesterday and also launched a pilot peer mentoring program for first years! First years can now opt in to be connected with a mentee from our 2020 cohort. @ecsatmilligan

September 12th, 2021:

Emmanuel’s Hiking Group, led by seminary Professor, Adam Bean headed to Grandfather Mountain yesterday for a rigorous hike. The views did not disappoint!

We know we’re biased, but we love where we live!

October 23rd, 2021:

Painting, ax throwing, peer mentoring—what a great day!

November 2nd, 2021:

During our monthly fellowship chapel lunch in the Thompson Community Center today, some of our seminary community participated in our delayed costume celebration. Keeping with tradition, classic awards were distributed!

February 4th, 2022:

Books! Coffee! And fantastic conversation with the amazing @heathermhoover! Our first Books & Coffee was a great success with folks from the community, faculty, alumni, graduate and undergraduate students participating. @milliganlibraries @ecsatmilligan

April 10th, 2022:

We had a wonderful time at our seminary End of the Year Banquet, hosted by the Student Association!

September 2nd, 2022:

The Emmanuel Student Association hosted the annual welcome back event for students and their families on the finest hill in the Emmanuel Village! The legendary waterslide is always a great way to kick off the new academic year! What’s your favorite waterslide memory?

September 27th, 2022:

“We are not totally free until we are working toward the freedom of others.”

Zac Holt, Emmanuel alum (’20) and current Campus Pastor at The Table, brought a word to chapel today to encourage all of us to reach our brothers and sisters that are marginalized in our communities.

September 28th, 2022:

Dr. Miriam Perkins, Professor of Theology and Society, recently held an event where women at Emmanuel were able to fellowship, learn from, and encourage one another as they attend seminary.

September 29th, 2022:

We are so excited to announce that Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan has created a brand-new pathway for students in seminary to gain paid ministry experience by partnering with local churches in the region with its newly launched Ministry Fellows Program. Check out more information about the program here, https://www.milligan.edu/…/emmanuel-partners-with…/.

October 2nd, 2022:

Every Tuesday and Thursday, we gather as a community for weekly Chapel to fellowship, worship and pray together. This time spent together is integral to a student’s development during their time in seminary.

October 3rd, 2022:

Thank you to Unicoi Christian Church for hosting the most recent Fellowship Chapel. Fellowship Chapels are a great way to come together as a community to enjoy a meal and spend time together for students, faculty, staff, and members of the Emmanuel community.

October 4th, 2022:

Today, Emmanuel students and friends took some time to celebrate a fun fall activity, decorating pumpkins! A huge thank you to the Ministry Resource Center, ECS MRC, and alum Tyler Paulsen for helping put together such a fun event for the students!

October 8th, 2022:

Laura Hicks Hardy, Seminary Program Coordinator and 2022 MDiv graduate, spoke in Chapel recently about the importance and challenge of sabbath rest.

October 9th, 2022:

The Engineering Department teamed up with ECONUTS, an Emmanuel student group focused on ecology and sustainability, to test out the Nebuchadshredder, as it has been named.

The shredder was created by engineering students and faculty through a senior project and was developed to recycle number 5 plastics at Emmanuel. We are so excited for what is to come on this project, as the engineering department is currently working with ECONUTS on what to create with the recycled plastic.

October 10th, 2022:

Ask any Emmanuel student and they will tell you, the Seminary Library is the place to be. Not only is it a great place to study, but it is a great spot to socialize and be a part of what makes the Emmanuel community so special.

The Emmanuel faculty recently opened their homes to students for a dessert night! We are so thankful for the caring faculty we have here at Emmanuel.

October 22nd, 2022:

The Emmanuel Student Association, a student group for seminary students, recently organized a park cleanup for the Emmanuel Village park. Students got together on a Saturday to clean up the space and put in a firepit and community garden to be enjoyed by the Emmanuel community and their families.

October 24th, 2022:

A huge shoutout to Crossroads Christian Church for hosting the most recent Fellowship Chapel.

At Fellowship Chapel, you can expect to play a fun game of “get to know you bingo,” where you may just win the prized pineapple. A birthday will most definitely be celebrated, and students also get to fellowship with one another around a meal and meet leaders from our church partners in the region.

October 25th, 2022:

Dr. Gary Selby, Professor of Ministerial Formation, recently spoke in Chapel on Matthew 4:1-11 where Jesus is tempted in the wilderness.

“He might not be clear yet on why He’s here or why this is happening, but He knows the story He’s part of,” said Dr. Selby. “More importantly, He knows the One who is unfolding that story, and that will be enough.”

Dr. Selby gave us a few questions to ponder in our own times of wilderness to ask ourselves the questions: Where is God in this? What is God doing? What is God calling me to?

We are encouraged to reflect on these questions as we travel through the different seasons of life.

February 15th, 2023:

(I slipped this one in here because it was largely due to Cascade’s encouragement that I began my own studies at Emmanuel!)

Last week was our first class for the new Master of Arts in Christian Ministry (MACM) cohort! Students from across the country gathered on campus to take Dr. Holland’s Personal Identity in Pastoral Care class.

MACM student Kristen Fox shared, “It was great week for our cohort! We started as strangers and left as friends. This was largely due to Dr. Holland’s class and being able to be in a setting that is safe and allowed us to explore our identity as pastors.”

Deepen your ministry journey with us!

Learn more and apply to the MACM program here: ecs.milligan.edu/MACM

April 3rd, 2023:

Theology, Narrative, and the Well-written Life class hosted chapel last Thursday with Professor Miriam Perkins.

They shared short, true to life stories of faith, hope, and love. We were also delighted to be blessed by 2012 Grad Katie Selby!

These six students shared their stories of embodied grace, grief, love and the power of redemptive truth telling. Chapel culminated with a wonderful time of communion.

Thank you for sharing your story and your lives with us!

April 12th, 2023:

Emmanuel Christian Seminary is pleased to offer the Ministry Fellows Program. This program pairs students with local churches, where they can serve in a variety of ministerial capacities during the time they are enrolled in seminary.

This academic year we are celebrating the work of 6 fellows at various local churches in our area!

We valuable practical ministry and academic training in preparation for ministry leadership! Learn more about the Ministry Fellows Program here: https://ministryresource.milligan.edu/ministry…/

April 13th, 2023:

Honors Day Chapel!

In today’s chapel we celebrate our students who have gone above and beyond. These awards reflect the excellence of our rich tradition and community at Emmanuel. They also signify the richness of the current and future ministry of our students.

• Randy and Gigi Huffines Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies was awarded to Ray Allen (Old Testament) and Andrew Lawhead (New Testament)

• Fred P. Thompson Award for Excellence in Christian Doctrine and Theology was awarded to Laurel Guy and Spencer Taylor

• Dean E. Walker and William J. Richardson Award in Church History was awarded to Truman Douglas

• Larry and Marion Hostetler Award for Worship Arts was awarded to Cascade Sculley

• Joseph Dampier Award in Christian Ministries was awarded to Andrew Lawhead

• Stone-Campbell Journal Promising Scholars Award was awarded to Spencer Taylor

• Dennis Helsabeck Sr. Award for Excellence in Christian Care and Counseling was awarded to Joseph Useni

• MAARAV Award for Excellence in Semitic Studies was awarded to Jacob Wickerham

• Theta Phi Membership Inductees this year are Ray Allen, Reece Brackins, Jonathan Brown, Laurel Guy, Sam Guy, Spencer Taylor, and Alec Welch

• The Theta Phi Scholarship was awarded to Jonathan Brown and Spencer Taylor

Congratulations to all! We celebrate with you today!

April 14th, 2023:

We out here!

Come and see us at the Stone Campbell Journal Conference at Johnson University!

We are excited to support this wonderful community of scholars and pastors.

Congratulations to Anna Konstantopoulos and to Hanes McPherson Swingle for both being selected finalists in the Stone Campbell Journal Conference Graduate paper competition!

Anna’s paper is titled, “Origen: Platonism and the Preexistence of Souls in the Gospel of John.”

Hanes’s paper is titled, “The Chosen: Judges 7:1-7.”

Their papers were sponsored by Dr. Lee Blackburn and Dr. Jason Bembry respectively.

The Emmanuel cheering section is also pictured.

April 22nd, 2023:

Hey Friends! Meet Cascade Sculley!

Cascade has been serving at Hopwood Christian Church as part of the Ministry Fellows Program! She has helped Hopwood staff and leadership learn how to connect with and support college and graduate students as well as establish a sustainable ministry plan for pastoring to students.

Reflecting on the experience Cascade said, “”Interning at Hopwood has given me the opportunity to dip my toes in church ministry. Through this fellowship, I’ve been able to work with college students and welcome them into the many generations of people at Hopwood, and it has been really fun! I look forward to working more with students and working more with the local church in my future.”

Visit us at Ministry Resource Center (ministryresource.milligan.edu) to learn more about our Ministry Resource Center and the Ministry Fellows program!

September 30th, 2023:

74 members of the MRC community gathered for a time of rest and encouragement at the 2023 MRC Fall Retreat in Lake Junaluska, NC. The last three days were filled with reflections on Matt 13:16 and Psalm 42, discussions surrounding the current challenges facing both new and experienced ministers, and a throwback worship experience involving a projector and transparency sheets. We are so grateful for this time together!

October 20th, 2023:

Today we are celebrating the students in our 2023 Ministry Fellows Program! We have paired eight current Emmanuel students with six local churches for a nine-month fellowship. These students receive $10,000 (funded through the Pathways to Tomorrow initiative) while participating in integral roles within each church.

October 20th, 2023:

Thank you to Hopwood Christian Church for hosting yesterday’s Fellowship Chapel! These special gatherings allow students to connect with our local church partners, fostering a sense of community and faith as we share a meal together.

October 27th, 2023:

Yesterday, Dr. Gary Selby and students from his ‘Memory and the Spiritual Life’ course led a touching Eucharist Chapel that revolved around the theme of ‘Finding God in Our Past.’ Hunter opened the service by reminding us that our memories are where we experience God’s presence most profoundly. Whether happy or sad, these memories create a longing for more and are an integral part of God’s plan. The memories shared by Tammy, Reese, and Dr. Selby moved us deeply, emphasizing the strong connection between memory and faith.

October 31st, 2023:

Halloween festivities at Emmanuel! Our Student Association planned a surprise Chapel, complete with costume awards and decorated ‘Trunk or Treat’ trunks! Four of our staff members dressed up as professors – Dr. Bembry, Dr. Selby, Dr. Bean, and Dr. Kiger – and their costumes were spot-on!

November 10th, 2023:

It’s residential week for some of our MA in Christian Ministries students! During this time, students come together on campus for in-person classes, allowing them to strengthen further the community they have built while virtual. Learn more about the MACM program at https://ecs.milligan.edu/…/master-of-arts-in-christian…/. The next cohort starts in January 2024.

November 17th, 2023:

Shoutout to our incredible local churches for making Fellowship Chapels at Emmanuel an absolute highlight for students! These gatherings not only bring our community together but also fill our hearts (and stomachs!) with good food and amazing fellowship. Many thanks to Unicoi Christian Church for providing yesterday’s meal. Your support is invaluable.

December 1st, 2023:

Yesterday was our annual Lessons and Carols Chapel service, a beautiful and moving celebration of Christmas! Heartwarming melodies and sacred scriptures were intertwined to tell the story of the holiday season. We are grateful for this tradition that fills our hearts with joy every year.

December 10th, 2023:

Reflecting on the three transformative days at the Young Ministers’ Retreat! From a heartwarming Agape meal to thought-provoking Ministry Panel discussions and soul-stirring worship, every moment was filled with significance. The retreat’s focus on core spiritual themes—wonder, trust, letting go, and witnessing—made this Sabbath retreat an amazing experience in discerning the call to ministry.

January 12th, 2024:

Yesterday was our first chapel of the spring semester! Emmanuel student Cascade Sculley reflected on new beginnings while preaching with the lectionary texts of Genesis 1 and Mark 1.

She reminded us of the goodness of beginnings and our state of beloved even before we do anything.

Jesus was called beloved before he began his Ministry, and we share this same identity in Christ. Before we begin, Cascade reminds us of what God says to us: “You are good, you are my beloved, and I am pleased with you.” This is God’s word to us before we begin and as we go.

February 1st, 2024

In today’s chapel, Dr. Bembry, professor of Old Testament, delivered a message on compassion. He drew inspiration from various stories, including the account of Moses’ birth in Exodus 2:1-10. In his concluding remarks, Dr. Bembry urged us to cultivate compassion in two ways: Being less judgemental and fostering empathy by reading more novels. These insights are especially relevant as we enter Black History Month. Let’s reflect on these words as we strive to become more compassionate!

February 27th, 2024

Emmanuel Day Retreat has become an annual tradition where recent alumni and peer mentors give back by planning a day retreat for current students. Our theme came from an old Emmanuel motto: “Dig Your Wells Deep.” The peer mentors helped us reflect on the importance of digging your wells deep, even when it seems like the well is running dry. After a day of connecting through worship, reflection, small group discussion, a meal, and silly games, we find there is already enough grace and laughter to have the community we need. Whether it’s a fun game or a moment of prayer, God’s grace is present, revealing to us that the well of faith does indeed run deep.

This retreat was led by local peer mentors and facilitated by the ECS MRC. We are so grateful for our local peer mentors who help us have community!

April 9th, 2024

Today we celebrated the outstanding achievements of our students at Honors Day Chapel! These awards serve as a testament to the academic excellence and community deeply rooted in Emmanuel tradition while also representing the impactful ministries of our current students. Congratulations to all our recipients!

Awards and recipients:

• Randy and Gigi Huffines Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies (Old Testament): Sam Guy

• Randy and Gigi Huffines Award for Excellence in Biblical Studies (New Testament): Reece Brackins

• Fred P. Thompson Award for Excellence in Christian Doctrine and Theology: Spencer Taylor

• Dean E. Walker and William J. Richardson Award in Church History: Jonathan Brown

• Larry and Marion Hostetler Award for Worship Arts: Jonathan Brown

• Joseph Dampier Award in Christian Ministries: Reese Brackins and Hunter Herndon

• Stone-Campbell Journal Promising Scholars Award: Sam Guy

• Dennis Helsabeck Sr. Award for Excellence in Christian Care and Counseling: Cybele Jung

• MAARAV Award for Excellence in Semitic Studies: Spencer Taylor

• Theta Phi Membership Inductees: Hunter Herndon, Cybele Jung, Cascade Sculley, Brian Noble

• Theta Phi Scholarship: Brian Noble

April 12th, 2024

Yesterday, we gathered for our final chapel of the semester, the Blessing of the Graduates Chapel Service. During the service, our community came together to lay hands on and pray for the students of the 2024 graduating class. As they prepare to embark on the next chapter of their journey after commencement on April 27, let us continue to uplift them in our prayers.

April 23rd, 2024

We had an amazing Day Retreat celebrating this year’s Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan Graduates! The itinerary included a tour of Haywood Street Church, Ashville, NC, picnic lunch at Ashville Botanical Gardens, relaxation in Hot Springs, NC, and a wonderful homecooked dinner.