“I suffered from depression from high school to adulthood,” shares Carmina Reyes. “It became so severe that I turned highly suicidal, so I secretly sought the help of two different psychiatrists. While the specialists helped somehow, sitting in hour-long sessions with them did not set me free from my depression, not to mention, it just broke my bank. But God, in his mercy, pulled me out of the pit of depression, not just once but countless times, that I am still alive and well today. Jesus–the Word of God–was my lifesaver.”

Having experienced the grace of God in her life, Carmina now longs to minister to people who are suffering from depression, especially women. She knows that that is not an easy task, so when she heard about Grace School of Theology from a friend who was already a Grace student, she was immediately interested.

“I simply want to be more well-equipped so that I will be prepared and ready for the work that God has prepared in advance for me to do. Researching and studying the Word of God on my own or with my church friends is good, but to learn more and have my disciplines reinforced in a school like Grace will no doubt help me to be a more well-rounded Christian.”

As she began pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Grace, she soon realized it takes a lot of discipline and commitment to complete all the assignments and other requirements. “I honestly felt like the odd one out in class, being among seasoned pastors and ministers, but my classmates are some of the most helpful and unassuming people I’ve met, and I’m very blessed to have been in class with them. Listening to their brilliant minds, opinions, questions and answers was a real treat,” she recalls of the first course she had taken. “Dr. Dean Haywood was really special–he taught us not just intelligently and so clearly, but I felt that he really loves what he’s doing! You know how you could tell when a person cooked a meal with love? That’s how I felt Dr. Haywood taught us every day.”

As she continues her journey at Grace, she can already see the results in her life. “Certainly, my Bible reading has not been the same. I’m compelled more than ever to dig deeper into the Word, both in studying and researching and also in prayer. I also want for more people to know that studying, learning, and being enlightened in the Scriptures is not just for “seasoned” ministers or super Christians. It’s for every single believer who wants to know God more and see their lives change!”