In 2022, when Ashton Holt started at Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, the excitement over beginning her theological education was met with personal crises that would challenge and later shape her faith.

As she began her seminary career, Holt’s father faced opposition in his ministry and was criticized publicly for his faith by those within the church, she said. It was a challenge for Holt as she was processing her own call to ministry.

Later on, Holt discovered she’d unknowingly been living in mold for her first two years at Beeson, which “wrecked (her) body.”

Still, God has used her time at Beeson to deepen her faith and to lead her to rely on Him.

“At Beeson, I’ve learned to be a person of faith,” Holt said. “I’ve been learning to trust the Lord in a lot of hardship. I’m so much better for that.”

About halfway through high school, Holt recognized her need to come into a sincere relationship with the Lord and serve Him. She began developing a passion for God that led her to Samford as an undergraduate student. Initially studying psychology, she soon switched to Christian ministry, where the Lord met her.

“That’s when my faith came into its own, studying the bible in its fullness my freshmen year,” Holt said. “I had so many pieces of it in my mind, but it all came together.”

Taking advantage of Samford’s fast-track program for Christian ministry students to earn their Master of Divinity at Beeson, Holt will graduate earlier than she would have otherwise, earning her degree this spring.

While she didn’t know why God brought her to Beeson when He did, she realizes now the people she met through Beeson’s mentor group program have made a major influence in her life.

“The people in that group are my best friends and our relationship has grown so deep,” Holt said. “That group has really carried me through as well as me being able to help carry others through.”

At Beeson, everybody is for you, and you don’t have to change anything about who you are, Holt said.

“All of my relationships have felt like that,” Holt said.

Studying the redemptive arc of Scripture, Holt has grown in her understanding of how God redeems His people.

“Now I can say with total confidence and assurance that God brings life from the dead. He kills that He may make alive, and wounds that He may heal,” Holt said. “My story has leant itself to that realization and that propels me to be a pastor.”

After graduation, Holt will return home to Jacksonville, Florida, where she will serve as a pastoral resident at Episcopal Church of our Saviour.