Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1181004
The Language of Leadership ALUMNI & DONORS 10 FALL 2019 AS A VETERAN OF THE US AIR FORCE AND SINGLE MOM OF TWO WHO IS FLUENT IN FOUR LANGUAGES, DEBORAH DOWNS IS NOT A TYPICAL GRADUATE OF DENVER SEMINARY. Downs entered the MDiv Theology Program at Denver Seminary with plans to write or teach, not intending to pursue pastoral leadership. Now "Rev. Deb," as her parishioners sometimes call her, is the lead pastor at Christian Center Church in Boulder City, Nevada, a town of 15,000 outside of Las Vegas. Originally from Southern California, Downs spent most of her childhood in São Paulo, Brazil, where her parents served as missionaries in the Foursquare denomination. Downs joined the US Air Force after high school, and in the following years, she obtained an undergraduate degree in business from Colorado Technical University, served as a Russian linguist in the Air Force, and worked several government contract jobs. During that time in Colorado, she spent time teaching with her local church. "In the course of teaching, you realize how little you really know," she said. While at the Seminary, Downs found two comfort zones: languages and community. A recently single mother of two young children, she quickly found that she could depend on the Seminary's community to surround her with a supportive network. "There were so many people who reached out and were part of my network that made it possible to go to class and graduate," she said. "Denver Seminary is a subculture of its own. Everybody is on your side and wants you to succeed." While many students find biblical languages to be a difficult part of their coursework, Downs thrived in that area. Already fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian and conversational in French and Italian, Downs enjoyed the challenge of biblical languages. Denver Seminary is a subculture of its own. Everybody is on your side and wants you to succeed. "I've always loved and appreciated languages. They're the window through which I see different cultures," she said. "Some phrases are unique to each language, which gives you a feel for the culture you wouldn't otherwise get." By Kara Bettis