Denver Seminary

Alumni in Action ALUMNI & DONORS These alumni are using their seminary education to follow God's call on their lives. Maria Perez (2012) | MASTER OF ARTS A few years before her seminary career, Maria Perez received a calling to combine her love of entrepreneurialism, horses, and ministry. This calling led her to move to Colorado from California to pursue an MA in Christian formation and soul care from Denver Seminary. Since graduating from Denver Seminary in December 2012 and leaving formal church ministry, Maria has seen God continue to do amazing things. Maria started a discipleship ministry called Horse and Soul in Castle Rock, Colorado that uses horses and horsemanship instruction to equip youth to participate in ministry through prayer and service. Through Horse and Soul, Maria provides riding instruction and travels to churches and retreat centers with her horses, offering equine-illustrated sermons. Horse and Soul's regular riding students then become partners in ministry, serving both as practical horse help when on the road and as ministry and prayer partners at church services and retreat sessions. Maria's heart behind this ministry is to equip youth to participate in the kingdom of God through their passion for horses. She wants to reach youth who might never step foot in a youth group or participate in a mission trip, giving them an opportunity to encounter God and to partner with Him in His mission to disciple the world. She has found that horses and horsemanship provide a great connecting point and illustration for many biblical principles and truths. Benjamin John Peters (2009) | MASTER OF ARTS We kill. We come home. We move on. But the violence haunts us and provokes questions: Was I justified? Is there meaning in violence? Benjamin John Peters, a former United States Marine, served two tours in violence-riddled Iraq, only to come home and question the meaning of it all. His struggle led him to Denver Seminary, where he earned an MA with a major in biblical studies and wrote his thesis on Paul's famous passage on the government in Romans 13. Ben's studies ended in the publication of a book, Through All the Plain. It captures his experience in Iraq, his return home, and his time spent seeking reparations and peace while teaching English abroad. The book was published in May 2013. It asks readers to contemplate the various consequences of our decisions surrounding war. Ben's vulnerability and honesty have received acclaim. He hopes that veterans, peacemaking groups, churches, and students will find Through All the Plain to be theologically rich, accessible, and a catalyst for discussion and reflection. Ben and his wife, Andrea, have three children. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Denver. In his spare time, he is working on a second book. 10 FALL 2015 December 8 is Colorado Gives Day! Denver Seminary is privileged to once again participate with Colorado Gives Day. Mark your calendar for December 8, when every dollar donated to Denver Seminary through coloradogives.org will be increased by a portion of a $1 Million Incentive Fund. Will you partner with us to support our students and grow the kingdom?

• Cover