Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/885582
HOLY INTERRUPTION Denver Seminary (DS): How did you learn about the fully online master of divinity degree at Denver Seminary? Becky: In 2014, after 35 years of full-time ministry as an author and evangelist, I became a full-time co-pastor and licensed minister of an evangelical church plant in Newport Beach, California. By the summer of 2016, I had only taken three master of divinity courses at a nearby seminary. My busy schedule required an online education. So, when I saw the advertisement in Christianity Today for the fully online MDiv program at Denver Seminary, I inquired immediately. One month later, I made a campus visit. By January 2017, I was enrolled and taking a full load of courses! DS: What did you experience when you visited the campus? Becky: During my campus visit I sensed, with every meeting, class visit, and interview, that I was in the right place for my education and career goals. For example, one of the concentrations offered at Denver Seminary is chaplaincy, which is of great interest to me personally and professionally. As an online student, I don't have the option to designate a concentration, but I am able to learn from professors and take classes that speak into this professional ministry track. DS: How do you see yourself using your degree after graduating? Becky: I believe God is preparing me to be an institutional or university chaplain. I would love to hold either or both positions! The opportunities I have had to date, especially in Washington DC— including as a guest chaplain of the US House of Representatives—are specifically related to my passion for prayer. My calling over the past 30 years has always focused on some aspect of prayer: teaching prayer, praying for others, or developing prayer resources. Whether I am a pastor or an institutional or university chaplain, I am confident my focus will be as a praying leader. DS: Is there anything else you would like to share? Becky: As an avid reader of the classic theologians of past centuries, my "mentors" are Charles Spurgeon and Charles Finney. They have given me a greater passion for revival prayer and fiery preaching. Most of all, seminary is equipping me— a woman in the evangelical stream—to do what I am called to do. My only regret—and it is significant— is that I didn't enroll in seminary sooner. 6 FALL 2017 valio84sl/iStock undrey/iStock VIRTUAL FREEDOM Interview by D.G. Wynn Future alumna Becky Tirabassi has been yielding an impressive amount of fruit from her time in ministry. As a prolific author, church planter, and prayer advocate, she wanted to take the next step and get her master of divinity degree. Becky was gracious enough to share some of the ways the Lord worked to bring about her "holy interruption." BECKY TIRABASSI WILL GRADUATE WITH THE FIRST CLASS OF FULLY ONLINE MASTER OF DIVINITY STUDENTS IN 2020, AND WHETHER IT IS IN THE LOCAL CHURCH OR THE HALLS OF THE US CAPITAL, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING WHAT THE LORD WILL DO THROUGH HER MINISTRY. SHE HAS AUTHORED A DOZEN BOOKS RELATED TO PRAYER AND CURRENTLY SERVES AS CO-PASTOR AT VIEWPOINT CHURCH IN NEWPORT BEACH, CALIFORNIA.