CBE International is proud to support the education and ministry of Brooke Lindquist, Carly Pruch, Caroline Bass, Laura Amodio, Sarah Chang, and Sarah Reed!
Brooke Lindquist is a student at Bethel University Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., obtaining her graduate degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has worked extensively with young women through her role as a dance instructor and YoungLife leader, creating a passion for championing women’s identity and calling through Jesus. She is currently working as a mental health practitioner and is hopeful to continue her work with young women when she becomes a therapist. By receiving the AMMS award, she will be able to immerse herself in the spiritual formation classes she is also taking to be able to hold a firm identity as a woman of God in an emotionally intense career. She hopes to be able to use her gifts to give back to others both in the clinical setting, as well as someday partnering with her local church to provide therapy to women within the church.
Carly Pruch is currently at Northern Seminary, where she is pursuing a Master of Arts in Women and Theology. She is a member at First Free Evangelical Free Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she also now serves as the director of women’s ministries. Despite being raised in a context that primarily ordained and encouraged men in leadership roles, Carly’s passion for ministry was evident from a young age. Initially believing that her calling was only valid for overseas missions, Carly earned a degree in International Studies with plans to work abroad. However, her path shifted when she met and married her husband, who felt called to pastoral ministry. As they navigated marriage and raised a family, Carly and her husband came to recognize that women are equally called and empowered for leadership in the local church. She is excited about her new role as the Director of Women’s Ministries, where she will help equip women to study and teach the Bible. Balancing part-time ministry with homeschooling her children, extra finances for seminary have not always been present, so support like the AMMS has been a vital encouragement.
Caroline Bass is a Master of Divinity student at Beeson Divinity School. Having personally faced and navigated the challenges of hurt and anxiety related to church life, Caroline is empathetic toward those experiencing similar struggles. This personal experience drives her commitment to ministering to others and fostering healing within the church. By easing financial burdens, the AMMS award will allow Caroline to contribute more effectively to her community and the broader church. Reflecting on this, she says, “The AMMS award embodies the values of CBE, reflecting a commitment to biblical equality, social justice, and the empowerment of women in ministry. It is a testament to the legacy of Alvera Mickelsen, whose dedication to advancing women’s roles in leadership and advocating for biblical equality inspires my own journey. As a recipient, I will be better positioned to support and mentor other women in the church, helping to elevate their voices and foster a more inclusive and effective ministry environment.”
Laura Amodio is in the MA in Theological Studies program at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is not sure what she will be “when she grows up,” but she entered Fuller in response to a clear call from God toward academia. Laura has often experienced a disconnect between theory and practice when it comes to her role as a woman, both in professional Christian ministry and in wider American society. She longs for institutions that affirm women’s leadership to do the slow, careful work required to align culture and policy with theory. She also longs for women to experience life and freedom, particularly when they have been overlooked or stereotyped because of their gender. Thus far, her studies have been empowering, eye-opening, and delightful. God continues to remind her of the many people cheering her on, and the AMMS is a fresh reminder that her call to the MTS at Fuller is real and important.
Sarah Chang is a Master’s of Higher Education and Student Development student at Wheaton College. While studying, Sarah will also be working directly with college students and student ministry leaders as a Graduate Resident Advisor (GRA) in college campus apartments and a Graduate Assistant (GA) in the Ministry and Evangelism office. She has had the privilege of growing up in a household that loved the Lord, and her parents raised her to serve boldly in whatever way God was leading. God has also kindly surrounded her with amazing brothers and sisters in Christ who have discipled and empowered her to lean into her passions and gifts. Sarah spent two years in South Korea as an educational missionary, equipping students who have dedicated their lives as missionaries. She recently also served as a youth group pastor at a Korean immigrant church and has worked as an intern and coordinator for the Thriving Immigrant Congregations Initiative, which equips immigrant churches to develop healthy intergenerational and intercultural relationships. Sarah has a huge heart for the next generation and desires to help immigrant families and churches, as well as schools and organizations, to foster healthy formation, relationships, and systems.
Sarah Reed is a Master of Divinity student with an emphasis in theology and social justice at Northeastern University. She currently works as a professional development trainer in trauma-informed care while attending school online and is a parent of two school-age boys. Sarah felt called to be a pastor as a young child, but was discouraged in following her calling by those who said that “God doesn’t call women to be pastors.” Sarah pursued the mental health field instead, dedicating many years to serving the immigrant and refugee populations, where she was continually inspired by their strength even with the many traumas they had been through. Over the years she was consistently active in church, serving, teaching, and leading, while trying to encourage Christians to get involved in these social justice issues. It wasn’t until her thirties that Sarah met her first fully ordained woman. The woman encouraged Sarah to listen to the call on her life and pursue it. Sarah would like to pursue a Doctor in Ministry after finishing her MDiv, and to use it to teach, write, speak, and motivate.