Mitch Helmkamp, Michelle’s son, recently graduated from Southern Seminary and is currently serving as Director of Theological Development at Gospel City Church in Granger, Indiana—the same church his mom has been directing children’s ministry at for twenty years.
“My mom has been serving in kids ministry and women’s ministry for most of my life,” Mitch said. “She’s always been a diligent student of God’s Word, a veracious reader, and loves to consume theological podcasts. But she had never received any formal training.”
Mitch knew his mom would not only benefit from taking a class at Southern Seminary but knew she would also love it.
“I figured that if she was already spending so much time reading and learning, then she might as well study under the best professors,” Mitch said. “She could be guided regarding what to read, what content to study, and learn more precisely what to believe.”
Michelle was intimidated at first but admits Mitch was right. She had no idea how much she would love taking classes and how beneficial the online program would be for her own ministry.
“I enrolled in Dr. Claunch’s systematic theology class,” Michelle said. “My son was right—I loved it!
In their own words
“I have found it particularly amazing to be in a ministry role while getting my seminary education. I have implemented several changes in how we do ministry with our kids that were a direct result of my classes. I have found that God has been in the timing of each class, enriching the work that I do as a teacher of children and women and in counseling. It has been fun to see how God has even been in the order and timing of the classes as they have correlated with what was going on in my church”
Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling
Mitch recognizes how seminary has refined his mom’s theological understanding and effectiveness in ministry. Even though she had spent her whole adult life serving kids, education, and local church ministry, seminary helped open new opportunities and produce better fruit.
“I have to admit it is pretty funny to have conversations with my mom about the baptism of the Holy Spirit, reprobation, and different views on the atonement,” Mitch said. “But the most encouraging thing is seeing how her training is bearing immediate fruit in our church’s children’s ministry. Theology is not just for pastors and adults; the kids love it! Southern Seminary has equipped my mom to write her own children’s curriculum that is deep, biblical, and age-appropriate without watering down the truth. She also equips the parents to disciple their kids and even helps write and lead Sunday night children’s classes which survey systematic and biblical theology.”
*Earned within a Master of Divinity
The online degree from Southern Seminary was perfect for Michelle because she remained in her ministry context while receiving the same caliber of training as on-campus students.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to do online learning with such excellence,” Michelle said. “At this stage of my life, married and already rooted in ministry, there would have been no way to get an education like this if it required moving to Louisville, KY. Online education has helped me stay plugged into my church and continue to serve my family with the least amount of disruption.”
Earn an M.A or M.Div for Biblical Counseling either On Campus or Online
Study On Campus
Study Online
Along with growing in her confidence and knowledge of God’s Word, Michelle continues to be encouraged by the benefits seminary offers other women like her and those not pursuing the pastorate.
“I have been so encouraged at the number of women attending—especially in the biblical counseling classes. It is wonderful to have women being trained to come alongside the elders and pastors in the church, supporting them with a fuller understanding of God’s Word. This can only make the church stronger. As women teach other women and children, we need them to be as biblically accurate as we would want the other areas of our church to be.”
Seminary education has even helped expand Michelle’s ministry roles, as she now uses her biblical counseling experience in her local context.
“Before seminary, I was officially the Director of Children’s Discipleship. However, we have a healthy Biblical Counseling Ministry at our church, and as women needed care through counseling, I would sit with them and pray for them as they met with our pastor. This sparked an interest in me I saw the great need to meet people in their suffering with the hope of the Gospel. Now I am better equipped to apply God’s Word to these women.”
Training ministers to apply God’s Word is at the heart of Southern Seminary’s mission, and why Provost Paul Akin points to Michelle’s story as paradigmatic for any Christian wanting to better serve their church through the benefit of theological education:
“We exist to serve churches. One of the most effective ways for us to serve churches is to make theological education accessible for people like Michelle. As a wife and mother, she had engaged in women’s and children’s ministry for over 20 years, but she wanted to grow and learn more. With Southern Seminary Online, she can grow in her knowledge of the Bible and discipleship while remaining engaged in ministry in her local church. Her life is a testimony that Jesus’ command to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength applies to men and women in every walk of life regardless of age or stage in life.”
Provost PAUL AKIN