A Pastor Expands Her Impact
Maridel Williams, Woman’s Pastor at Experience Church and Founder/CEO of Doors of Hope, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, recently completed UW-Green Bay’s Art of Spiritual Companioning certificate program and had this to say about the experience.
What pushed you to take the certificate program?
I serve as a Women’s Pastor at a fairly large church, and one of my responsibilities is to provide spiritual/pastoral counseling to the women in our congregation. Because of the size of the congregation, I frequently find myself overwhelmed by the “caseload.” As a result, I decided to “replicate” myself in an effort to meet the growing desire for spiritual companionship, which would necessitate training for the volunteers chosen to join the team. Upon researching training for spiritual companions, I was happy to find the certificate program offered by the Division of Continuing Education Community Engagement at UW-Green Bay. Four other volunteers took part in the class with me and found it to be very doable for people with busy schedules and yet extremely helpful to our work.
What were some of the benefits of the program?
I thoroughly enjoyed the content and format of the training as well as learning from cohorts associated with other faith communities across different parts of the US and Canada. The sense of community was wonderful and the instructor’s wisdom, wit and teaching style were absolutely delightful. But perhaps the best part is the fact that my team now feels much better equipped for the task of spiritual companioning.
What did you enjoy most about the certificate program?
I enjoy the ongoing connection with the cohort members, the sense of camaraderie, as well as the wealth of shared ideas and resources as tools for our toolbox.
The Art of Spiritual Companioning certificate program is offered every spring by the Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Training at UW-Green Bay. The program grounds participants in customized topics that will enable them to shepherd others on their spiritual journeys. Learn more on the website.
