Pastoral Ministries
- Alumni Profile - Karen Andres
 Karen Andres, class of 2002
Associate Pastor, Tabor Mennonite Church
Newton, Kan.
Describe your Hesston Experience.
My Hesston experience happened in my forties after hearing a call to pursue my gifts in pastoral ministries. I was a part-time student and worked at Faith and Life Bookstore in Newton when I wasn't attending classes. My decision to enroll in the program began after attending a Holy Week service where Palmer Becker shared about the program. Being part-time, I stretched out my time to three years to complete the program. Those years provided some of the most meaningful times in my life.
Tell me about two or three of your favorite memories.
- Dialogues with the other PM students in between classes
- Trips to worshiping communities of other denominations
What was your favorite course? Why was it your favorite?
Since I only took Bible classes, all of them were my favorite. These classes gave me a solid foundation into the history and theology of Anabaptist
beliefs. Pastoral Care class provided me with the opportunity to minister to people in a hospital setting. Those experiences will stay with me the
rest of my life.
Who was your favorite prof? What did you like about his or her classes?
This is hard to answer as there is something special about each professor. I appreciated the way in which Michele and Marion provided a classroom setting
where discussions were engaging and stimulating. There was freedom to think about new ideas and view the Bible from new perspectives.
Tell me about Formation Seminar--what is it like? How does it contribute to the PM program?
The Formation Seminar was a time of learning to "know ourselves" through spiritual formation. Spouses were involved in the process of gathering together
for prayer and sharing with others in the program. This was an important step in preparing us for ministry.
What did you do before you began your PM studies?
I enrolled in the PM program already having an A.A. in social work and a B.A. in music performance. I was a private piano teacher as well as assisting
on the family dairy farm.
What do you do now?
Now I am the associate pastor at Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton, Kan. My main responsibilities include pastoral care, Christian Ed., and Caring
Group Ministry. I also preach once a month and assist in worship.
How did Hesston prepare you for what you do today?
When I entered the PM program, I was determined not to be a pastor in a congregation. I knew I wanted to be in pastoral ministry of some kind. The
professors encouraged me to consider being a pastor and affirmed my gifts. The classes such as Anabaptist History, Biblical Literature, book studies, Peace and
Justice, and Pastoral Care helped give a good foundation to the understandings of scripture and our heritage. At present, I am enrolled in the
seminary and have been thankful for the foundation received from these classes.
What key points should anyone considering Hesston's Pastoral Ministries program know?
Key points should include:
- Be prepared to stretch your mind in a healthy way,
- Be prepared to learn to know yourself better,
- Be willing to learn, and
- Be willing to grow spiritually.
For anyone considering pastoral ministry whether you're twenty or forty, this is a great place to start.
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