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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—September 15, 2016
Alma T. Ruiz named 2016 Denman Fellow; 2017 application deadline announced
(LAKE JUNALUSKA, NORTH CAROLINA) – Alma T. Ruiz, who began study in the Doctor of Theology program at Duke Divinity School in July, is the Foundation for Evangelism's (FFE) 2016 Denman Fellow.
The Denman Fellowship supports scholars pursuing doctoral studies in evangelism and related disciplines who aspire to teach in United Methodist colleges and seminaries. It is named in honor of Dr. Harry Denman, distinguished lay evangelist and one FFE's founders.
Ruiz was selected, in part, because of her success ministering to multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, and multi-lingual populations in her role as associate pastor of Fiesta Cristiana, one of the United Methodist faith communities in Apex, North Carolina, as well as her work with Duke's training program in El Salvador, said FFE president Jane Boatwright Wood.
"For United Methodist leaders to be successful they must be equipped to minister to all people. One of Ruiz's strengths is her Wesleyan heart. She is deeply connected to the people. She understands that their circumstances must be acknowledged, and that they desire to receive Christian compassion and the life-transforming grace of Christ," Wood said.
In applying for the Denman Fellowship Ruiz wrote: "Eventually, I would like to become equipped to teach future pastors how to use preaching as an empowering and liberating tool for pastoral care, by acknowledging people's sociological, biological, psychological, and spiritual needs. In other words, I would like to become qualified to teach future pastors effective ways to proclaim God's holistic redemption and to help people experience that holistic redemption in their lives."
Ruiz holds a Masters of Divinity from Duke Divinity School (2013); a degree in High School Mathematics Education from NC State University (2008); and a degree in Engineering from Cesues Mexico University (2002). She is married to Ismael Ruiz-Millan, and they have one son, Alec.
One of the goals of the Denman Fellowship is to help train and develop the next generation of E. Stanley Jones Professors of Evangelism. Two former Denman Fellows, Dr. Thomas Glenn "Jack" Jackson, E. Stanley Jones associate professor of evangelism at Claremont School of Theology, and Dr. Mark Teasdale, E. Stanley Jones associate professor of evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, have achieved this milestone.
The Denman Fellowship is administered by A Foundation for Theological Education (AFTE), which is known for its John Wesley Fellowship program. Individuals interested in applying for the 2017 Denman Fellowship may do so online at: http://aftesite.org/the-john-wesley-fellowship/apply-to-become-a-fellow/. Please designate on the application that this is for the Denman Fellowship. The deadline for the 2017 award is January 20.
Headquartered in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, FFE is an international foundation with the vision to grow generations of Christ followers – clergy and laity – who have a passion for Wesleyan evangelism. To accomplish this vision, FFE promotes, encourages and provides resources to grow Wesleyan evangelism bringing all people into a life-transforming relationship with Jesus Christ. Of particular interest to this process are ministries impacting young people.
For more information, visit www.foundationfor evangelism.org or call (800) 737-8333.
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