Alumni Spotlight: Hamp Kennedy

Hamp, we are so excited to be catching up with you. Where are you now and what are you up to?

I’m in St. George, Virginia which is about 30 minutes from Charlottesville.

I teach US History at an all-boys boarding school about 15 minutes from Shenandoah National Park, it’s beautiful! I’m also a dorm parent for sophomore and juniors, an advisor, and I coach track in the Spring. The school is affiliated with the Episcopal Church, so I am able to minister to the young men and help them through their teenage years.

What led you to Emmaus?

I learned about Emmaus while I was a camper at Camp Lurecrest. In 2013 I was on staff after having decided I needed to take my faith more seriously. My immediate supervisor, Josh Kerzman, was starting the school in the fall and we had countless conversations about faith and the Bible. I asked him so many questions that he finally hinted that I should do the school if I want to learn more. I was unsure if I was going to go to college or enlist in the military after graduating high school, so this seemed like a pretty good way to spend a gap year. My thought was, "If I'm going to be a Christian I ought to know what the Bible says." So when my friends went to college I went to Emmaus! 

What sticks out to you the most 3+ years later?

God’s character. Throughout history, He is constantly looking after His people and calling them back to Him when they go a different way. His consistency and love throughout the whole Bible has been a huge comfort in my own life, and I know that regardless of what happens I will be okay. 

How are you still using what you learned at Emmaus?

The inductive method of studying the Bible was a tremendous help. In college, it really gave me a leg up as a history student because I already knew how to ask meaningful questions and interpret readings. These are skills I definitely use in my work and try to instill in my students. Everything I learned about God that year made me a better brother in Christ to others and helped foster really meaningful relationships. 

Looking back how did Emmaus affect your relationship with God and the Bible?

I had not studied the Bible very in-depth before I came to Emmaus and I still wrestle with a lot of questions but I have a trust in God that wasn’t there before the school, which has been so comforting. I also know where to look for answers and how to look for those answers and that’s a skill that has proved invaluable over the years. 

Best memory from the school?

There are so many great memories! From rock climbing with Tom, lifting weights with Caleb (shoutout Swolecrest), and every day in class with my deskmate and friend Jordan, it’s really hard to pick the best memory. 

What was your favorite book of the Bible during your SBS?

Joshua was fascinating because our teacher, Colonel Hansen, had done archeological digs and research in the Holy Land, so his approach to teaching the book really made the Israelites entrance into the Promised Land all the more real. On a personal level, Job really helped me understand how big God is and how in control He is. Job is one I’ve repeatedly gone back to whenever I begin to lose sight of that. 

Did you have a moment where it all "clicked" for you?

I had a minor procedure done on my heart in the early Spring of my ESBS year. This secured that I would be unable to join the military, which I was planning to do after graduation. Essentially, all my plans for life were turned upside down. Most of this incidentally took place as we were reading Job, and listening to God respond as Job’s life seemed to get worse and worse helped me realize how important it is to trust God’s will. “Thy will be done” as the lord's prayer says, became my mantra. I did not understand God’s plan for me, but if He is truly good and truly in control then I have nothing to worry about. It seems silly that I didn’t trust Him for so long, but in the moment it can be hard to keep that perspective. It is still hard, but having an experience like this makes it easier. 

Anything else you want to share or want us to know?

I was young when I went to Emmaus but everything has a time and place, and God put me there that year for many reasons that are clear to me now. With everything health-related I went through that year my faith would not be where it is today if I hadn’t done the school. I would never have met so many incredible people, including my dear friend Evan Hays. The list goes on, and I’m glad God put me there.

We are so glad we were able to highlight Hamp this week for our Alumni Spotlight. If you would like to learn more about the school that Hamp attend, click here to learn more: Click Here.

Alumni Spotlight: Carli Smith

Carli Smith attended the Emmaus School of Biblical Studies 7 years ago. This week, we caught up with Carli to see how her life has changed after her year studying the scriptures at Emmaus.

Carli, it has been a long time since we have seen you, what is going on in your life?

I am currently working in marketing and admissions for a Christian college in Franklin, TN. Our mission is to “equip and empower graduates to be on-mission in the world for Christ,” no matter the industry in which they find their careers. I also serve at my local church in the youth group, helping high school girls learn more about the character of God and how that impacts every area of their lives.

What originally led you to Emmaus?

I had just finished a Discipleship Training School with YWAM in 2012 and felt strongly that I wanted to grow deeper in my knowledge of Scripture and gain answers to lots of my questions by knowing the text holistically. I was vacillating between the decision to find a School of Biblical Studies or go to college to earn a degree. I found Emmaus on a random website that listed different SBS locations and ended up on the phone that same day with Tom Phillips! A few weeks later, I took a trip to tour a college and check out Emmaus and as soon as I drove up to the property, I felt this peace settle over me. I looked over at my mom, and we both knew it was the right next step. After learning more on that tour, I made my decision to go!

What sticks out to you the most after all these years? 

I look back in awe of the grace that God instilled in me to get me through such an extensive study program. I am so grateful for the privilege to go to Emmaus and study Scripture. I wish I could time-travel back to be in the stillness of that season again with the Lord.

As I typed this, I feel very emotional! I pray my husband, and I have the opportunity to come back and drink from this fountain of truth again with you guys in person. I love what you guys are doing and pray nothing but blessings and joy over the staff, students, and mission. I’m so grateful for the gift of my time at Emmaus.

I also feel humility and gratitude knowing the rare gift it was to study scripture with such excellent resources available to me and in an environment that allowed me to ask the tough questions. 

How are you currently utilizing what you learned at Emmaus?

I still use each book’s notes as I study through Scripture today. It really changed the way I approach reading the Bible. I don't focus as much on “What does this say about/For me” rather, I ask “What does this say about God, and in turn, how do I respond?''

What was your favorite book of the Bible during your SBS and why? 

I enjoyed Genesis the most because it was the book I had previously had the most trouble understanding God in. I finished studying it more in love with Him than ever before after tracing His mercy through the pages.

Looking back, how did Emmaus affect your relationship with God and the Bible? 

It gave me a holistic picture of God’s redemptive story and a posture of humility towards Him. After completing the program and Interacting so deeply with Scripture I am far more rooted in instinctively knowing truth and being equipped with a broader perspective.

Did you have a moment where it all "clicked" for you?

I would describe the understanding and growth I gained as a gradual process that continued to build upon itself in deeper and richer ways with each book.

What was your best memory from the school? 

This is too hard! On graduation day, the students in our class made a 45-minute hike in the dark to watch the sunrise together. We were just sitting in awe of the metaphoric mountain God had enabled us to climb - with Him and because of Him. 

We loved catching up with Carli and seeing how God is using her time at Emmaus to help her continue engaging the Bible and leading others in their faith. If you would like to learn more about the program that Carli did, find out more by clicking this link: https://emmausbibleministries.org/school