Q&A with Houston Student Alyssa Carter

What brought you to Truett in Houston?

I was living in Houston and getting ready to move overseas to do missions, and then a week after I quit my job, the country I was headed to closed their borders to Americans. So, I was just in this limbo asking “What’s next?” for me.

Soon after, I was attending a service at Tallowood and they had placed Truett in Houston brochures in the bulletins. I opened it and thought, “I think I’m going to go to seminary.” I thought it would be a really good step for whatever I had coming next. I applied and went through the whole process without even talking to anyone or seeing what it was like. I think I’m one of the few who didn’t attend a Preview. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I started and here we are.

Tell us about the parts of the program that have been most meaningful to you?

There are two main things. One would be the community aspect. I feel like some people may question this about Truett in Houston because there’s no traditional campus life. But the group of us who started together have become this really special community. I wouldn’t have finished or stayed in seminary if it wasn’t for them. We’ve prayed with each other through things that we didn’t even know we needed prayer for. It’s really changed my life in general and in how I look at community.

Then, the other thing is the professors—the ways they’ve challenged my thinking and the ways they care. They really do care for the students. They want us to learn, but they also really care about our well-being. It really made a difference in how much we wanted to learn because we knew we had professors who cared about us and loved us.

Are there in classes that you particularly enjoyed or that you believe will make a strong impact on your future ministry?

One of the classes that really impacted my growth both as a person and as a person called to ministry was “Work and Life of a Pastor” with Dr. Steve Wells. It pushed me because I had never thought about being a pastor or being in a role where I would need to do some of the things we were learning about in class. At the beginning, I was dragging my feet, but the longer I was in it, I really saw myself grow and began to realize that this was my calling and I was where I needed to be.

Outside of attending seminary, what do you do?

I work for a nonprofit called Mission Centers in Houston as the Executive Assistant doing a lot of office work. I’m also pretty involved in leading youth at my church. This last semester, I’ve taken a step away to finish my degree, but I still really enjoy working with the youth. I bake a lot too. I love to bake.

Any thoughts on post-graduation plans?

I still feel called to missions. I would love to be overseas, but I’m still trying to figure out if that’s my calling or if that’s just me. I do know missions is the area, but I’m trying to figure out what that looks like. Being in seminary has given me a new love for local and stateside missions where I can teach people and lead groups going overseas. I have also discovered a passion for coming alongside people overseas and supporting them. These people need to be remembered and encouraged in their callings too.

What would you say to someone who was considering attending Truett Seminary in Houston?

I would say that it’s probably one of the best decisions you will make. Not only will it be something that will bless you in the short-term of your walk and ministry, but you will also be a blessing to others around you because of it. You get to take what you’ve learned in the class and put it into practice, even in the community that you’ve built. You will get some of the best ministry experience in order to go out and fulfill your calling.