Alumni Spotlight on Cindy Graves
Truett Seminary is excited to highlight the extraordinary work of one of our alumna, Cindy Graves, who serves the church in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador through STCH Ministries.
1. Tell us a little about yourself.
My husband Steve and I are both Baylor and Truett grads, and I graduated from Truett in 2003 with my Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree and also earned an Master of Science in Education (MSEd) through Baylor’s graduate school. We have five kids. Our two oldest daughters, Ashlyn and Rebekah, are currently a junior and a freshman, respectively, at Baylor and are thriving there, loving it as much as we did. Our son, Samuel, is in eighth grade, and we have twin girls, Esther Joy and Lily Grace, who are in fourth grade.
2. Can you share your journey from Truett Seminary to working at STCH Ministries? What led you to work at STCH Ministries?
For almost two decades, Steve pastored, and I served and led alongside him in many capacities, although I did not have a staff position. A few years ago, God began to stir my mind and heart to take on a more official ministry leadership role. I began to pray about it constantly and searched for what that might be; I was confident that He was calling me to more, but I did not know what that meant. I am passionate about helping people develop their full potential in Christ and know God personally. I have also always sought to advocate for kids from hard places, and God has given me multiple avenues to do so over the past couple of decades, through leading churches in serving foster kids (after Steve and I fostered and adopted) and through other missional opportunities, both locally and globally. So when I found out about my current position at STCH Ministries, it seemed like a great fit for me.
I now oversee a child sponsorship program in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador, as well as a college sponsorship program. The vision for both of these programs is “to raise up the next generation of Christian leaders” in the countries where we serve. This vision is consistent with my passion for helping people develop their full potential in Christ, and also enables me to serve and invest in kids and parents living in poverty and in very difficult circumstances, often created by poverty. We are following God in working with our church partners and in-country staff to help children and families go from surviving to thriving, and investing in children in ways that draw out their God-given potential and the ability to become Christian leaders in their families, churches, and communities as they grow up. There’s nothing easy about it, but it’s exciting work, as we see the transforming work of Jesus in the lives of so many!
3. What are some responsibilities you have with STCH Ministries, and what is your favorite part about working with this organization?
I supervise and work closely with our in-country staff in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador, who are directly responsible for the ministry to children and families who participate in our sponsorship program. I also communicate with our sponsors here in the United States, and take every opportunity to share with churches and groups here in the United States about what I see God doing through our Samuel’s Fund and College Leadership Education Program, and the opportunity for others in the United States to be a part of His work in the life of a child or college student. Sponsorship has the potential to change the whole trajectory of a child’s life.
I have the opportunity throughout the year to take U.S. churches and student groups (some from Baylor!) on mission trips to work with our church partners and sponsorship programs in the Dominican Republic and El Salvador. I mentioned that I am passionate about helping people develop their full potential in Christ, and one of my favorite things about what I do is getting to witness and be a tiny part of God’s work in the lives of Americans as well as the lives of Dominicans and Salvadorians. As Americans, we often think of what God will accomplish in the lives of others through our ministry, as we go to serve, but what I see time and again is the way that God works IN our lives (Americans) as well as through us. On every trip, I see the beauty of the global church, as God works in the lives of Americans and brings transformation, and also works in transforming ways in the lives of those we go to serve. My prayer for every group is that each person will encounter God and hear from him in transformative ways on the trip, and that what they experience through Him will enable them to live differently as they go back home; that we will all live missionally each day, no matter where we are! On every trip I bear witness to the truth that as Christians, our citizenship is first in heaven, before any earthly country, and this gives us so much in common with our brothers and sisters in Christ in other countries. Because of Jesus, we have much more in common than is different.
4. How did your time at Truett Seminary prepare you for working in a faith-based non-profit organization?
When I think of my time at Truett, I have so many great memories of professors. The opportunity to talk personally with and learn from some Godly, gifted professors greatly impacted my life. Dr. Ruth Ann Foster used to talk frequently about the upside-down kingdom of Jesus, and I often think about that phrase and how true it is that His kingdom values many things opposite to our culture, and that I am called to reflect that in all areas of my life. The opportunity to take classes and have conversations with professors like Dr.Jimmy Dorrell and Dr. Mike Stroope challenged me and drew my heart to ministry to those who are often overlooked; those experiencing poverty in our communities in the U.S., the precious kids in foster care that the church has the opportunity to step up and love in ways that require inconvenience and risk (I’ve never read where Jesus calls us to take up our cross and be comfortable), people in other countries experiencing poverty and the oppressive effects of poverty in every aspect of their lives. Each of these people is precious to God, created in His image, and worthy of love and respect.
5. What advice would you give to current Truett students or alumni considering mission/social work or ministry?
God is working in incredible ways all over the world! We each have our one life to live. God has made us to be fulfilled and experience joy through knowing Him and serving Him with our lives. Find a way for your unique passions and gifts to match a specific need, and jump in! God is so gracious to choose to include us in His work when we ask Him for the opportunity, and He has designed and gifted each of us to play a valuable role in His kingdom work, regardless of our profession.