Exploring Vocation and Call along the Camino de Santiago 2026
For many Truett graduates, the call to ministry remains undeniable long after they walk across the stage. Yet for some, a time is needed to step away, reflect, and reset. For many, that means a sabbatical. For others, it may be a long weekend free from cell service, hospital visits, sermon prep, rush-hour traffic, and the demands of daily life. A brief period to leave behind the chaos of everyday responsibilities and step into a new rhythm. One that involves taking deep breaths, walking several miles, and carrying a different type of load - a backpack.
This summer eleven alumni said yes to Dr. Mike Stroope and the Ministry for Life grant as they pressed pause, traveled to Spain, and trekked the Camino de Santiago as a group. Over the 96-mile journey they walked alongside other pilgrims and took time to explore two important topics: vocation and call. Below are some reflections once they returned from the trip back in June.
I was deeply inspired by the beautiful simplicity of our Camino journey: wake up, walk and talk, get cleaned up, eat dinner together, go to sleep and then do it again. The ample room to listen to each other deeply as we walked will continue to challenge me as I return to love the people God has called me to serve. I want to slow down even more and listen even more closely because every person is carrying a world of holiness in them.
Going into this experience, I barely knew any of the alumni with whom I’d be walking. Little did I know how much I would love this amazing group of people by the end of our journey! The memories we created together, the conversations we shared along the Camino, the time spent over delicious meals – these have all marked me deeply. I will never be the same.
Mick Colananni, MDiv 2016
The trip walking the Camino in Spain was a great training ground for walking with others in ministry work. The journeys were long, although thankfully not hot, and we had time to listen well and explore the deep life questions of our fellow Christian brothers and sisters. I learned to breathe more slowly, take my time without worry for being “late,” and to observe and receive. The countryside was like a healing balm, and when walking alone, it was a companion to walk alongside. It surrounded us with love and beauty, in the way that God does. This taught me that living alongside others can be this simple, and this joyous.
Dr. Sally Lombardo, MDiv 2018/DMin 2023
One of the most helpful parts of the Camino in connection with call and vocation was the time to reflect on who I have been, who I know myself to be now and having the space to listen for the ways I am still being called anew. The days along the Camino offered time for individual reflection and listening about how I am understanding call and vocation at this time in my life. I was also so grateful for the communal nature of the Camino because I don’t think a full understanding of call and vocation can happen separate from community. While I don’t feel I have profound new insights about call and vocation, I did leave the Camino feeling more settled in what call and vocation mean for me in this season of my life.
Rebecca Stempniak, MDiv 2022
I am called to feast and delight in the Trinity, into a deeper revelation of the Father. My vocation is to bear witness and invite others to delight in the Trinity as well. My identity is Beloved Witness of the Divine Hesed Love and a participant in it. I am an Ambassador, A Reconciler, Light, and I belong.
As I reflect I think the biggest take away was just the depth of the experience and reality of God in His Son, His Church, His beautiful world. What a life changing experience!
Tihara Tav, MDiv/MSW 2008
This camino taught me to live generously alongside others. God is at work in people regardless of how different I might be from them. I saw people giving each other space to be different and yet love and support each other through the challenges along the way. I want to approach everyone with the perspective that I have much to learn from everyone that God created; those I agree with and those I disagree with.
Experiencing Northern Spain was lovely. The landscape was wonderful. The people were charming. The food was delicious. The hospitality was enlightening. But the best thing about the trip was the other pilgrims. These twelve people chose to engage with each other and participate in each other’s lives for 90+ miles. It was overwhelmingly lovely and I felt the love of God from each person on the trip.
David McLain, MTS 2018
The simplicity of waking up and the only thing required of me was to put one foot in front of another created margin for me to be with God and others in a way that surfaced questions and conversations I didn’t realize I needed. This made way for the Spirit of God to imperceptibly yet tremendously renew me in ways I’ve begun to discover only after our time together. I’ve returned to the people and places I’ve been called with deeper joy and for that, I’m extremely grateful!
Josepha Mbouma, MDiv 2025