New Students, Fall 2004

A slow-growing seed takes root:
Emily Livingston

Emily Ann Garcia Livingston believes God planted a seed long ago that would slowly grow, become rooted, and gradually cultivated over the years in order to flower into her "ultimate submission to the call." She acknowledges that God has been calling her since childhood but never imagined that she would be attending seminary one day. Even though she had times during high school when she drifted away from God, God did not let go of her. Although she had secular career aspirations, she found herself ministering to friends and co-workers without intending to do so and her friends affirmed that the Holy Spirit was working in and through her. But coming to seminary was a decision that would take much prayer and reflection, as well as time. She was married, to seminarian Edward Livingston, working fulltime and with the financial and household responsibilities of the average adult. Emily reports that once she stopped thinking about how "I was going to do it" God answered her questions and removed the anxiety about the decision. Her initial visit to LTSP left her feeling that the seminary was where she wanted to be, and she is excited to be on this next part of her faith journey.