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Anita Phillips
Ph.D. Program
Undergraduate Major
Sociology and Social Work
Hometown
Baltimore, MD. |
While Anita Phillips' husband was working toward his
degree in Pastoral Leadership two years ago, the Lord reignited in her
a passion to continue her own education. At the time it seemed almost
impossible. She was the mother of two small children and would soon be
in full-time pastoral ministry with her husband. It was not realistic
for Phillips to return to the classroom, nor had she ever considered
getting her degree online.
Then Phillips found out about the Regent University
Doctoral Program in Counselor Education & Supervision (CES). "I had
completed both my Bachelors and MSW at secular institutions," she says. "However,
as I pondered pursuing my Ph.D. it was my desire to have my instructors
seasoned in the faith as well as in the profession. I knew that the further
integration of my counseling skills and my faith would prove invaluable
to future ministry work."
One of Phillips' biggest concerns about joining an
online program was the absence of personal relationships with professors
and fellow students. However, Regent's cohort design and summer residencies
provided the perfect answer. "In the two weeks I spent on campus during
my first summer I got to know something about every one of my classmates
and professors. Now each name on the screen means something to me, and
helps me to know that it's not just me out there alone in cyberspace,
but that I'm a part of team."
Over the past year the Phillips family has been blessed
beyond what they could ask or imagine. They pastor an inner city church
in Baltimore and are transforming an old public school into a community
educational center. Anita Phillips ha s b egun working with local domestic
violence programs to establish spiritually and culturally appropriate
services for African-American church women who are victims of domestic
violence. "I cannot wait to begin my second year," she says. "I have
been looking forward to pursuing this degree practically my entire life.
This program has proven to be about God finishing the good work he began
in me years ago!" |
